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Venture 22
Designer: Roger Macgregor  ·  Builder: Macgregor Yachts Corp. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1968
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About the Venture 22

Designed by Roger MacGregor and built by MacGregor Yachts from 1968 to 1971, this compact 22-footer represents an early example of the swing keel design philosophy that would become a MacGregor signature. The Venture 22's most distinctive feature is its swing keel configuration, which reduces draft from 4.5 feet to just inches when raised, opening up shallow waters and simplifying trailering. With a displacement of 1,600 pounds and moderate ballast ratio, this boat strikes a balance between stability and performance that suits weekend coastal cruising and daysailing. The masthead sloop rig provides straightforward sail handling, while the 218 square feet of sail area offers adequate power for light to moderate conditions. The relatively low comfort ratio of 8.59 indicates this is primarily a daysailer rather than an extended cruising platform. The swing keel design makes the Venture 22 particularly appealing for shallow water exploration and trailer sailing, allowing owners to launch from virtually any boat ramp. While not built for serious offshore work, the fiberglass construction and proven MacGregor pedigree make this an honest small boat for protected waters, sailing instruction, and introduction to the sport.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 19.50 ft / 5.94 m
Beam 7.33 ft / 2.23 m
Max Draft 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Min Draft 0.67 ft / 0.20 m
Displacement 1,600.00 lb / 726 kg
Ballast 475.00 lb / 215 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 218.00 ft² / 20.25 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Swing Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Roger MacGregor
Builder MacGregor Yachts Corp. (USA)
First Built 1968
Last Built 1971
Related Sailboats ["Venture 222" · "South Coast 22" · "Columbia 22" · "Us 22" · "Buccaneer 220"]
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 260
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 25.55
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 29.69
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 96.33
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 8.59
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.51
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 5.92 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 5.67
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 510.72 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 25.6
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 24.67 ft / 7.52 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 9.08 ft / 2.77 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 21.83 ft / 6.65 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 9.75 ft / 2.97 m
SA Fore 112.00 ft² / 10.41 m²
SA Main 106.42 ft² / 9.89 m²
SA Total (100%) 218.42 ft² / 20.29 m²
Est. Forestay Length 26.29 ft / 8.01 m
How It Compares

vs. Columbia 22, South Coast 22, Us 22

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Venture 22 ★
22.0 ft
Columbia 22
22.0 ft
South Coast 22
22.0 ft
Us 22
22.0 ft
LWL
Venture 22 ★
19.5 ft
Columbia 22
20.1 ft
South Coast 22
17.5 ft
Us 22
19.9 ft
Beam
Venture 22 ★
7.3 ft
Columbia 22
7.8 ft
South Coast 22
7.1 ft
Us 22
7.9 ft
Displacement
Venture 22 ★
1 lbs
Columbia 22
2 lbs
South Coast 22
1 lbs
Us 22
2 lbs
Ballast
Venture 22 ★
475 lbs
Columbia 22
1 lbs
South Coast 22
505 lbs
Us 22
950 lbs
Sail Area
Venture 22 ★
218 sq ft
Columbia 22
232 sq ft
South Coast 22
228 sq ft
Us 22
—
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Venture 22 ★
260 s/nm
Columbia 22
269 s/nm
South Coast 22
276 s/nm
Us 22
275 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Venture 22 ★
25.6
Columbia 22
22.0
South Coast 22
24.7
Us 22
—
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Venture 22 ★
29.7 %
Columbia 22
50.0 %
South Coast 22
28.1 %
Us 22
38.8 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Venture 22 ★
8.6
Columbia 22
10.8
South Coast 22
10.9
Us 22
—
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Venture 22 ★
2.51
Columbia 22
2.39
South Coast 22
2.33
Us 22
—
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Venture 22 ★
96
Columbia 22
121
South Coast 22
149
Us 22
138
Hull Speed
Venture 22 ★
5.9 kts
Columbia 22
6.0 kts
South Coast 22
5.6 kts
Us 22
—
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Venture 22 ★
5.7
Columbia 22
4.6
South Coast 22
4.4
Us 22
—
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