Looking for a Mast

[Squidd]

Saw a nice Macgregor venture 24' for sale, reasonable, probably because mast is missing..

What could I expect to pay for a mast for this boat, what size would I be looking for, are other makes interchangeable ...?

It does have sails and boom and rigging, but mast was damaged and disposed of...

 

[HEINZIR]

Saw a nice Macgregor venture 24' for sale, reasonable, probably because mast is missing..

What could I expect to pay for a mast for this boat, what size would I be looking for, are other makes interchangeable ...?

It does have sails and boom and rigging, but mast was damaged and disposed of...

Blue Water Yachts ( www.bwyachts.com ) is the source for Macgregor/Venture parts. A new 3" x 4" x 28' mast will cost roughly $600 plus shipping. There are lots of old boats out there on ebay and Craigslist selling for cheap. You could probably buy one and cannibalize the mast as well as the rest of the parts for less than the cost of a new mast. You just have to be patient.

Check out the Venture 24 specific forum ( www.groups.yahoo.com/group/venture24 ) for lots of pictures of Venture 24s in various stages of restoration and to find out what the problem areas are.

 

[Squidd]

Thanks, that may be an option (buying a "donar/parts" boat) having the size in hand will help locate proper substitute...

E-bay is driving me nutts.. too many to choose from and the really good ones are half way cross country...

And I'm probably trying to be too cheap...my realistic range is $2,000 to $5,000...and I'm seeing now why some boats are offered under $1,000

 

[jepomer]

E-bay is driving me nutts.. too many to choose from and the really good ones are half way cross country...

And I'm probably trying to be too cheap...my realistic range is $2,000 to $5,000...and I'm seeing now why some boats are offered under $1,000

Don't be too discouraged. I have bought several sailable boats with outboards and trailers for $1600 and less from EBay. Patience is very important. I look for the charity auctions rather than a private sale - the donor has already "discounted" the value as a tax deduction.

I have seen many larger boats go for your price range.

October is a good month to find them, since the owners would like to avoid the winter storage fees.

Good luck!

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

Squidd, you probably could get that Venture into shape well within your budget. Shop through these postings and you'll find the usual things to watch for. You may even do better than paying $600 for a spar provided you hunt for it, do your homework and avoid Rig-Rite. The biggest hassle of these boats is the iron swing keel; but there are legions of ways to lift up the boat, remove the keel, media-blast it or sand it, and treat it with the proper undercoaters, all using standard backyard-mechanic garage tools.

Do not fret. I hope you buy it and have a good time of it. These are great little boats and tend to be vastly underestimated in terms of performance (and value). In a lot of ways I envy you for it-- I've wanted one for years but have nowhere to keep it now.