23 vs 23 Sport

[sailorman718]

Can someone enlighten me on the difference between a Venture 23 and Venture 23 Sport?

Thanks!

Mike

[thataway]

Welcome aboard Mike. The basic difference is that the "sport" has no headliner/hull liner and a balsa core. The "Venture" has a headliner and some hull liner, plus a composition (foam) core.

Personally I choose the utilitarian feature of the simple "sport". I also feel that balsa has better shear and compression strength than foams.

There has been a problem in the hot climates with delamination of headliner and the vinyl foam--and mildew. This does not seem to be an issue In Northern Climates, and there is a slightly better insulation/ less condensation. Maybe slight noise reduction...

As long as a core remains sealed they are both good. If water gets into foam, it will also delaminate, especially with freeze thaw cycles. The Balsa can rot--foam not. As long as all screws into the core are properly drilled out, and a soldi epoxy or glass core is present--there is no problem.

Many of us are ex sailors.. so let go of the main sheet and hop aboard.

[DayBreak]

Bob sums it up quite nicely.

We bought a new 23 Venture Sport back in 2017. Mike, if you can see both boats up close I am sure that would help greatly. You may even want to take a flight to Fairhaven, Wa. where the boats are constructed at Northwest Marine Industries to see first hand how the boats are built and see the differences up close and personal. We did this before our purchase. The Sport version has a spray in stipple material (vs. vinyl insulated liner) in the cabin which we preferred for its simplicity, ease of cleaning and durability. Both versions of the 23 Venture look exactly the same except for the interior of the cabin. The non-Sport version is finished off nicely with lots of teak trim and the forward berth has a carpet style hull liner.

[hardee]

HI Mike and welcome. Bob laid it out pretty well, and Gary had an excellent suggestion. It would be worth looking at them side by side and comparing the advantanges of each. The factory is generally pretty open to having future buyers coming in to visit, BUT, for right now, They are being very strict about who comes in and when. It would be worth calling and finding out IF they have one of each in the process. That would be necesary in order to see both versions. They have boats lined up in the production schedule out to maybe Feb or March and should be able to tell you when they would have a pair of V-23s in iten line.

It's easy to search out tons of answers here, and there are lots of folk who are glad to help in many ways. Stay tuned, it's a great place.

Harvey
SleepyC

[thataway]

Since Sailorman718 is in Florida--that is a bit of a trip to go to the factory.

There is a dealer (Three River's Marine) in Crystal River. They have a 23 Venture Sport in stock currently according to Web site.

If you can wait until March, and come to the Hontoon Gathering, there is going to be at least one 23 there according to the current sign up list.

We don't know where in FL you are, but there are a number of C Dorys in the state. If you are near Pensacola, you are welcome to see my C Dory 25 which would be relatively similar to the Sport model. (Masks and social distancing required.).

[sailorman718]

Great info. Thanks you! We have a dealer about an hour away in Crystal River, FL. They have a 23 in stock but not sure which version. I’ll continue my research.

Would love to make a trip to the factory, but after this COVID thing goes away!

Mike Johnson
Leesburg, FL

Former C- Dory 22 owner

[Knipet]

The non-Sport Venture 23 also comes with many items already bundled, i.e. trim tabs, shore power, windshield wipers, dual batteries & refrigerator. All of which you can have added individually to a Sport.

[hardee]

Sailorman718, note the message from Bob: