Does anyone know anything about a Centerboard F 44?

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1

Posted by Nicholas Sladen- Dew (sladen-dew@…>)

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2

Posted by michel.capel (michel.capel@…>)

Yes, According to Mark Edwards our Freedom inside man, there were 5
built. I know of one, named Betelgeuze. A German engineer friend of
mine went over to have a look at it when it was for sale a few years
ago. He was not impressed by the technology. It’s a shallow keel with
a cutout, open at the aft end. In the cutout, there is a long
centreboard. I’m not sure it it’s a NACA foil, I believe not. The
rudder and skeg are a bit shorter and wider.

When I first became interested in the F44, I was very keen on the
centreboard version, but there is very little information about them.
Besides, the engineer friend (an F44 owner) talked me away from it. I
now have a fin keeled F44 and have to live with the draft of 6’6".
Beware, Freedom publishes a draft of 6’, but that’s without cruising
load.

Best,
Michel

3

Posted by nickandcol (sladen-dew@…>)

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “michel.capel”
<michel.capel@…> wrote:

Yes, According to Mark Edwards our Freedom inside man, there were 5
built. I know of one, named Betelgeuze. A German engineer friend
of
mine went over to have a look at it when it was for sale a few
years
ago. He was not impressed by the technology. It’s a shallow keel
with
a cutout, open at the aft end. In the cutout, there is a long
centreboard. I’m not sure it it’s a NACA foil, I believe not. The
rudder and skeg are a bit shorter and wider.

When I first became interested in the F44, I was very keen on the
centreboard version, but there is very little information about
them.
Besides, the engineer friend (an F44 owner) talked me away from it.
I
now have a fin keeled F44 and have to live with the draft of 6’6".
Beware, Freedom publishes a draft of 6’, but that’s without
cruising
load.

Best,
Michel

Thank you Michel,

This is my first time with a group!

I am interested in the centreboard because of ans interest I have of
sailing in the canals of Europe eventually. And I used to own a
Wauquiez Hood 38 with an excellent centreboard arrangement.

On a different note, I have 3 children (currently 5, 7, 8), my wife,
Colleen and myself. We are planning to take off again in two years
are seriously thinking of a F 44 as a possibility. Do you think the
F44 would be suitable for all of us?

Thanks

Nick

4

Posted by michel.capel (michel.capel@…>)

Nick,

I haven’t sailed a foot with my F44 yet (still refurbishing it) but
I can say the following about it.

If you input the design parameters of the F44 into programs that
judge sail hanling, stability, comfort and safety, the F44 comes out
very good. Its beam is quite narrow, only 12’ with an even narrower
transom (good windward performance, no waterline deformation under
heel). The keel length below the hull is quite short and there is no
superstructure for waves to get a grip on (good capsize factor, easy
in motion). The fact that the beam is narrow and ther is no
superstructure limits the interior volume, much so compared to
modern wide hulled designs.

You could ask Richard Franklin of the UK, currently selling his F44
Windwalker. He regularly commutes between the UK, the Azores and
Porugal and Spain, I believe.

Best,
Michel


— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “nickandcol” <sladen-
dew@…> wrote:

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “michel.capel”
<michel.capel@> wrote:

Yes, According to Mark Edwards our Freedom inside man, there
were 5
built. I know of one, named Betelgeuze. A German engineer
friend
of
mine went over to have a look at it when it was for sale a few
years
ago. He was not impressed by the technology. It’s a shallow keel
with
a cutout, open at the aft end. In the cutout, there is a long
centreboard. I’m not sure it it’s a NACA foil, I believe not.
The
rudder and skeg are a bit shorter and wider.

When I first became interested in the F44, I was very keen on
the
centreboard version, but there is very little information about
them.
Besides, the engineer friend (an F44 owner) talked me away from
it.
I
now have a fin keeled F44 and have to live with the draft of
6’6".
Beware, Freedom publishes a draft of 6’, but that’s without
cruising
load.

Best,
Michel

Thank you Michel,

This is my first time with a group!

I am interested in the centreboard because of ans interest I have
of
sailing in the canals of Europe eventually. And I used to own a
Wauquiez Hood 38 with an excellent centreboard arrangement.

On a different note, I have 3 children (currently 5, 7, 8), my
wife,
Colleen and myself. We are planning to take off again in two years
are seriously thinking of a F 44 as a possibility. Do you think
the
F44 would be suitable for all of us?

Thanks

Nick