Venture bass boats

[tmcalavy]

Anyone know anything about the Venture brand of bass boats built in the 80's? They were absorbed by Carolina Skiff in the 90's is all I've been able to learn. Got a line on a used 82 Venture for a good price. It sports an 82 Johnson V-4 115hp outboard. I love OMC's but know little about ones newer than 75...I'm into the old iron as a general rule. Any input on boat/motor is greatly appreciated.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Venture bass boats

Buying a boat

1st you need to decide what you want to use it for, fishing, cruising, or water sports.

2nd how many people adults, children you want on board of the average outing.

3rd outboard, inboard-outboard, or inboard power plant.

4th Budget, what you want to pay, and what you are willing to pay, when you find
Exactly what you want.

You can hire a marine surveyor, to inspect the boat, or you can do it yourself.

You are mainly looking for soft spots in the deck, transom, cracks, all signs of a rotten, under frame. You walk all over the deck, that a mallot, or hammer with wooden handle, using handle, tap all over the transom, a shape rap is good solid base, a thud, is questionable base.

The motor should be clean, no spots where the paint is discolored, or pealing from heat, having run hot. (This part for outboard motors Compression should be atleast 100psi, and within 10% of each other,)
Spark on all cylinders, good pee stream, check lower unit for water in oil.

The overall condition of the boat will tell you a lot, as to how it has been maintained.
boat motor combo, A 30 year old may be in better condition, than a 3 year old.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Venture bass boats

Thanks TD. Yep, I'm running down that list at a distance, before I go and visit the seller. I know you've run Johnson V-4's for many years. What is your opinion of them? I've run several OMC Big Twins, but not a V-4. Just wondering about reliability, DIY maintenance and repairs...I know the motor won't be pristine.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Venture bass boats

My uncle owns a 16ft Venture bass boat that is around that year, it has an older model 85hp Evinrude on the back of it. The boat use to be in pretty decent shape until he gave it to his Son n Law, after that it was neglected, never covered up, and never touched. So my uncle got it back from him and had the motor fixed, now the deck is needing work, we've used it like it is though.

I've seen a couple of Venture bass boats around in the past year, a friend had one for sale, now that was a nice boat. I recon they are decent boats, there are still some around. They do seem to be heavy hulls, but I don't know if they are as well built as my Challenger bass boat, which has plywood under the cap instead of just foam.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Venture bass boats

Thanks for the input manimal. One of my radio station buddies back in the early 80's had a Venture that I fished out of once or twice. Remember it as being a good rig, but those memories are now 25+ years old so thought I'd ask for some input. I'm looking for a modern-style boat that I can keep/refit for fishing...80's style and newer is modern to me. So an 80's Johnson V4 would be like rocket ship tech to me. Hope to get some feedback on the V4's. Is your E-rude a V4?

 

[kg5388]

Re: Venture bass boats


I'll have to dig and find a pic without the cover.
the one in the middle is a 88 Venture it's powered by a 150 Mariner and will run 71 mph per my GPS with 2 Men in the boat but I only done it once and it scared the crap out of me.
The Venture rides good and has plenty of storage space, livewells front and back and 2 coolers built in and plenty of deck room for fishing.

check others out at http://www.bassboatcentral.com/venture.htm

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Venture bass boats

I'll have to dig and find a pic without the cover.
the one in the middle is a 88 Venture it's powered by a 150 Mariner and will run 71 mph per my GPS with 2 Men in the boat but I only done it once and it scared the crap out of me.
The Venture rides good and has plenty of storage space, livewells front and back and 2 coolers built in and plenty of deck room for fishing.

check others out at

Anytime tmcalavy, no problem. Funny you should post with that info kg, I believe that 88 model was the same exact year, model, make, boat and motor that the friend of mine had that I mentioned earlier. It also ran around the same speed. He said it would chine walk easy, basically nothing but the foot of the motor was in the water at WOT .

As for the V4 motors mine is a '78 85hp. Mine is basically an in between motor, I believe they changed a little in 1980 (I could be wrong), my manual covers the 79 models which is the same motor as mine. In my opinion it is hard to beat these old V4s E'rudes, like I mentioned in another thread alot of my family members run them, but all their motors are older then mine .