Venture of Newport 23 Review S3E15

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[@NarrowPathFarm707]

Thanks for the nice, informative video! I've had mine close to 2 years now. It's a fixer upper with a lot of hand rails including all around the edge from the bow to the cabin... working on it when I have time. It came a long way, but there's still much more to do. I've owned quite a few different sailboats from 14 to 27ft. and can't wait to get this one in the water.

[@SAILINGGOODOLDBOATS]

Thanks for the comment. I think it’s a really sweet design, and definitely worth restoring. Have fun with it. Cheers!

[@creegor1]

Great video. The care to include details that let us feel as though we are there with you are much appreciated. Looking forward to seeing a sailing season begin.

[@SAILINGGOODOLDBOATS]

Thank you for this very nice comment. Glad you enjoyed the video. We wish you a great sailing season. Cheers!

[@christophergoodwin-qo7tg]

I just got a 1973 McGregor venture 23 of Newport, the hull is in great shape foe its age, but it has no keel, i think im going to build my own keel as finding one is likely impossible, great video, thanks for sharing

[@SAILINGGOODOLDBOATS]

That sounds like a real challenge. If you would build your own keel, that would be very impressive. Not an easy project for sure. I think it’s doable though. Best of luck with your project, and thank you for your comment. Cheers!

[@ottertraildesign]

I have a keel for you. Where you located?

[@huntsail3727]

New to your channel. This was a good review of the VN 23, enjoyed it. I have owned and sailed one of these for 31 years now; it is a proven design for its intended purpose. There used to be a Yahoo group dedicated to it, great source of info but it is no longer in operation. You asked for some comments so here are a few of mine. I did not understand why you did not go through the process you used to raise and lower the mast. This is one of the more difficult things about this boat. The mast is tall and heavy for a trailer sailor. It can be raised by hand by the young and strong, and those willing to take the risk of it getting away from them. It not, it needs a mechanical assistance system of some kind. There are many options out there. It would have been nice to see your solution. Also, the boat not only sails well in light air, but when handled properly it is a surprisingly good boat in winds up to 25 mph. You are correct it is not an offshore boat. However, it handles moderate waves well also, in the 2-3ft range with white caps blowing when reefed early and sailed conservatively. However, it can capsize and sink if knocked down by a gust because the Captain either cleated or did not release the main. The self-righting you mentioned is only operational if you keep water from flooding the cabin through the companionway hatch in a knockdown. A safety factor you did not mention was the positive flotation that came with the original boat. In yours it looks like the flotation was removed, either for your video or permanently. If you are sailing in strong winds, it is a risk that in a knockdown water will come into the companionway hatch before the boat is able to right itself. Due to the beam of the boat, the companionway hatch is close to the water in a knockdown. Wave action can easily put water directly into the cabin if the hatch is left open, which is the normal setup for most trailer sailors. There are a few news stories out there describing the owners experiences. This is a risk not to be ignored. In strong winds with this boat, reef early, close and secure the companionway hatch, and do not cleat the main. Lots of fun, when sailed in this configuration. Overall a good job, but the absence of the mast raising leaves a bit of a hole. Also, it would be rare for anyone to get this boat fully rigged and launched from its trailering configuration in 45 minutes unless they have multiple hands all working together using a practiced and proven routine, like an Indy race car crew. An hour and 15 minutes for two, or an hour and a half for one practiced captain is about right. Good job, subscribed, looking forward to more. Loved how you went through the sailboat data numbers, spot on.

[@SAILINGGOODOLDBOATS]

Hello there, and thank you much for your contribution to our channel. Really appreciated. You brought up a lot of very good points. The reason why I did not show the mast raising process is unfortunately simple. There was not much to take away from it. I have not yet come up with a good Gin-pole system, or something comparable. Therefore, I simply muscled it up together with my wife. You are correct, the mast is heavy enough to make this a bit of an act without a mast raising system. You are also correct about the idea of positive buoyancy due to the risk of a severe knock down, and the concerns regarding the pop top allowing the boat to take on enough water in a few seconds to make it potentially sink. It was design as you described it. There was a lot of positive buoyancy in the bow and stern of the boat, by simply putting in chunks of styrofoam into it. I am contemplating of building a proper latching system for the pop top, in combination with self bailing cockpit drains of much larger size, a proper main hatch, a slightly raise bridge deck, a bilge pump and hand bailing pump. I think it is possible to redesign this to prosper safety standards for. protected waters, that is. Once I have something to show for a mast ring system, I might pitch an episode about it. Furthermore, glad to hear that you also think that it takes a bit longer to get this boat all setup for sailing. It's not really a quick day sailor, in my humble opinion, anyway. If you do not intent to keep it in a slip, it's more for a weekend adventure or so, giving the time that it takes to get it all setup. Thanks again for your comment. Really good information all around about this boat. Especially from someone who has sailed it for so many years. Fair winds. Cheers!

[@huntsail3727]

@@SAILINGGOODOLDBOATS Looking forward to you future videos. Great job on this one. Looking forward to your future videos. Great job on this one. Thought you might be interested in one of the articles written by a VN 23 owner who went through the scenario I discussed above. I know it helped me understand the boats potential and its limits a little better. sbo.sailboatowners.com/downloads/Macgregor_23_46587680.pdf

[@huntsail3727]

@@SAILINGGOODOLDBOATS Looking forward to your future videos. Great job on this one. Thought you might be interested in one of the articles written by a VN 23 owner who went through the scenario I discussed above. I know it helped me understand the boats potential and its limits a little better. sbo.sailboatowners.com/downloads/Macgregor_23_46587680.pdf

[@huntsail3727]

@@SAILINGGOODOLDBOATS Looking forward to your future videos. Great job on this one. Thought you might be interested in one of the articles written by a VN 23 owner who went through the scenario I discussed above. I know it helped me understand the boats potential and its limits a little better. sbo.sailboatowners.com/downloads/Macgregor_23_46587680.pdf

[@johngoeddeke2882]

Great to watch your video. I own a 78 and have loved this boat for 20 years. You stressed the use of the keel bolt which I have never used and frequently sail mine at various positions depending upon conditions. You will find it sails well even in the full up position in light air reaching of course full down in heavy air to windward. I was knocked down once but the keel didn’t swing up. I believe only a full capsize would cause the situation you described. The boat will not point on the head sail but does well with a reefed main in heavy air. Your boat looks great. I’m in Michigan and sail on lake St. Clair, spring cleaning and launch soon. Enjoy!

[@SAILINGGOODOLDBOATS]

Hi John, I really appreciate your comment. It's great to hear from someone who has sailed this boat for many years. Also, good to hear that there are ample safety reserves, regarding the swing-keel design. I just went with the original owners manual, and its safety recommendations on how to operate the swing-keel system. I figured that way everybody errs on the side of caution. I personally like to put the lock-bolt in, mainly because I find that humming noise from the cable resonation throughout the entire boat rather annoying. Thank you much for writing on your personal experience, also regarding the sail trim, and how to reef the sails best. I came to the same conclusion. Fair winds. Cheers!

[@rogerc4196]

Very nice review, thanks. I've got a 1978 vintage. Note that originally the aft end under the cockpit was originally filled with blocks of white styrofoam held in place by plywood panels; viewers can see some stray styrofoam pebbles on the sole back there. Some owners removed it, some did not. The lifelines here are, I believe, after-market. It was also common for handhold rails to be installed on the cabin rooftop. Thanks again for this review and the rest of your channel!

[@SAILINGGOODOLDBOATS]

Thank you for your comment. My boat is a 1977, and did not come with handrails, unfortunately. I am probably going to install some though. I know about the idea of positive buoyancy, and that the boat had been designed that way. I think that’s because of the wide pop-top in combination with that swing keel. Thanks again and fair winds. Cheers!

[@sailingabroad6528]

Ahhh yes. Mu first boat was a venture of newport 23. Got me hooked on sailing. Im now cruising full time on a cruising sailboat. Man o man i miss that old 23. Mine was a 1974 named Happy Bottom.

[@SAILINGGOODOLDBOATS]

Very cool name. Enjoy the cruising life, and thank you much for the comment. Fair winds. Cheers!

[@blaineoneil6296]

Got a chance to buy one..thanks to confirm my buy

[@SAILINGGOODOLDBOATS]

Enjoy! It’s a fantastic little sailboat.

[@rafaelcabral6194]

Very informative. Will be great to get a review for a Nor'Sea 27.

[@SAILINGGOODOLDBOATS]

Thanks for your comment. I never came across a Nor‘Sea 27. if I ever do, I would love to make an episode about it. Cheers!

[@Allan_TheSailor_123]

Good review of the Venture of Newport 23. I have a '77 VN23 (Sail #1214) and have had many years of wonderful sailing her. I look forward to seeing any modifications you do and I would also be interested in hearing a review about its performance in stronger winds. With my mast raising system and a few mods it is relatively easy to set up, launch and solo sail.

[@SAILINGGOODOLDBOATS]

Hi Allan, thank you for your comment. Much appreciated. Great to hear that setting this boat becomes much easier with the right mast raising system. It’s a really sweet little pocket yacht. I do like it a lot. Fair winds. Cheers!