Posted by paulsebra (paulsebra@…>)
Good Day all,
I sent this post to the other group, “FreedomYachtOwners”, as I
thought this board was drying up because of 'moderator"
issues…shows you what I know. I would welcome any thoughts on
these mast issues.
To see my boat that is for sale, please go to
www.f33catketch.com …
a copy of the post follows …
Good Day,
I am in the process of selling my 1981 F33 and this process has
elicited some very interesting questions and comments, including a
Nigerian Prince who wants to pay me $200,000, a bag of diamonds, and
2 wives … but that’s another topic.
I had a fellow refer me to the following link
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/showthread.php?t=10241
Where one of the posts contains the following info about surface
cracks on the masts. My boat has lost it’s shine in the upper,
exposed areas of the masts. My thoughts were the UV had affected the
outer coating - gelcoat - epoxy - whatever they used and you can see
the pattern of a layer of tape (or something) underneath. I am
curious as to other folks experience with these older masts (mine is
a 1981). Has there been a lot of problems with these masts??? Who
would build a replacement if it was needed???
I don’t wnat to sell somebody something that is going to be a problem
without giving them fair warning … any thoughts would be
appreciated
Thanks
Paul
Here is a portion of the discussion from the other board …
Hi Ryan,
I was Chief Engineer at TPI when we converted the Freedom 33 from a
centerboarder to a keel boat. The centerboard took up too much
interior room, and the overall weight was too high, and that is why
we took the centerboard out and added the keel. The keel version is a
much more seakindly boat than the centerboard version, so look for
one of those.
The other thing to look at is the masts. The older carbon fiber masts
experienced a lot of sufferficial cracking which, most of the time,
goes only into the first layer of the outer fiberglass windings.
These can be repaired, but you have to strip the masts of all their
hardware and relaminate fiberglass cloth and epoxy around the mast to
get rid of the cracks and restore the surface. Then refair and
repaint.
I personally know of one Freedom 33 in Newport, RI, named Folly, that
has done the Newport-Bermuda One-Two a couple of times. She’s a good
boat. I know of some others, only anecdotally, that have crossed the
Atlantic. They were popular in England.
Good luck in your search.
Eric
Eric W. Sponberg
Naval Architect, PE (CT)
St. Augustine, FL
(904) 460-9494