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1988 Freedom 28 info

Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2014 5:23 pm
by Walt H
I'm a beginning sailor and have decided I have to own a boat! Been looking at ads for months now and had pretty much decided that I would get a Catalina 30, Ericson..... etc. Then I came across an ad for a 1988 Freedom 28 fractional sloop..... The free-standing mast and the self-tending jib really appeals to me as a new sailor. Been searching this forum for any info on these boats but there doesn't seem to be very much discussion about this model.
I would appreciate any advice/ info that is available on this model. Specfically any advice on what to look for in the pre- survey inspection, ( I understand that the balsa core in the hull must be checked for rot/ moisture). Any thoughts from Freedom owners would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Walt
So Calif

Re: 1988 Freedom 28 info

Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 2:02 pm
by hxschiller
I owned a 1987 Freedom 28 for about 5 years, and my comments are based on personal experiences, and the oddities of this particular boat. Firstly, the stock 2-bladed propeller is NOT optimal. I traded it for a 2-blade feathering propeller which resulted in much better acceleration and deceleration. Servicing the engine (coolant and oil/filters) is about as awkward as most sailboats with engine under cockpit sole. BTW: The oil filter for the Yanmar 2GM is the same as the Honda Accord. The aluminum alloy fuel tank developed a leak at lowest, most forward corner seam, I believe because original assemblers dropped some crews in the crevice right there between tank and wood structure. As you might anticipate, cleaning all the oil from the bilge, and the area under the fixed portion of the cockpit sole, was laborious! When I sold my boat about 4 years ago, the survey did not find any delamination of hull and deck from its balsa core. It's an easy boat to sail, self-tacking sails make everything much easier that having your wife wind sheets around winches and getting exercise using the winch handle. I added small screw-in deck hatches to each of the water tanks in order to be able to swab out the sediment periodically. Note that the venting hoses for the water tanks end inside the cabinetry, and if you overfill the water tanks you will wet the contents of these cabinets behind the solon seats. To keep internal moisture levels reasonable, I added solar fans in the hatches over the V-berth and in the head (I live in coastal NC surrounded by warm water most of the year).
Note: All the brochures state that tis boat draws 4'6", but it measured 4'10" which is meaningful if you dock where draft matters.
I built additional storage for the forepeak area (narrow shelves on each side of the hull).
On my boat, the steering pedestal was not bedded (sealed) well at its base on the cockpit sole, and leaked over a long period on the wood battery box,; it rotted and needed replacement. The batteries' water needs are difficult to maintain requiring a mirror, flashlight, and a small baster reserved for use with distilled water. I had a smallish solar panel wired in the prevent battery self-discharge.
A carping comment: The cockpit in my Freedom 25 (previous boat) was more comfortable that the F-28. Given That I also owned an Alerion Express 19 Cat, this appear to be something that Garry Hoyt paid special attention to in boats that he designed.
Be aware that if you ask a commercial boat hauler to transport your prospective boat, that hauling down too hard on the straps can bend the aluminum toerail.
Chances are that you will find the hingepins for the deck hatches impossible to loosen/remove, making a send-off to be remanufactured (glazing and gasket) a major chore.
Make sure that the area under the mast step, and bulkhead right next to it, does not have any rot. Some boats had inadequate drainage of water blown into, and then down the mast into the bilge.
Lastly, I believe the reason there are relatively fewer F-28s around is that the F-30, a very similar boat appealed to thos that wanted that boat, but with somewhat more room for cruising.
I hope you find a copy of the F-28 in good condition, given that the boat is now 27 years old.

Re: 1988 Freedom 28 info

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 5:15 pm
by Walt H
Thanks very much for your input!!

Walt

Re: 1988 Freedom 28 info

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 12:24 pm
by Walt H
Would the Freedom 28 be considered a boat capable of safely crossing oceans, or is it more of a "coastal cruiser"?