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Well, I have taken the plunge and bought another boat. Its a 1971 Helsen 22. I paid the princely sum of $800.00 but that does include the trailer. Structurally the boat is sound. All I can say about the cosmetics is that structurally the boat is sound!! The small amount of wood on the boat (hatch covers, tiller, rudder, hand holds are solid but extremely weathered. It has snub winches which I will replace with an upgrade. I was able to communicate with the designer and get some info from him but there is almost nothing on the internet about the boat

Here is a collection of Helsen's that had been listed on Sailing Texas in the past to give you an idea of what the boat is like.

http://sailingtexas.com/cboats99helsen.html

Anyone here have any information about sailing characteristics etc of this boat??

If anyone thinks I am abandoning my roots this boat can be trailered although that would not be my first option.

Ohhhh boy!

That's a great price - but scary. Did it come with serviceable sails? We need lots of pictures!

We used to trailer a 24 ft boat of 3,000 lbs disp. - though it ended up in a slip! Most of the hair raising events with that boat occurred on the road.

Now you need something small and light for daysailing; like a Thistle or Scot.

That boat looks like the typical 22 footer. I am thinking about Mac/Ventures 22 and others of the same genre and era.
It certainly deserves a good try (at the price you paid) and it could very well be very enjoyable.
But I don't see that size of boat as real trailer cruiser. They are trailerable but that's it!...You will also need a good mast raising strategie and a good tow vehicle for that boat.
You will also have to check the pivoting keel cable and winch if you don't want a bad surprise. Those 600 pounds keels are serious business, specially at that age! Be sure about it before launching.
Most boats of this configuration are good pointers and sail well. You will hear the humming of the keel cable and you will use it as a speedometer before long! Dont worry about the heeling also. That kind of boat goes well this way.
Have fun and give us news (images, videos etc...)

Charlie P. (NY) wrote:Ohhhh boy!

That's a great price - but scary. Did it come with serviceable sails? We need lots of pictures!

We used to trailer a 24 ft boat of 3,000 lbs disp. - though it ended up in a slip! Most of the hair raising events with that boat occurred on the road.

Now you need something small and light for daysailing; like a Thistle or Scot.

I did check it out fairly well. As far as I can tell (until we splash it of course) everything is in good condition. The boat has been shrink wrapped for the last 4 years. I did check the centerboard cable (this boat is a bit unusual in that it is not apparently a swing keel but it has the 600 lbs in an attached keel and then it has the centerboard as well. I didn't realize that until I got the brochures from "Jopie" Helsen. However, I will say there must be some weight in the centerboard because, unlike the Sunbird, the centerboard must be cranked up. You cannot just lift it.

Want a laugh. This is a 2200 lb boat. The brochure shows it being launched by a 1971 VW Beetle!!!!! The boat probably outweighs the car by 500 lbs!!!!!

I don't intend to trailer it. I don't trailer my Sunbird (which I may very well keep for the reason of being able to take it to other locations on occasion.)

After I put it in the water I will send photos of my progress of making it shipshape and Bristol fashion.

If it is a keel / centerboard configuration, it is a good thing IMO. (It really looked like a swing keel model to me!) There is that stub keel that you can sail with in shallows with the centerboard pulled up. That is a good system that is used by many companies such as the Montgomery, Oday and many more.

This guy also designed the Montego, another boat will very little information available. Someone reminded me that boats built in the early 70's were much more likely to be sturdy and well made. Boats starting in the mid 70's became much more flimsy because of the substantially higher cost for resins and other items made from petroleum.

For all practical purposes by the way the MacGregor and the Venture are the same boat, at least in the 22 ft model and only carried about 400 lbs of ballast. I would rate this boat more on par with the Catalina 22 (swing keel model)

I bought it from the manager of West Marine store in Knoxville so if anything is wrong with it I know where to find the guy. It probably needs just enough stuff to keep me interested and to boost his sales by 50%!!

My boat is from 1975!... Just at the edge of flimsyness!... I think that many 30 footers of today are build less solid than my boat. (or most of the early seventies.)

Whooo Hooo! Congratulations! I love that you're starting a collection.. What will you name the new boat? Have fun & we want pictures!

Friends with SCAMPS wrote:Whooo Hooo! Congratulations! I love that you're starting a collection.. What will you name the new boat? Have fun & we want pictures!

The new boat will be named HENRILINA, after my grandchildren Henry and Angelina. It will be pronounced Ornery Lee Na of course!!

I will need to get rid of the Sunbird which will be a sad occasion. It has been a good boat.

I wish you the best with your new boat.