PROJECT DETAIL

Venture Restoration Project

     This is an excellent opportunity for someone to acquire and restore a classic yacht of Edwardian era design and to own a piece of yachting’s golden age. Due to a weakened dollar, it could be particularly attractive to Europeans.

     The 55’ ketch Venture was designed by G.L. Watson and launched in 1924 by J. Samuel White in Cowes, England. She was featured recently in Maynard Bray’s column, “Save A Classic” in Wooden Boat Magazine’s July/August 2007 issue; and, as a result, acquired by an American banker, who had the boat moved to the Gannon and Benjamin boatyard on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, where the boat was taken apart in order to prepare a detailed cost estimate for Venture’s restoration. Volatility in the financial markets has obliged the owner to forego the restoration.

     Venture’s restoration is a significant, but eminently viable project. The boat has been disassembled to have a clear picture of the work that needs to be done, and there are no longer any surprises to be found. The boat was built to the highest standards of her day, and 75% of her original, high quality, copper-riveted teak, mahogany and European larch planking is still in excellent condition. Most of her frames are fine, and only some lower futtocks need replacing. The exquisite period hardware has been saved and her deck furniture--aka her lovely teak hatches--are reuseable. Her 26,000lb lead keel has been removed to facilitate all of her repairs. Her masts are in good to excellent condition. Some of her original exquisite interior joinery remains and has been removed to storage.

     The scope of work entails:

• New fore keel and 1/3 of the aft part of the keel

• New stern post, horn timber, rudder
• New floors and keel bolts
• Replace garboards and broad strakes
• New deck frame, carlines and deck
• Power plant, electrical and plumbing systems
• New tanks
• New interior, galley, marine heads, equipment
• Portions of the rig, rigging. New sails.

     Gannon and Benjamin is an internationally recognized designer and builder of fine wooden yachts, well qualified to undertake Venture’s rebuild/restoration. Among the 50 new wooden boats we have designed and built are the 60’ and 65’ schooners, Rebecca and Juno, both known in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. In addition to new builds, we have rebuilt the 72’ yawl Zorra, now Kathleen; and George S. Patton’s 63.5’ schooner When and If. G&B has the space, crew, tools and experience to bring Venture back to her Edwardian yacht condition.

     A qualified owner must be prepared to pick up this project at its very outset. The boat is stripped down to its bare bones and is ready for restoration to begin. There will be no surprises. That said, this could be a million dollar restoration, depending on the extent of the detail inside the boat, including what modern amenities are selected. The end product will be a piece of yachting history and a comfortable, seaworthy vessel capable of cruising the world in comfort.

     Venture’s specifications: LOD 55’ LWL 42’ BEAM 12’ DRAFT 8’4” DISPLACEMENT 60,000lbs

     Copies of Venture's lines and original interior are available and can be emailed.  When necessarily reduced to web size, they are not easily read.