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Ruslan, Did you take out the rudder to inspect the rudder tube? I would, if you haven't done that. The repair might be easier from inside the rudder tube. If the tube is undamaged, you might try injecting fast curing epoxy into the crack. You also might want to inspect the skeg to hull attachment, b...

Ed, There shouldn't be any play between wheel and quadrant. On the other hand, the cables shouldn't be so tight that there is a lot of friction. It's not the idea that the cables eat away the bronze quadrant and wheels. Also check the bearing pins in the wheels, mine get stuck after a winter. But th...

Hi Erik, I'm 6'-5". I owned a UK built 1986 F35 catketch (mk I model with cabin bulge in the cockpit) and now an 1981 F44 catketch. Bunks on the F44 are shortish (don't know the exact length, suspect it to be around 6'- 2"), but wide enough to sleep well if you don't sleep straight on your back. The...

Hi Craig, I've been looking into sail material for a while and I agree with Haarstick's observations. Many other lofts state the same. Laminates are used for the best sailshape and least weight going over all other considerations, such as costs and durability. Laminates are not very durable and have...

Dean, I have been through many of your issues. I'll try to address some of them. -toerail leaks: check the bolts below, especially midships. Rusty bolts = leaks. You probably won't have to remove the toerail; I partially took out most bolts and redid them with Sikaflex (3M 5200 or likewise). You nee...

Kerry, Surely your water seal must be leaking. I rebuilt my seawater pump last year and replaced both seals and the bearing. That was an 1981 pump. If your pump has low hours, I would look further than just replacing the seal; these seals wear out slowly and should be fine for many years. Mine start...

Hans, Freedom 44 Frog Kiss has a bowsprit with a small jib. The (previous) owner had a shortened F45 mast so he had the top attachment points for the F45 standard jib on his mast. See photos below.

Ed, I have the 'newer' system on my wishbones. As Hans pointed out, the butterfly block makes it hard to have a second reef and impossible to have a third. George indeed points out the loss of purchase on the aft reef point. Downside of the 'newer' system is also the inordinate length of reefing lin...

Mike, good thinking about the ID and OD dimensions. I mistakenly wrote that the ID of the exhaust mixing elbow is 2". The OD must be 2", since the hose ID is 2". That was the original setup on the F44.

Hans, I raced a Laser for some years and as you know the come with only a mainsail. Weather helm is severe if the trim is off. Some thoughts here that you perhaps already had yourself, but anyway; - The first step before reefing is flattening the main. Perhaps there is more you can do to flatten you...