Advice and Trailer specs for shoal keel Freedom 21

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Posted by fishon2day@… (fishon2day@…)

To all group members,

Thank you in advance for allowing me to learn from your experiences.

I have been a competitive sailor since I was a kid. I sailed on Lake
Ontario as a member of the Great Lakes Yacht Racing Association and off
the coast of New England as skipper and crew so I know a little about
sailboats. My new wife is new to the sailing scene. The Freedom 21
(F21) looks like a great boat.

I am currently evaluating the purchase of a 1986(?) US Shoal Keeled
F21. The current owner keeps it on a mooring in Rye Harbor, NH. and
does not have a trailer for it. With a 15+ year estimated waiting list
for a mooring I think a trailer will become part of this acquisition.

Herein lies my problem. I don’t have any pictures or dimensions of the
keel and trailer . I need the specs to determining if my 20’ LOA
Easyloader roller trailer can be converted to hold this boat. Does
anyone have a picture/s and or specs for the “custom” trailer that was
sold with these shoal keeled boats in the mid-eighties?

Also, any advice about what to watch out for with these shoal keel
models?

The asking price seems fair (below market by $1,000 - $1,500).

Sincerely

Paul G
Portsmouth,NH
Fishon2day@…

2

Posted by Medium Al (hjulbyhavn@…>)

I weighed my F21S fully loaded for cruising one year. Axel-weight
3800# plus Ball weight of at least 200# This includes tools,
maintenance supplies, camping gear for 4, 8Hp outboard and battery. I
previously got 3600# coming home after pulling out at the end of the
season. My trailer is made of steel. This certainly suggest a much
higher weight than TSP was guessing (and maybe a stronger boat) but
also that you need a decent trailer with at least a 3500# axle and
matching tires.

My trailer is a bunk trailer, it work OK when the is enough water and
I drown my tow vehicle (My Toyota Previa 4WD van tows like a champ -
but it is not fast)

I have bought a roller to lift the bow and two guiding rollers for the
keel (sides). It is almost impossible to get it to sit straight in a
crosswind.

In shallow water you need a tongue extender, on steep ramps you need a
roller or at least a hefty winch to get the nose up as the front of
the keel will bury its nose in the bunk board. Rollers under the keel
might help some but it is lift you are after.