1972 V21 new owner

[Handsomebob]

Hello All,

I just became the owner of a 1972 Venture 21. This is my first boat and a fixer upper. My sailing experience up to now is crewing on Snipes and Flying Scots for the last 11 months with a little tiller time during and after the Sunday races. I still plan on crewing and learning on those boats but think the V21 will be a good family cruising boat. It was sitting out in the yard has been in the shade for probably 10(maybe longer) years. It was free and has a trailer.I wanted to get my first post out of the way because I am sure I will be asking for a lot of advice in the coming months as the restoration starts. I am going to get inside of it tomorrow and see what I have gotten myself into. There is some standing water I will pump out first and see how bad it is. It came with sails that have been dry stored. Thanks in advance to all.

[gedaggett]

Bob,

Good boat to cut your teeth on. Look forward to seeing some pics. I too got a free Mac Venture (2-22) and it has been fun refurbishing her.

[Ormonddude]

Hi Welcome I found this manual for another new member and thought you would like to have it
- http://sbo.sailboatowners.com/images/kb/pdf/1361.pdf

[Catigale]

"fix it and sail" was an almost documentation of a Venture 222 restore that might be useful..

[Handsomebob]

started pumping water from the hull today. The boat is 1/3 full. 15 years of sitting in the woods the water was clear and odorless. I think it came in from the companion way top over the years( i hope). I will check for soft spots when water is gone but it looks pretty good. The tiller was stored inside and submerged and the top half that attaches to the stern is soft. I will have to replaced it and I can reuse the hardware. The bottom part should be okay once sanded and refinished. The keel is rusted and I will have to remove and grind it smooth (Probably the most difficult task on the refurb). The mast step has been repaired but does not look too good. I will have to re -glass it and put a steel or aluminum plate under for support. I have seen posts on this forum addressing it and I will do that and also ask for help I am sure. Thanks in advance

thanks Ormand for the manual and Catigale for the book " fix it and sail" which I received in the mail today from Amazon. I am looking at it now and I think I may have a 22" instead of a 21":. I have not measured but looks to be the same. It will be my bible for the next few months along with you guys. This is going to be cool. I have some pictures and will start showing once I get enough posts.

[Catigale]

Yeeks...1/3 full of water!!!

There was a lot of wood bulkheads in these boats, or wood in the liners for mounting at least. I think you will find all that is trashed if its been submerged...

Send me a few pics on EM and ill put them up...or post your ten best clean jokes in the front room (you have to sign up for the Pub to access

Don't forget the new guy buys the pizza...

[Handsomebob]

I heard about the pizza thing. That may cost me more then to fix up the boat.

I went back today and all the water is out. The boat was tipped back on the trailer sitting on its stern so all the water was in that area. Hopefully the bulkheads are not rotted out. I said it was clear but the muck was settled on the bottom. Not too bad really. I did not have time to get in and really check it out and get decent pictures.

I brought the rudder home and will start working on it. It is very heavy. What type of wood will I need to use to replace the top section? I think I will be able to trace the pattern using the old one. It has its shape but soft on the bottom 4-6 inches.

I will send some pictures. Warning... they are before any cleaning up.

[Catigale]

Bob - let us know where you are located...so we can avoid the cleaning duties...

[Kenr74]

I made new top and bottom rudder sections out of redwood from Menards. I cut it into strips, and laminated the strips together with Gorilla Glue. I shaped the bottom into a foil and fiberglassed it. I did not glass the top piece. I painted it all with porch and floor paint. It isn't a masterpiece but I am pretty happy with the results of my first sailboat project.

[Handsomebob]

Bob - let us know where you are located...so we can avoid the cleaning duties...

I am in Birmingham, Al and about 45 minutes from my club where I am planning on doing most of the work in the yard with boat on it's trailer. I may bring the boat home and work on it in the driveway for a week or 2 at a time once I get the trailer in good working order. Need to get a new winch, bunker boards, repack the bearings, maybe wheels/tires and a light kit.

As far as cleaning the inside I have a pressure washer and was going to use it. The drawback is that I will have to pump the water out each time. Is sandblasting an option and can the sandblaster be rented or will have have to purchase one? I hate to buy something for use one time but who knows I might fix another boat it this one goes well.

[Catigale]

Much easier to remove water than sand!!!

Seriously, you can drill holes in the bottom of the boat and let the water run out....this is very commonly done in restoration jobs. FG fixes stronger than original with epoxy and there isn't huge skill involved. Moreover, if you do screw up, you just repeat the drill and patch

[Ormonddude]

I use a shop Vac when I clean my Interior I basically take a bucket of mild bleach water so I dont choke myself and scrub it all down and then dry it with a Shop Vac takes like a hour or to but it usually comes out pretty great also keep a squirt bottle and paper towels for any tight corners ya miss but thats on Post Restoration. Cleaning During a interior Restoration I think i would do the same Just hose it down when the dust becomes a problem and dry it up with the vacuum It Helps to have like 12 gallon Model but small will work just more starts and stop.

[Handsomebob]

thanks for all the tips so far everyone. Here here is a picassa link for pictures I took before any clean up. It was free, right? Probably was not 1/3 full of water but I would say 600 gallons. I am showing these crappy pictures because I believe you all will be amazed when I am done.

Please let me know about the tiller. Can I save the bottom part or should I go with Kenr74" method and go with the redwood and glass it? What about an oak with a natural with a stain and clear coat to protect it?

view at you own risk....https://picasaweb.google.com/1097881382 ... boatRefurb

[Handsomebob]

I mean the rudder not the tiller. don't have one of those.

[Ormonddude]

Your Picture link dont work maybe try Photobucket or check your privacy settings anyway for that much water if you can start a siphon by submerging a garden hose in the water then getting below the boats ground level with your Finger on the hose end and release - maybe take a hour or two to drain the water (this Method is easier than trying to draw the water with your mouth) then get the last bits with a shop Vac or use a Bilge pump like twenty dollars at Walmart for like a 500gph and pump it out.