F25 spar

Posted by jim3bk (jim3bk@…>)

Hello Freedom friends,

I am looking at several Freedom 25’s. I have a few questions re the
mast. Why did Freedom drop the wing mast and replace it with the fixed
round mast? What are the pros and cons for both?. Should I shy away
from one or the other?
I would like to be able to ramp launch. Is a J24 a suitable size
trailer to haul the F25? Are there any other trailers that will fit
the F25 that can be used to ramp launch or should I have a new one
custom built?
Thanks Jim D

Posted by Herman and Gail Schiller (hschiller2@…>)

The wing mast was expensive, as was the boat (1982 price for boat was
$22.5K w/o options or sails) In an attempt to reduce price the round
spar was introduced some time in 1983.
The wing mast boat can be sailed as a cat rig without any real
penalty to performance. The round mast is not as capable upwind as
the wing mast is, and has led to the introduction of the blade jib.
I haven’t a clue how you can ramp launch this boat, either version
has a keel-stepped mast. Stepping/unstepping the mast requires a
crane, or an “A-frame” that’s at least 20 feet tall. The J-24 weighs
about 3000 lbs., whereas the Freedom 25 weighs about 4300 (depends on
inboard vs outboard engine). A trailer for the Freedom should be at
least 6000 lb. capacity. You might be able to find a suitable trailer
on the used market.
Herm

At 08:51 PM 5/3/2006, you wrote:

Hello Freedom friends,

I am looking at several Freedom 25’s. I have a few questions re the
mast. Why did Freedom drop the wing mast and replace it with the fixed
round mast? What are the pros and cons for both?. Should I shy away
from one or the other?
I would like to be able to ramp launch. Is a J24 a suitable size
trailer to haul the F25? Are there any other trailers that will fit
the F25 that can be used to ramp launch or should I have a new one
custom built?
Thanks Jim D

Yahoo! Groups Links

Posted by Dave_Benjamin (dave_benjamin@…>)

Jim,

I don’t think the F-25 is going to be easily ramp launchable. Just
like J-24’s and other small keelboats you’ll probably want to find a
hoist.

There were some lifting keel F-25’s built in the UK. If you could find
one of the few F-24’s made they are a trailerable boat with lifting
keel.

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “jim3bk” <jim3bk@…> wrote:

Hello Freedom friends,

I am looking at several Freedom 25’s. I have a few questions re the
mast. Why did Freedom drop the wing mast and replace it with the
fixed
round mast? What are the pros and cons for both?. Should I shy away
from one or the other?
I would like to be able to ramp launch. Is a J24 a suitable size
trailer to haul the F25? Are there any other trailers that will fit
the F25 that can be used to ramp launch or should I have a new one
custom built?
Thanks Jim D