Identifying a Boat: Size question

[RickD]

This is probably a stupid question this time...

We've been looking at two boats.

One is a MacGregor 26

The other is a Venture 25

The SIZE difference was pretty obvious and partially due to the size of the trailer, however...

the M-25 is significantly larger and I can't even see into it, while the Venture seems much lower.

How do I absolutely identify that the Venture is actually a Venture 25 (and I didn't get the HID off that boat because I completely spaced it, even though I did get the one off the M25, duh).

The boat is not easy to go look at since it's currently 180 miles from me right now.

(I'll call the owner for the HID today) but is any there anything in the pictures of the boat I can use to ID it positively as a Venture 25?

Here's why I am asking... if it is actually a smaller boat and the current owner didn't know this or doesn't care, I don't want to buy the boat for the price he's asking if the smaller version is worth less.

My logic is, even if he got 'stuck' with a smaller boat than he actually thought he was buying, I shouldn't.

Make sense?

Thanks for any help in advance and if possible the sooner the answers the better, lol. We're trying to make a final decision in the next couple of days before the weather gets too bad to drive over the pass to collect the boat.

Thanks

[delmarrey]

Just google the boat you want to see and compare the differences. And then there is yachtworld.com

[RickD]

Yeah, been doing the google thing since yesterday.... lol

I'll check out that other link too, thanks

[Colorado Dreamer]

I would call him and tell him you need the HIN to check if the title is clear or something and then use that to help you figure it out.

[GordMay]

Here’s a picture gallery of a Venture 25:
Gallery :: Venture 25

[RickD]

Originally Posted by Colorado Dreamer

I would call him and tell him you need the HIN to check if the title is clear or something and then use that to help you figure it out.

I was actually doing all that when I posted the message.

And I did get the HID, verified the boat and we're good to go.

And thanks for the information folks, I sincerely appreciate it.

[RickD]

Hey Gord,

Is that someone's project boat images?

My wife and I debated hard and long on all the aspects of the boats available to us in the area (and there are plenty we didn't look at but we didn't just look at one and buy the first one).

Last night we made a deal with the current owner of a '79 Venture 25 to buy his boat.

We'll be sailing in the lakes here in Colorado for a couple of years, taking sailing classes and using our OWN boat rather than renting - and then we have plans to venture out of Colorado and try some other areas to gain some more experience.

When we're comfortable with sailing lakes, we're planning to take a "live-aboard" cruise where we can get some ocean training.

So - that's the plan.

I've taken a lot of suggestions from folks here and my wife and I aren't dummies - so we'll figure this out.

This past week I spoke to my father. He's almost 73, living in Michigan. Former Marine, black belt karate guy, was in the Korean war and was awarded two purple hearts and a silver star for bravery in combat action on some damned hill in Korea.... he said, "You're gonna do WHAT?"

I said, "You want to go Dad or are you telling me this is a stupid idea?"

His answer was, "Hell yes, pick me up when you're ready to sail up here to the Great Lakes! Wish I'd done that..."

LOL....

Some of my friends that I have known for 30+ years all looked at me with surprised looks and said, "Can I go too?"

The only person who said, "This is a ridiculous idea" was our youngest son (he's 22, 23 in Jan) and he doesn't want to see "things change"

Hopefully, our little plan (which of course I've not laid out in details here, just a quick briefing on it) will meet our needs and everyone's "approval" here.

If anyone has any more advice... give it up!!

haha

Thanks all

Rick