thought out, though we agree with own- ers that six people would too many unless the boat was at the dock. Cockpit stow- age is limited to a reasonably generous (13" x 23") lazarette locker aſt. To its credit the design manages to
mostly hide the centerboard, but the trunk does make an appearance in the center of the cockpit sole and in the aſter part of the cabin sole. In both cases Ken and Ventura Sport Boats did their best to make lemonade by using the surfaces effectively—in the cockpit as a plat- form for centerboard hardware and the mainsheet assembly, and in the cabin as a place to step—but it’s a compromise, like everything else in boat design. The Malbec doesn’t break new
ground in terms cabin layout, opting instead for the tried-and-true V-berth and pair of quarterberths. Te V-berth is about 6 feet long, but the full cush- ioned-length from forward of V-berth to the aſt end of the 19-inch-wide quar- terberths is 14-feet long, so sleeping can be accomplished in various places. As owners suggest, four people overnight-
66
ing would be snug unless some of them were kids or small adults, but that’s true of most any 18-foot boat. Overall headroom is a roomy 52-
inches, giving a spacious feeling to the interior, however sitting headroom (berth cushion to cabin overhead) is only 32-inches—a little tight for taller crew trying to sit fully upright. Te center-aſt portion of the V-berth
is a filler board that, like on some other classic trailersailers, serves as a galley or chart table when slid up the compres- sion post. It’s a nice solution that makes good use of the post. There is plenty of stowage in lockers under berths and excellent ventilation options with the opening cabintop hatch forward. Tere was no built-in cooking area on
our review boat, but Ventura does offer an optional slide-out galley. There is space for a portable head just under the companionway on either side.
QUALITY: “I’d say great construction for what Ven- tura wanted to achieve.” Sue Bamford,
2018 Blubird.
Given Ken’s experience building various production sailboats, it makes sense his new Malbec would be well-built—espe- cially since he was able to use some of his favorite familiar components. The hull itself is built from solid
hand-laminate, but they also add a few nice touches as needed, like using Coosa Board, a very stiff, high-density structural foam core, to reinforce the transom. The Malbec’s hull-to-deck joint is
especially secure as the raised toe-rail portion of the deck mold receives the hull side—something like a giant Tupperware container. Te joint is chemically bonded with 3M 5200 and then thru-bolted for a mechanical bond as well. Finally the joint is fitted with a durable, flexible vinyl rubrail.
As mentioned, high-quality Ron-
stan hardware is used in most places. Trough-bolts are finished with locknuts or rounded cap nuts and hardware is backed up with fender washers. Te sails come from longtime small-boat special-
SMALL CRAFT ADVISOR
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