1978 Venture 25 Project

[BudH]

Hello everyone,

I'm getting ready to bite off more than I can chew, but this is a project I start for my 85 year old dad who loves sailing and for my love of sailing. This classic is my dads boat and it's only been used a a couple of times in recent years. Many years of a military career took me away from sailing until recently. My task is to retrieve this sailboat from the brink of death. I took him sailing 2 years ago and found many issues that will have to be addresses. The question is where to start! The kicker is a 4 stroke Honda about 4 year old and runs fine, sails are in good shape UV protection 2 years ago, rigging is in good shape, Interior: cushion have to go, much work inside. Oxidation on the deck and hull is one of my concerns and how to tackle that issue! The non-slip surfaces in places isn't blue anymore! I think with a lot of elbow grease and rubbing compound I can get the hull looking good again. The bottom paint he put on 20 years ago is all but gone. Can the non-slip area of the deck be repainted after a thorough cleaning and with what?

After so many years of no sailing I'm all but a rookie again and any advise is appreciated.

Thanks

[cptron]

Sorry I can't help with your questions but I'm hungry and the new guy buys the pizza.
Good luck with your project and keep us updated of your progress. Pictures are great too.

[dlandersson]

First thing would be to update your profile with your location. If you are near Chicago I can help.

"I'm getting ready to bite off more than I can chew" - is that a pun about my pizza?

Hello everyone,

I'm getting ready to bite off more than I can chew, but this is a project I start for my 85 year old dad who loves sailing and for my love of sailing. This classic is my dads boat and it's only been used a a couple of times in recent years. Many years of a military career took me away from sailing until recently. My task is to retrieve this sailboat from the brink of death. I took him sailing 2 years ago and found many issues that will have to be addresses. The question is where to start! The kicker is a 4 stroke Honda about 4 year old and runs fine, sails are in good shape UV protection 2 years ago, rigging is in good shape, Interior: cushion have to go, much work inside. Oxidation on the deck and hull is one of my concerns and how to tackle that issue! The non-slip surfaces in places isn't blue anymore! I think with a lot of elbow grease and rubbing compound I can get the hull looking good again. The bottom paint he put on 20 years ago is all but gone. Can the non-slip area of the deck be repainted after a thorough cleaning and with what?

After so many years of no sailing I'm all but a rookie again and any advise is appreciated.

Thanks

[BudH]

I'm located in Georgia about 60 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Wish I were near Chicago for some pizza! Maybe my starting point is:

1. Gut the inside of the boat and have new cushions made.
2. Work on the oxidation. I've watched a few videos and there are a number of ways to do that. Which is right?
3. I need to get it in the water to get a look at the keel or dry dock it on stands to do the same. Winch is original, cable was replace 10 or so years ago.

I'm sure as I dig into this I'll find plenty more. I'll share picture as i go.

[Bob McLellan]

Sounds like the boat is in pretty good condition except for cosmetics. I would double check the keel and pivot bolt (and keel lock-down bolt). Then the winch - make sure it has NOT been replaced with a trailer winch. Next would be the rigging and connections and and the tiller-rudder. Make sure you have an easily workable mast raising system. Test lights and all safety stuff first, then worry about cushions for both the cockpit and cabin. Good boat and good to sail. On edit, I saw that you said the winch was original - but double check. I have seen very few original winches on these boats that are not rusted or have good clutches.

[BudH]

The keel bolt looks brand new and was replaced about 10 years ago. The winch cable was replaced and looks good. The winch itself looks to be the same one I remember being in the boat years ago, definitely not a trailer winch. The cable connection on the keel side wasn't installed correctly. It's looped through a hole and has 2 u-bolts holding it in place! No battery in it yet, but I'm sure the wiring hasn't got better with time either. Anchorage and steaming light are LED. All lights in the cabin will have to be replaced. Electrical panel was replaced 5 or 6 years ago and looks usable. Rudder looks to be in good shape, needs refinishing. non-skid decking paint is just about gone. Will need to figure out what kid of paint to use on it. Added a couple of pictures.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kqbipoepu3pbb16/1.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0l0sluohy5snd9t/2.jpg?dl=0

[BudH]

I've got everything out of the boat and think the starting point will be the interior liner and fiberglass. All lower interior fiberglass looks good with some minor stains and chips. I've looked at a few posts on this forum and haven't decided how to prep the interior liner fiberglass! Thought I might start with pressure washing it then going back and doing to wet sanding to get any loose material off. I've been looking at interlux for the paint, but there's a lot to choose from and would appreciate any ideas as to what to use. Definately roll-on.

[Russ]

The boat looks pretty good. I'm sure some compound will clean it up nicely.
You can use this for nonskid.
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/interlux- ... 21_005_502
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product ... 214&r=view

Take a look at the trailer. Some rust on the fenders but what I'd be most concerned about is the tongue area. Look INSIDE to see if it's got rust in there.

--Russ

[BudH]

Thanks Russ

The trailer with the exception of the springs is actually in fair shape. The fender and part of the trailer are stained from a sprinkler system used in Florida. The axle looks good. The safety chain area is fine, its the chains themselves that are rusty. I hauled it 230 miles the other day getting it home wondering if the springs would hold out for the trip. I'll cut the springs off this weekend and put the new leaf springs in. The interlux paint looks like a good choice based on what I've read. Not being a painter I'm guessing 2 quarts should do the non-skid cockpit and deck areas. Guess I can always order more if needed.

Most of what I have to do is cosmetics on this boat. Still a lot to do, and I can't wait to take her out later this summer. I'll post more pictures as I get the work done.

[Tsatzsue]

Your deck is fine. It will clean up. I have a 77 V25 that had the same issues. Clean all surfaces with tolulene. I use a locally mixed concoction call Turbolene that a local chemical company sells. That removes all the wax and brightens the surface. the cleaner wax for the deck. I use McGuire's. For the hull same thing with stripping the wax. Then compound, glaze and wax. Buy a buffer. I got a cheap one from Harbor Freight. Plan on the day. Make sure you srip off the old wax or you will have uneven cut on the compound. Yours is in better shape than mine was. Hit dings in the deck with Marine Tex then sand off and buff. I would do that after the stripping. I rebedded all of the deck hardware with butyl tape. Windows too. Butyl tape the second time. Maine Sail on Macgregor Owner site sells the stuff. I use commercial duct seal buty. Same stuff.

You will never be done. Trust me.

Ken B
S/V Tsatzsue
Commodore NE Trailer Sailors

[Tsatzsue]

Trailer look great. I refurbed my OEM trailer last year. Stripped all loghts and groung it down. The POR15 two coats and two coats Rustoleum commercial gray. Did the keel at the same time. Pics are posted on the NE trailer site. Did the keel at the same time. Second time for that. I would be glad to aid in any way that I can. I have gone through this girl stem to stern. Put it to the test in the Atlantic too. Have a blast!!

[BudH]

Well weekend one working on the boat has started. The Honda 9.9 is running perfect after putting plugs and impeller in. Bought the Interdeck Non Skid Squall Blue paint and prepped and painted the cockpit seating to see how it was going to look and it looks great! Added some before and after pictures. Now I'll have to start removing the rigging in order to paint the rest of the non-skid on the boat.

[BudH]

Has anyone installed a fresh water bladder in a venture 25? I'm looking into adding a 30 gallon bladder to supply water to the sink and for quick shower on deck! I was thinking of mounting it aft just to the right of the port bunk in the center! Looks like it would fit! I'm also putting seacock in water drains out the stern then adding a T so water from the cooler and sink also drain out the back along with the cockpit. Just a thought.

Today's adventure was removing the headliner in the cabin and seeing what I need to do to get the interior ready for paint. Next weekend will be spent with a respirator and a hazmat suit to start sanding the fiberglass inside to get it ready. Praying for one more cool weekend to work inside the boat....

[mastreb]

Honestly that seems like way too much water for a boat of that size. How much time do you spend on it? I've done ten days with a family of five, including showers, and not gotten through 34 gallons on our big boat.

You don't want to have a lot of "standing" water on a small boat. It gets stale quickly. A smaller tank that matches your usage and is refilled more often is much better.

I would figure 1 gallons per person per day spent away from docks. 7..15 gallons should do the job just fine.

[topcat0399]

Honestly that seems like way too much water for a boat of that size. How much time do you spend on it? I've done ten days with a family of five, including showers, and not gotten through 34 gallons on our big boat.

You don't want to have a lot of "standing" water on a small boat. It gets stale quickly. A smaller tank that matches your usage and is refilled more often is much better.

I would figure 1 gallons per person per day spent away from docks. 7..15 gallons should do the job just fine.

Depends on how you intend to use your boat I suppose.
We've done 21 days straight on ours and 25 gallons isn't out of line.

I just finished rebuilding everything on the hull side of the vberth and
I built space for a segregated 25 gallon bladder.
I'm sick of dealing with 5 gallon jugs.