I am a seasoned sailor with many hours on monos and cats, but I have never sailed a stayless rig before. I have the below boat under contract and am looking for advice on things I need to look out for specific to this rig. Any thoughts would be welcomed. (I’d also love to know if the boat is priced appropriately given its condition…new main is OTW and will be never-used once I get the boat. Engine has 3,600 hours but looks to be maintained, generator has 300 hours.)
We have a ‘95cc, love it, but this one looks even better! It has several things we don’t but wish we did including the stern portholes, headsail boom, bow thruster, aluminum toe rail, arch, fiddles on table and more batteries. We have a full enclosure, electric winch, the bigger motor and furling headsail. We got new sails last week and I actually have the original headsail that was used with the boom if you’re interested in it as a spare.
IMO, the boat is priced very reasonably, we paid 114k 3 years ago for ours but in Md. This one appears to be well maintained, updated and has low engine hours. We’ve had no issues with our mast after 3 years ownership, just caulk where it penetrates the deck every year or so. We’ve not added any holes to it and it does take getting used to that there are no stays to grab onto. Obviously look for any stress cracking and read about surface cracking vs actual concerns on CF masts.
It is different than traditional sloops, the mast is way forward and does 85% of the driving, like sailing a giant sunfish. The jib is intended to direct air across the main and many boats (including mine) have had the headsail boom removed in favor of a furler but then the sheeting is to center and the slot is somewhat closed at the bottom. It is still very fast but some days I wish I had the boom and camber spar that it came with…. until it gets time to reel in the headsail in 30 seconds…lol.
Let me know if you have any questions. We’re in Port Canaveral.
I have had a 1995 F40/40 for 17 years. Very similar setup except yours is a CC. The boat you are looking at looks pristine, well equipped, and well maintained. $90K seems very reasonable. Of course a certified surveyor would be better able to tell you if there are issues you would need to address.
The stayless rigging is great. The boat is fast (I run rings around my neighbors’ boats) and sails well close to the wind. Wing on wing is fun and easy to do. The self tacking jib is easy to get used to. Coming about and controlled jibing is a cinch. You have to head directly into the wind to raise and lower the sails, unlike roller-furlers, but you probably already know that. You have to go up on the bow to get the jib fully down and lashed to the camberspar, which I do not find to be a big deal.
There is a trick to learn when mounting the jib onto the camberspar in the spring, but once you lean how to do it, it is not a big deal.
The main is so massive that it takes getting used to raising and lowering it, with a few tricks you will need to learn. Mounting the main in the spring takes 2-3 people.
I tend to reef early, because on Lake Ontario the winds vary so quickly, I do not like to get caught in 25+ kn winds with full sail up. She sails very well with 1 or 2 reefs in.
I have not heard of any common problems with the carbon fiber mast. It works well. I have some superficial flaking of the mast paint, but it is not structural. It is interesting to watch the mast flex when sailing close to the wind. I am not sure how tall the mast of the F45 is, but my 40/40 is 65’, which precludes the intracoastal waterway. That is not a problem for me since my boat has never tasted salt, but it is interesting looking up when going under any bridge: it always looks like it is going to hit. I once went under a 70’ bridge and had to turn 180 degrees before going under because it looked so close.
Overall, Freedom made a great boat. You can hardly buy a new pontoon motorboat for $90k, so this boat should be worth every penny plus some.
Overall, this is a great boat which most true sailors love.
We had the Freedom 45 CC for 8 years! Lived aboard part time in Burnt Store Marina!! Punta Gorda Florida. Sailed all over, key west every year!! Loved it!! Easy to turn of course!! Buy it, you will love it!! Good price. If we were younger we would. My husband had a Cal before! We were caught in a big storm at night in the Gulf of Mexico. It plowed through the storm, and made it safely home!! Best boat out there!!
I’ve lived on my ‘95 40/40 for 4 years now. My only issue with the mast is that the circular mast step that the cylindrical mast rests on chaffed (?), and would allow the masively massive mast to shift slightly at the base. It’d only happen when the boat rolled from heavy wake (45 deg) and would make a heavy loud thud that would shake the boat. The guy who fixed it said sometimes it can sound like a gun shot. Just an FYI. Mast out project was about $10k but was an opportunity re rewire, update to LED lighting, and add a camera for future electronics.
Agree if you don’t have bow thruster to consider investing in one. Very difficult to maneuver in reverse.
Difficulty in reverse is a combo of lots of windage from hull freeboard and thick mast, plus the propeller being so far from the rudder. Wash does not go over rudder so there is a minimum speed before rudder is effective. I’m sure with training and practice one can gain the skills. But a thruster is a very nice crutch.
Reverse is a learning experience but the boat you are looking at has a bow thruster so no worries. It does have a lot of windage from the large main sitting in the stack pack, and it only goes left in reverse but that is no different than many other single screw boats.