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I'm going to inspect a 1970 Venture 17. I'm only a beginning sailor. Am not familar with Venture, but it looks like a good boat for my family.

Is there anything that I should inspect?
(basics, or aspects particular to this model)

Advice is greatly appreciated!

Well, I don't know the 17' model specifically, but here are some things to generally check with these fiberglass boats. I, myself, have a 1972 Venture 2-22.

Check:

- hull & deck for cracks/spider cracks/holes/gouges
- keel / centerboard for cracks, fiberglass peeling, rust
- Keel cable & pivot bolt (if possible)
- sails: check for rips, sags
- working hardware: tackles, winches, cleats, jib eyelets
- electrical system (lights, especially)
- trailer: tires, axle, winch, lights, and the hitch lock

This is all I can think of at the moment, based on worn items I have seen on my own boat. Keep in mind that all of the maintenance adds up fast, so base whatever you offer for the boat off of how much it will cost you to make it seaworthy to your liking.

Good luck, mpmurray! Let us know how it goes!

That's great advice. I took this checklist with me. Thanks! I really like this boat, but...

I found a hairline crack across the width of the centerboard. I'm wondering if this is a problem or if I can simply patch it?

The second item --- the cable from the winch threads directly through a hole in the centerboard near it's bottom. We're not sure if this is the original design. There's no hardware where the cable loops through the centerboard - it's just raw cable through the hole. I wonder if the cable can chaffe the centerboard over time. Perhaps putting a bolt through the centerboard, with eyelets or something is more appropriate?

Any feedback is appreciated.

I would put a metal Tang on the centerboard with a thimble in the cable and pin in the tang

Yes, do like Bawgy said.

That cable is not supposed to be threaded right through the centerboard like that. You should be able to locate the hardware described above by Bawgy. If not, even a nut and bolt with a looped end and thimble on the cable is a better way to go.

As far as the crack goes, you may be able to fill it with an epoxy or fiberglass resin. Do you intend on using it as a day-sailor (trailer it every time you use it), or will you be leaving it in a slip at a marina? If it's not submerged for weeks to months at a time, it may last you years like that. But that depends on how much rust is underneath it, and how fast it spreads underneath the keel's skin.

My boat had a busted keel for more than 10 years before I fixed it. The original owner hit a lot of rocks with it, and consequently busted up the fiberglass at the bottom tip of the keel so that some of the steel/cast iron/whatever underneath was left exposed. It was holding surprisingly well until our little nemeses, the zebra muscles, managed to get up underneath the rest of the fiberglass while in my slip. They worked their way up toward the hull and split the fiberglass all right off. I had to re-skin it myself. (not fun, not fun).

Try sealing the crack. If it's just a hairline one, like you said, then that's really not bad for the age of the boat you're getting. If, however, the fiberglass skin of the centerboard/keel is bulging, then I'd say you're heading for problems down the road. If no bulge, no problem.

How did everything else look?

RE glasing the centerboard should be an easy fix. Go to the local hot rod shop and ask for advice on laying some fiberglass. Prety simple to do with MARGLASS and some WM epoxy and Fiberglass cloth

Thanks Chock & Bawgy. Very helpful.

I won't have boat moored or at marina, just in water a day or two at a time so I guess I won't be too worried about rust.

Sounds like I can fabricate a better cable end. Plus I can fix hairline crack.

I just found out my brother-in-law had a Venture 17. He really liked it but strongly suggests it come with a bow pulpit for safety while working on the jib. The boat I'm looking at does not have the bow pulpit fence.

I've looked on web and they seem difficult or expensive to obtain.

Any thoughts?
Thanks!

Look on the Venture 22 thread that is active right now. Therein are discussed options re obtaining stainless deck hardware for these older Mac/Ventures.

You can buy some aluminum tubing a conduit bender and make one yourself . Just go to the marina and get an idea of what you need by looking at others . Get on the deck and bend one out . Cut the bottoms of the tube to fit flush on a deck plate . 5 minute epoxy it all together and take to a shop and have them weld it up for you