Posted by Michael (TEBEAR47@…>)
First let me say thanks for the oportunity to be part of this group.
I am interested is buying a larger boat. Resently I went on board a 33’
Freedom cat catch. I was impressed with the interior woodwork and
space. I figuered out what the large box was in the center of the
salone. I am not new to sailing but have no experance with this
Freedom’s.
I hope someone will tell me what to look for and warn me of pit falls.
Posted by Frank Minelli (myslo@…>)
Michael, I’ve owned my F33 since 83, hull 32, built in 81. She has a fixed feel. For the past 11 years we’ve lived on her and traveled the Caribbean up and down and sideways many times. Here are here strengths, the way I see it. Very sea kindly, very dry. Roomiest 33 you can find. Downwind, the fastest monohull I have ever sailed. Across the wind, fast and hard to hold on course, heavy tendency to round up Up wind, with the old double sail, and before she got loaded down for extensive cruising, she was ok. Now, with the single sail, and heavily loaded, she is a bit of a dog. Very strong hull, if the laminate is sound A good, sweat boat… She is just good to look at too ! Here’s the
negatives, from my subjective view She is balsa cored through and through, deck and topsides, clear down to within about a ft of the keel. Sooner or later the outer skin will admit water somewhere, and the balsa is very thirsty… I wound up replacing most of the balsa and reglassing the hull (from 12" above the waterline down and stem to stern) The beautiful wood inside is not protected from water on the backside. They installed (in my boat) all the plywood and veneer, without an ounce of sealer on the backside. So, the smallest deck leak, if not caught soon and fixed, will ruin the headliner, a leak at a porthole will ruin the beautiful panelling Water in the bilge, and a sharp heel, will ruin the plywood and veneer of the bottom of the galley and
other places. The wiring is not multistrand, tinned wire. And just a few weeks ago I found one of the keel bolts rotted out. These keelbolts are actually J-rods, with the bottom of the J part of the keel casting, so there is no pulling those bolts for inspection or replacement. I also had the mainmast go overboard, in 96. The immediate cause of that probably was a severe grounding, where we pounded in the surf and sand for a few hours, the mast going over almost ninety degrees one side, then the same on the other side, many times. It broke at decklevel, about two weeks thereafer, in light airs. Perhaps the biggest negative is the attitude of the people at the builder’s. They know from absolutely nothing, have mislaid all the documents and
all the plans and all the specs. So dont look for too much help from them. (But there is plenty help out ther, when you need it) But, hey, dont let that discourage you. All things are relative, and compared with other boats, and other builders, she is at the top, or near it. All that work to keep her going will keep you going too ! Good luck with your boat, Michael Michael <TEBEAR47@…> wrote: First let me say thanks for the oportunity to be part of this group.I am interested is buying a larger boat. Resently I went on board a 33’ Freedom cat catch. I was impressed with the interior woodwork and space. I figuered out what the large box was in the center of the salone. I am not new to sailing but have no experance with this Freedom’s.I hope someone will tell me what to look for and warn me of pit falls.
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