1972 Venture 222, trying to restore it---help me!

[CHOCKfullOnuts]

Hey,

I have a '72 Venture 222 that has seen a very active life...and a very hard one, too.

My grandfather had it, then my dad had it, and I've been using it the last few years while I try to fix it back up. It's not a lost cause, but it does need parts that I can't find anywhere. Here's what I need:

- pop top
- drop-down hatch for cabin entrance
- forward hatch
- Genoa eyelets
- bow pulpit
- working tackle


Now, I'd imagine that most marine stores will have the working tackle I need, but where can I find the Venture-specific "body" parts? I don't suppose that there's a sailboat salvage yard anywhere near central NY state, is there? Please, I would greatly appreciate any help in this area.

[James V]

They should be able to help -

http://bwyachts.com/ blue water yachts

Great people and usually busy. Has a banner ad here as well.

[Catigale]

Hello Chock - greetings from Albany NY!!

Lets see what the Venture people have to say regarding parts sources - I dont know what is out there since I have an

If you find something large local to the Northeast, let me know by private message or email and Ill see if I can transport - I travel the Northeast for work and can easily snag something for you.

[johnnyonspot]

Don't know if this will help, but:

- drop-down hatch for cabin entrance: should be easy to have one of these fabricated, or trim one from another model to fit, or fabricate from wood.
- forward hatch: again, fabricate from fiberglass using a homemade mold or make a mold from another Venture.

- bow pulpit: have fabricated by a metal shop. Could be a bit spendy, though. Otherwise, scavenge from another sailboat of similar size. It need not be a Venture 22.

There is a Ventrue 22 for sale here on craigslist minneapolis for about $2200 that could be purchased and make one good boat out of the 2. It looks to be in good shape. Don't know if its still for sale, though.

[CHOCKfullOnuts]

Thanks for the feedback!

I was thinking about fabricating the drop down hatch, myself; but if the original is available for reasonable $$, I'd rather do that...

The forward hatch is repairable, as it has a crack that should be simple enough to mend (I just didn't like the scar in it)

The pop top though...it's been mended from a nasty trailering accident, and aside from some ugly scarring in the molded non-skid pattern, it's twice as heavy as it used to be and I'd definitely like to replace that, at least.

Catigale: Thanks for your offer! If I find something local, I will let you know. I live near Utica.

I tried bwyachts, and they said they do have the hardware and probably the pulpit, but the hatches are no longer available. Thanks, guys! If you have any other leads for me, please let me know!

I tell you; for a boat that was so widely produced, it is darn hard to find parts for!

[Catigale]

Chock - check out the MOANE group - there are some Mac 'classic' type guys in the New England area who sail together as well as meet regularly -Im sure some of them have parts sources too..

[James V]

Bow pulpit - shoot the factory an email and ask who was the makers of the pulpit. They may still have the plans and be able to make one for you.

The other option is to find one that is trashed. Good luck.

[Frank C]

All of the more recent Macgregor stainless was fabricated by a firm named Railmakers, in Costa Mesa, CA. There are other branches in the USA, but those rail patterns would most likely be at that Costa Mesa location. If still available, they might be willing to ship the pattern to a different branch ... worth a phone call.

[CHOCKfullOnuts]

Can the old one be straightened and welded? Having one scratch-built by Railmakers sounds expensive. I'm on a tight budget right now, unfortunately. Just a young guy starting out.

I took the old gal out for a spin today, one last time for the season on Oneida Lake, NY. Not much wind, but my wife and I had a good time. Another item to repair was added to the project list when we had to retreat to the mouth of the NYS Barge Canal and tie up to the pier during a freak thunderstorm. Even in the shelter of the channel, the water got rough enough to snap my bow line. Luckily the pier had a rubber bump rail, and the wind kept us pressed pretty tight to it. Everything else was okay; at least the bow line can be replaced easily at any local hardware store.

I'll be pulling the boat out in the next week or two, and then it's back home on the trailer and the gutting process begins.

On that note, I think I am going to try finding a wrecked boat or boats for the needed parts. Do you guys know of any salvage yards near you that might be of use?

[Catigale]

I dont think I ever heard of a boat junkyard...there just isnt the volume of boats to make this worthwhile unfortunately

Get to know the guys at West Marine (up in Cicero in your neck of the woods)

[Big Poppa]

You might try some insurance companies to see if they have wrecks for salvage

[CHOCKfullOnuts]

Hmmm...hadn't thought of that!

I'm not familiar with marine insurance...any particular companies to try?

[baldbaby2000]

The pop top though...it's been mended from a nasty trailering accident, and aside from some ugly scarring in the molded non-skid pattern, it's twice as heavy as it used to be and I'd definitely like to replace that, at least.

I wonder if making one out of wood makes sense.

[johnnyonspot]

I was paging through an old issue of Good Old Boat magazine and ran across an ad for a company that makes pulpits, pushpits, etc. If you would like, I can get their web site address for you. Hit me here or PM me for it.

[CHOCKfullOnuts]

johnny, that would be great! Thanks!