Found!: MacGregor 17' Venture Sailer/Trailer - $1200
The decision had been made that a boat was in my near future. Nothing extravagent or expensive as I just can't afford it. It hit me that I had cast off my younger attitude of needing the latest and greatest and realized that I just simply NEEDED to get out on the water!
I researched little sailboats with an obsession. I found ShortyPen's Sailboat Pocket Cruiser Guide and checked out every link on the page. I had narrowed it down to about 5 models for which I was going to search.
I started searching locally with the intention of finding a project boat. Something for around $1000 that would probably require a lot of TLC but that would get me sailing before the end of the summer. I searched on eBay, the Post classifieds and everywhere I could think of and then I hit Craig's List's Boat classifieds. There I found a plethora of available craft but at that time, nothing I really felt like I could afford based on my restoration skills or lack there of. It dawned on me that a trip across state lines would not be so bad and I decided to check out CL West Virginia.
There it was. "MacGregor 17' Venture Sailer/Trailer - $1200"
I immediately emailed the person on the other end of the ether and asked for photos of the boat as well as a more in depth description of its condition and features. The guy on the other end was incredibly accomodating and sent me a couple of images later that evening.
Like an man with an obsession and Photoshop will do, I zoomed in on as much of the hull as possible, looking for the cracks and signs of age that I assumed would be inherent in a boat of this age. Despite my best attempts, I found none!!
I couldn't believe my luck! The boat looked in great shape and the sale price included sails, life jackets and cushions, cover, trailer, 6hp Johnson OB MOTOR, 2 fuel tanks, all new lines and rigging, berth cushions, fenders and a swim ladder. I requested more images assuming that problems with this transaction would appear in the images. These are what I recieved:
I still counldn't believe it! A trip was planned for the following weekend after the owner agreed to hold the boat for me until I got there! With cautious optimism, I embarked on a 3 hour journey to West Virginia to examine (and mostly likely buy) this little boat.
When I arrived and saw the boat I was truely drop jawed. I just couldn't believe the condition of the sailboat. The gelcoat was oxidized and had lost it's glossy sheen but the hull was, save for a few signs of light wear, as new as I had ever seen on a boat of this age. Everything was in incredible shape!! The sails had a little mildew but no tears or signs of patching. The motor had wear on the outside but the inside looked showroom new.
I met the owner, a retired gentleman who was very accomodating, very nice, and VERY organized. He had been only the second owner of this boat and I knew from his personality and manner of having everything "just so" that he had taken great care of this boat. To top it off, he had renewed the registration of the trailer (which was expired when I first contacted him) just so that I would not get a ticket on the way home from WV. I just had to promise to send his plates and registration back to him as soon as I could. I knew immediately that I would be driving this boat back to DC!
We sat down to transact the sale. No problems. He had everything in order and ready to go. After the papers were signed and everything was buttoned up he said, "so...you get a great boat in great condition for the price of a trailer." I agreed and replied by asking him if he was certain that he felt properly compensated. Not the thing to do in most cases but I did feel a little as if I was stealing this rig from him.
Driving home I could not believe my eyes. I looked into the rearview mirror and reflected on how much $1200 can still buy these days. I had, in my younger years, drank up $1200 in a few months and this was something that would bring me so much joy and had, in my mind, the feeling of something concrete and definitive. Not the amorphous and abiguous feeling you get when you spend $1200 on booze or even on some piece of technology that is smaller than the stack of 20's you just handed over to purchase it.
I researched little sailboats with an obsession. I found ShortyPen's Sailboat Pocket Cruiser Guide and checked out every link on the page. I had narrowed it down to about 5 models for which I was going to search.
I started searching locally with the intention of finding a project boat. Something for around $1000 that would probably require a lot of TLC but that would get me sailing before the end of the summer. I searched on eBay, the Post classifieds and everywhere I could think of and then I hit Craig's List's Boat classifieds. There I found a plethora of available craft but at that time, nothing I really felt like I could afford based on my restoration skills or lack there of. It dawned on me that a trip across state lines would not be so bad and I decided to check out CL West Virginia.
There it was. "MacGregor 17' Venture Sailer/Trailer - $1200"
I immediately emailed the person on the other end of the ether and asked for photos of the boat as well as a more in depth description of its condition and features. The guy on the other end was incredibly accomodating and sent me a couple of images later that evening.
Like an man with an obsession and Photoshop will do, I zoomed in on as much of the hull as possible, looking for the cracks and signs of age that I assumed would be inherent in a boat of this age. Despite my best attempts, I found none!!
I couldn't believe my luck! The boat looked in great shape and the sale price included sails, life jackets and cushions, cover, trailer, 6hp Johnson OB MOTOR, 2 fuel tanks, all new lines and rigging, berth cushions, fenders and a swim ladder. I requested more images assuming that problems with this transaction would appear in the images. These are what I recieved:
I still counldn't believe it! A trip was planned for the following weekend after the owner agreed to hold the boat for me until I got there! With cautious optimism, I embarked on a 3 hour journey to West Virginia to examine (and mostly likely buy) this little boat.
When I arrived and saw the boat I was truely drop jawed. I just couldn't believe the condition of the sailboat. The gelcoat was oxidized and had lost it's glossy sheen but the hull was, save for a few signs of light wear, as new as I had ever seen on a boat of this age. Everything was in incredible shape!! The sails had a little mildew but no tears or signs of patching. The motor had wear on the outside but the inside looked showroom new.
I met the owner, a retired gentleman who was very accomodating, very nice, and VERY organized. He had been only the second owner of this boat and I knew from his personality and manner of having everything "just so" that he had taken great care of this boat. To top it off, he had renewed the registration of the trailer (which was expired when I first contacted him) just so that I would not get a ticket on the way home from WV. I just had to promise to send his plates and registration back to him as soon as I could. I knew immediately that I would be driving this boat back to DC!
We sat down to transact the sale. No problems. He had everything in order and ready to go. After the papers were signed and everything was buttoned up he said, "so...you get a great boat in great condition for the price of a trailer." I agreed and replied by asking him if he was certain that he felt properly compensated. Not the thing to do in most cases but I did feel a little as if I was stealing this rig from him.
Driving home I could not believe my eyes. I looked into the rearview mirror and reflected on how much $1200 can still buy these days. I had, in my younger years, drank up $1200 in a few months and this was something that would bring me so much joy and had, in my mind, the feeling of something concrete and definitive. Not the amorphous and abiguous feeling you get when you spend $1200 on booze or even on some piece of technology that is smaller than the stack of 20's you just handed over to purchase it.
posted by venture17 at 10:19 AM
6 Comments:
I guess I just got a "better deal" than you did! I got a Venture 17 for free today ;-) My neighbor is moving so gave me his!!!! Now its not in as good of shape as yours (it hasn't been used in 10 years) but should clean up ok. We live on the Potomac and even have our own launch ramp BUT I have never sailed before so will have to approach this carefully and most likely enlist help of a skilled sailor. I'll let you know how it goes or maybe I'll just do a Blog as well ;-) Thanks for some great ideas/tips.
I payed 50 Dollars American to a boatyard I was working for at the time. I did some minor repairs to the swing keel. I also had to construct a companionway hatch cover, and replaced the wood. That was not on the boat when I bought it. I then sanded off an old coat of safety orange paint, and put on a new coat of Comadore Blue. I love my little yacht and sail as much as possible.
Thanks for putting your stuff on web. I had V17 for 1.5 years and went around Minnesota on few day trips down rivers and lakes,,, Wish there was bit more headroom and table. Just sold boat and miss it, a Macgregor 25 is the planned big upgrade for me,,, but going from 900 to 2200 pounds shows how V17 was great in some ways. mntjohnson@gmail.com
HOW WORK THE V17 MACGREGOR? Do you have video sailing? do you recomend me buy a v17?, I have a good oportunity now. thank you form Puerto Vallarta
corporategroup@gmail.com
Thanks for your blog. i bought a 1973 venture 17 half a dozen years ago with the intent of fixing it up. I am finally doing so and wondered about the owners manual that you spoke about. I haven't been able to find one on line. Is your available.
Wonderful, I also bought a Macgregor 17, in excellent condition, for a steal. 760 dollars! although the engine wasn't in great condition, it is a wonderful boat, and lovely for solo camp trips. Have fun on the water. -Captain X
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