Posted by Hobo_Hut (hobo_hut@…>)
Hey everyone,
I planning a three month long cruise down the east coast of the US.
Im going to start in baltimore area, i dont have ending destination and
prefer to keep it that way. Ive been sailing dingies for most of my
life, but have never sailed anything bigger. So this will be a fun
learning experience. what I want to know is how a freedom 21 would
fair as a coastal cruising boat. Im affraid it might be too small, but
i feel maybe something smaller would be better for someone so new as
myself. What kind of head room (inches)are we talking about in a f21.
Im also considering a f25 or a cape dory 25. Would either of those be
the better choice? please shar youre long distance cruising stories if
you have them too.
Thanks everyone, this board has provided a wealth of knowledge.
Posted by Peter Devlin (devlin_peter@…>)
There are some people on these boards who have covered some decent
ocean distances on Freedom 21’s, so I defer to them for a real
assessment of the boat’s worthiness for your trip. I am a novice
sailor and have only sailed from about Kittery, ME to around
Gloucester, MA and out about 5-12 miles from shore from May to
October. Although the boat always got me home, there were a couple
times in late September when the seas where 4-5 feet and the wind was
piping right along that I felt a little…shall we just say
vulnerable. The cabin is about four feet tall, and although it has
enough room to cook, sleep, and hang out in, it’s snug. There was a
guy on these boards a year or so ago who tried to live in a Freedom-
21 in Florida and gave up because it was too small for him. I’m
planning a trip up to Kennebunk, ME from Newburyport, MA this coming
summer and believe if one is careful about weather and tides, a safe
happy journey is highly likely. Cheers.
Peter
– In freedom21@yahoogroups.com, “Hobo_Hut” <hobo_hut@…> wrote:
Hey everyone,
I planning a three month long cruise down the east coast of the
US.
Im going to start in baltimore area, i dont have ending destination
and
prefer to keep it that way. Ive been sailing dingies for most of
my
life, but have never sailed anything bigger. So this will be a fun
learning experience. what I want to know is how a freedom 21 would
fair as a coastal cruising boat. Im affraid it might be too small,
but
i feel maybe something smaller would be better for someone so new
as
myself. What kind of head room (inches)are we talking about in a
f21.
Im also considering a f25 or a cape dory 25. Would either of those
be
the better choice? please shar youre long distance cruising
stories if
you have them too.
Thanks everyone, this board has provided a wealth of knowledge.
Posted by Richard Meltz (centaur_cycles@…>)
Hi Folks,
I’ve done lots of sailing and cruising on two Freedom
21s, a Freedom 25 and a Freedom 32 so I feel I can offer some meaningful advice
to you. The Freedom 21 is arguably the finest pocket cruiser ever
made. My wife and I have spent two weeks cruising in the Sea of Cortez (San Carlos area) on
our first F21. We were younger then, and did not mind the “luxury
camping” accommodations. We’d load up with ice and food and
water then head out to remote anchorages for several days at a time. When
the ice was melted we’d return to civilization for showers, restaurant
food and more ice and provisions.
But when we decided to cross the Sea of Cortez, we felt
the 21 was too small. It would make the crossing but be very wet and
uncomfortable in the bigger waters. So we purchased a Freedom 25 which
did splendidly on the more adventurous voyage.
Unfortunately I found the 25 was too big for easy trailering
and having gotten the big boat but wanted something even bigger for the
ocean. So we sold the 25 and purchased another 21 and then the 32. We
still have both b0oats. The 32 stays in the water year round at Marina
del Rey California. The 21 is our trailer boat, which we have not used
for several years.
So I think you would love the 21 as a coastal cruiser if you
sty in protected waters or within range of shelter. For venturing out to
bigger waters, I’d make some very sturdy companionway boards, and
possibly enlarge the small cockpit drains. But the 21 is otherwise a
great boat.
Best,
Richard Meltz
Posted by Hobo_Hut (hobo_hut@…>)
What about storage for food, clothes, supples, etc? Is there enough on
a freedom 21. Is there a cabin table? It looks like there is one, but
I cant find any pictures. Does anyone know where i could fin pictures
of a freedom 21 with the table? Thanks for responces, I am starting to
be convinced.
Posted by mitya fonin (mitbok1@…>)
There is a table but it was an option so not all the boats will come with it. I used it a few times but find it rather cumbersome. Once its set up below, you will not be able to go in or out if the cabin. Thinking of modifying it so it takes less space. If you get a boat without it, it is not a big job to make something usable by yourself. As far as storage there is plenty of space every where. Under the cockpit sits you have a storage for fuel tank on port and a large storage on stbd side. All settees in the cabin have storage under them as well as V-berth. There are cabinets under the sink and chart table. And than there are all kinds of shelves and spaces for small stuff behind the saloon settees. Also rather large space behind the cooler (under the cockpit floor) that i use for
cushions and life jackets.
If desperate for more space, caned food can go into the bilge compartment under the saloon floor board.
----- Original Message ----From: Hobo_Hut <hobo_hut@…>To: freedom21@yahoogroups.comSent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 2:04:28 PMSubject: [freedom21] Re:Freedom 21 for Cruising? WOuld it be a good choice.
What about storage for food, clothes, supples, etc? Is there enough on a freedom 21. Is there a cabin table? It looks like there is one, but I cant find any pictures. Does anyone know where i could fin pictures of a freedom 21 with the table? Thanks for responces, I am starting to be convinced.
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