Ventura Inflatable Boat?

onetraveller · 19 April 2011, 06:43

Hi,
I picked up this inflatable last week for $500 and am looking for any information available. There is no coast guard plate or HIN number on the boat. The only distinguishing mark is the Ventura label attached to the front of it. Several days of internet searching have failed to yield any clue as to who or what Ventura boats was or where it was made. I'm not even sure if the boat is hypalon or PVC, although I intend to do the solvent test soon. Any information available would be appreciated. The boat has wooden floors, a two piece wooden keel, and a plywood transom for a short shaft motor. It's roughly 13 feet 7 inches long (approximately 4.2 meters) and 5' 6" wide. It has three chambers, one for each side tube and one for the nose tube. The inside dimensions are approximately 34" x 88". Interestingly, it came with an Achilles floor bag that fits the floor boards perfectly. I do not think the boat is an Achilles, but if it was I wouldn't complain. The boat is in generally good shape and the previous previous owner had the valves replaced in the last 12 months.

Thanks,

Mike

Here's a couple of pictures.

willk · 19 April 2011, 09:13

VENTURA INFLATABLES, VENTURA WHOLESALE INC, 14901 OXNARD ST VAN NUYS 91411, LOS, Importers

Presume your boat was imported and rebadged by these guys. They shut shop on 10/6/1988, having been in business for three years, so there's an age for your SIB too. Nice looking thing for the money.

I guess that means that it is Hypalon - can't see PVC or PU lasting that time...

onetraveller · 20 April 2011, 04:35

Great, thanks for the info.

Since it was likely made after 1984, it should have a second HIN somewhere on it. I'll have to look under the floor boards and under the tubes to see if I can find it, then refinish the wood and put it back on the water.

Thanks again,

Mike

Gazzdid · 16 May 2015, 04:38

Hi one traveller, sorry for digging up such an old thread but I too have a ventura. Im wondering how you got on and whether you managed to find any info on these boats? I need to replace the wooden keel due to fire damage and not really sure where to start!
any info would be appreciated

Nos4r2 · 16 May 2015, 08:59

I think you'll be unlikely to get hold of him-he's not been on here since March 2013.

It may be worth giving Excel inflatables a ring-they have a range called Ventura, though not one as big as yours. It may be a discontinued model.