Posted by Stacey Campbell (charlesriver106@…>)
Are there any owners, previous owners or crew of a Freedom 28 cat ketch on this board? I am considering one for my next boat and would like to know more about how well they sail, are they tender, what are the weak points as well as strong points, what, if anything, should I be aware of before considering the purchase of one of these. The boat will be used for coastal crusing and day sailing by my wife and me. No dreams of crossing oceans or rounding the horn. I’ve owned a variety of boats over the years, some smaller and some larger but have never sailed on a F28 cat ketch. If there are any owners close by ( Va.and N.C. area) I would really appreciate the opportunity to view your boat. If you want to go sailing, I’ll bring lunch and refreshments as well as do the grunt work.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Posted by Herman and Gail Schiller (hschiller2@…>)
Be aware that there are two flavors of the 28-foot cat-ketch. The
early ones (I’m told that approximately 20 hulls) had weighted
centerboards. The rest had a kind of fin keel attached to the boat
where the centerboard exited. You trade increased draft for increased
interior room. If thin water is your environment, you’ll probably
lean toward the centerboard version. Herm
At 03:05 PM 7/1/2008, you wrote:
Are there any owners, previous owners or crew of a Freedom 28 cat
ketch on this board? I am considering one for my next boat and would
like to know more about how well they sail, are they tender, what
are the weak points as well as strong points, what, if anything,
should I be aware of before considering the purchase of one of
these. The boat will be used for coastal crusing and day sailing by
my wife and me. No dreams of crossing oceans or rounding the horn.
I’ve owned a variety of boats over the years, some smaller and some
larger but have never sailed on a F28 cat ketch. If there are any
owners close by ( Va.and N.C. area) I would really appreciate the
opportunity to view your boat. If you want to go sailing, I’ll bring
lunch and refreshments as well as do the grunt work. Looking forward
to hearing from you.
Posted by Stacey Campbell (charlesriver106@…>)
Thanx Herm,
The one I’m thinking about looking at is the attached fin and has a 4 1/2 foot draft. Although I’d like a little less draft, thinking back I’ve run aground here with a 6 foot draft as well as a 3’draft. Whatever she draws you will always push the limits.
----- Original Message ----From: Herman and Gail Schiller <hschiller2@…>To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.comSent: Tuesday, July 1, 2008 3:39:19 PMSubject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Freedom 28 Cat Ketch
Be aware that there are two flavors of the 28-foot cat-ketch. The early ones (I’m told that approximately 20 hulls) had weighted centerboards. The rest had a kind of fin keel attached to the boat where the centerboard exited. You trade increased draft for increased interior room. If thin water is your environment, you’ll probably lean toward the centerboard version. HermAt 03:05 PM 7/1/2008, you wrote:>Are there any owners, previous owners or crew of a Freedom 28 cat >ketch on this board? I am considering one for my next boat and would >like to know more about how well they sail, are they tender, what >are the weak points as well as strong points, what, if anything, >should I be aware of before considering the purchase of one of >these. The boat will be used for coastal crusing and day sailing by >my wife and me. No dreams of crossing oceans or rounding the horn.
I’ve owned a variety of boats over the years, some smaller and some >larger but have never sailed on a F28 cat ketch. If there are any >owners close by ( Va.and N.C. area) I would really appreciate the >opportunity to view your boat. If you want to go sailing, I’ll bring >lunch and refreshments as well as do the grunt work. Looking forward >to hearing from you.>>
Posted by douglas.domurat (douglas.domurat@…>)
Hi,
I had an F28 CK in the early 80’s. Bought it new from the factory and
kept it in Long beach and Newport Beach Ca. Draft was never a problem
there and I had the fixed fin keel. I loved that boat! Can’t find too much
to fault. Didn’t point as high as a conventional 28 ft. sloop but it was far
far faster on any other reach. Balanced nicely. I rarely reefed as I just
dumpd air and it performed well being “over-powered” with no problem.
With the plumb bow it handled heavy seas well and I didn’t feel it was
too tender. Manouvering under power was OK but you needed some
reasonable forward movement to get good steerage. I liked having the
rudder hung on the stern as you could see it and reversing wasn’t too
bad but probably not as sensitive as a spade. The little bow sprit with
anchor roller was handy. They need a helmsmens seat or you’ll be
standing all the time. As you know build quality was excellent. The boat
has a ton of character.
As I was preparing to sell her to move up to an F36 I put the F28 in a
charter company. A guy chartered it for the weekend and anchored off a
deep rocky shore. The weather blew up and he went ashore to sleep for
the night leaving the little F28 unattended. The anchor let go during the
night and in the morning they found her on the rocks with a gapping
hole and was a total loss. Sad but I already had my F36 so I bid a fond
farewell and went from two masts to one. I’ve seen a few examples on
Yachtworld and the prices seem reasonable to me for what you’d be
getting. I’d buy another in a heartbeat.
Doug
— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, Stacey Campbell
<charlesriver106@…> wrote:
Are there any owners, previous owners or crew of a Freedom 28 cat
ketch on this board? I am considering one for my next boat and would
like to know more about how well they sail, are they tender, what are
the weak points as well as strong points, what, if anything, should I be
aware of before considering the purchase of one of these. The boat will
be used for coastal crusing and day sailing by my wife and me. No
dreams of crossing oceans or rounding the horn. I’ve owned a variety
of boats over the years, some smaller and some larger but have never
sailed on a F28 cat ketch. If there are any owners close by ( Va.and N.C.
area) I would really appreciate the opportunity to view your boat. If you
want to go sailing, I’ll bring lunch and refreshments as well as do the
grunt work. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Posted by sgaber@…> (sgaber@…>)
You wrote, “…I’ll bring lunch and refreshments as well as do the grunt work.”
I thought that was the point of Freedom boats – Ain’t supposed to be any
gruntwork.
Steve Gaber
Sanderling, 1967 C-31 #77
Oldsmar, FL
---- Stacey Campbell <charlesriver106@…> wrote:
Are there any owners, previous owners or crew of a Freedom 28 cat ketch on
this board? I am considering one for my next boat and would like to know more
about how well they sail, are they tender, what are the weak points as well as
strong points, what, if anything, should I be aware of before considering the
purchase of one of these. The boat will be used for coastal crusing and day
sailing by my wife and me. No dreams of crossing oceans or rounding the horn.
I’ve owned a variety of boats over the years, some smaller and some larger but
have never sailed on a F28 cat ketch. If there are any owners close by ( Va.and
N.C. area) I would really appreciate the opportunity to view your boat. If you
want to go sailing, I’ll bring lunch and refreshments as well as do the grunt
work. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Posted by Stacey Campbell (charlesriver106@…>)
Thanks for the info on the F28 CK. Sounds like a nice boat.
----- Original Message ----From: douglas.domurat <douglas.domurat@…>To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.comSent: Tuesday, July 1, 2008 8:51:49 PMSubject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: Freedom 28 Cat Ketch
Hi,I had an F28 CK in the early 80’s. Bought it new from the factory and kept it in Long beach and Newport Beach Ca. Draft was never a problem there and I had the fixed fin keel. I loved that boat! Can’t find too much to fault. Didn’t point as high as a conventional 28 ft. sloop but it was far far faster on any other reach. Balanced nicely. I rarely reefed as I just dumpd air and it performed well being “over-powered” with no problem. With the plumb bow it handled heavy seas well and I didn’t feel it was too tender. Manouvering under power was OK but you needed some reasonable forward movement to get good steerage. I liked having the rudder hung on the stern as you could see it and reversing wasn’t too bad but probably not as sensitive as a spade. The little bow sprit with anchor roller was handy. They need a helmsmens seat or you’ll be standing all the time. As you know build quality was
excellent. The boat has a ton of character. As I was preparing to sell her to move up to an F36 I put the F28 in a charter company. A guy chartered it for the weekend and anchored off a deep rocky shore. The weather blew up and he went ashore to sleep for the night leaving the little F28 unattended. The anchor let go during the night and in the morning they found her on the rocks with a gapping hole and was a total loss. Sad but I already had my F36 so I bid a fond farewell and went from two masts to one. I’ve seen a few examples on Yachtworld and the prices seem reasonable to me for what you’d be getting. I’d buy another in a heartbeat. Doug— In FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com, Stacey Campbell <charlesriver106@ …> wrote:>> Are there
any owners, previous owners or crew of a Freedom 28 cat ketch on this board? I am considering one for my next boat and would like to know more about how well they sail, are they tender, what are the weak points as well as strong points, what, if anything, should I be aware of before considering the purchase of one of these. The boat will be used for coastal crusing and day sailing by my wife and me. No dreams of crossing oceans or rounding the horn. I’ve owned a variety of boats over the years, some smaller and some larger but have never sailed on a F28 cat ketch. If there are any owners close by ( Va.and N.C. area) I would really appreciate the opportunity to view your boat. If you want to go sailing, I’ll bring lunch and refreshments as well as do the grunt work. Looking forward to hearing from you.>
Posted by Louis Petrosino (lpetros2@…>)
I was looking for an F28 two years ago. Finally purchased an F33 for the asking price of the 28s. Some of those F28s are still on the market.I am happy for the purchase because there is a lot more living space and storage on the F33. Also, some of them have crossed oceans so, I feel a lot safer when coastal cruising.Lou P.MARIAH----- Original Message ----From: douglas.domurat <douglas.domurat@…>To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.comSent: Tuesday, July 1, 2008 8:51:49 PMSubject:
[FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: Freedom 28 Cat KetchHi,
I had an F28 CK in the early 80’s. Bought it new from the factory and
kept it in Long beach and Newport Beach Ca. Draft was never a problem
there and I had the fixed fin keel. I loved that boat! Can’t find too much
to fault. Didn’t point as high as a conventional 28 ft. sloop but it was far
far faster on any other reach. Balanced nicely. I rarely reefed as I just
dumpd air and it performed well being “over-powered” with no problem.
With the plumb bow it handled heavy seas well and I didn’t feel it was
too tender. Manouvering under power was OK but you needed some
reasonable forward movement to get good steerage. I liked having the
rudder hung on the stern as you could see it and reversing wasn’t too
bad but probably not as sensitive as a spade. The little bow sprit with
anchor roller was handy. They need a helmsmens seat or you’ll be
standing all the time. As you know build quality was excellent. The boat
has a ton of character.
As I was preparing to sell her to move up to an F36 I put the F28 in a
charter company. A guy chartered it for the weekend and anchored off a
deep rocky shore. The weather blew up and he went ashore to sleep for
the night leaving the little F28 unattended. The anchor let go during the
night and in the morning they found her on the rocks with a gapping
hole and was a total loss. Sad but I already had my F36 so I bid a fond
farewell and went from two masts to one. I’ve seen a few examples on
Yachtworld and the prices seem reasonable to me for what you’d be
getting. I’d buy another in a heartbeat.
Doug
— In FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com, Stacey Campbell
<charlesriver106@ …> wrote:
Are there any owners, previous owners or crew of a Freedom 28 cat
ketch on this board? I am considering one for my next boat and would
like to know more about how well they sail, are they tender, what are
the weak points as well as strong points, what, if anything, should I be
aware of before considering the purchase of one of these. The boat will
be used for coastal crusing and day sailing by my wife and me. No
dreams of crossing oceans or rounding the horn. I’ve owned a variety
of boats over the years, some smaller and some larger but have never
sailed on a F28 cat ketch. If there are any owners close by ( Va.and N.C.
area) I would really appreciate the opportunity to view your boat. If you
want to go sailing, I’ll bring lunch and refreshments as well as do the
grunt work. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Posted by celij (junk@…>)
I currently own a Freedom 28 Cat Ketch. I love it. Very easy to
sail, pretty simple boat. It is not a light agile race boat, but if
you get it slightly off wind, it gets in its track and is fabulous.
It does OK going into the wind, not horrible but you will not be
pointing at 35 degrees with the J105s.
We have been in rough confused seas and it handled them very well. I
have also been in heavy wind conditions it handles gusts like a very
well - healing over and putting its shoulder in going forward. Easy
and very flexible sail plan for shortening sails. You can do
everything from the cockpit (although it is easier to go to the mast
to raise the sail because the fully battened mail gets caught in the
Lazy Jacks.
Inside is pretty good for a 28 footer. I have 4 young kids and all 6
of us fit for an over night (but only for one night).
Cockpit is a generous size, deep with excellent drainage if pooped.
My last boat was a 56’ steel cutter that my wife and I sailed from
Australia to France (before kids). We met lots of folks with
different types of cruising boats and the CK28 ranks right up there
with them in terms of construction and design.
We are based in Buzzards Bay MA. If you are up this way and our
schedules match, I would be more then happy to take you out.
Thanks - John
— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, Stacey Campbell
<charlesriver106@…> wrote:
Are there any owners, previous owners or crew of a Freedom 28 cat
ketch on this board? I am considering one for my next boat and would
like to know more about how well they sail, are they tender, what are
the weak points as well as strong points, what, if anything, should I
be aware of before considering the purchase of one of these. The boat
will be used for coastal crusing and day sailing by my wife and me. No
dreams of� crossing oceans or rounding the horn. I’ve owned a variety
of boats over the years, some smaller and some larger but have never
sailed on a F28 cat ketch. If there are any owners close by ( Va.and
N.C. area) I would really appreciate the opportunity to view your
boat. If you want to go sailing, I’ll bring lunch and refreshments
as�well as do the grunt work. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Posted by vladimir_ud (eremeev@…>)
I’m owner of Freedom 28 Cat Ketch, centerboard model, hull #10. I love
the boat. I just completed my 2000 nautical miles trip from Houston TX
to Pamlico sound NC. I did this trip solo, some parts outside, some on
Intracoastal waterway. I believe that the boat is actually better
suited for open water work than protected waters.
You will miss furling fore sails every time you travel ICWW.
I have some issues with steering in a blow and following seas too.
Barn door rudder develops a lot of helm while boat is easily going 7-8
knots.
I believe it is all minor issues.
Overall it is great boat.
My boat is in NC, however I’m in NYC, waiting for a mooring. I’m not
sure when I’ll see my boat next time, however you are welcome to join me.
Regards
Vladimir
Posted by Stacey Campbell (charlesriver106@…>)
Sorrry, I havn’t been on the site for a while.
I would love to see your boat the some time when you are down this way. I’m sending you an e-mail with my contact info.
Thanks again for the offer.
----- Original Message ----From: vladimir_ud <eremeev@…>To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.comSent: Saturday, July 12, 2008 6:17:14 PMSubject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: Freedom 28 Cat Ketch
I’m owner of Freedom 28 Cat Ketch, centerboard model, hull #10. I lovethe boat. I just completed my 2000 nautical miles trip from Houston TXto Pamlico sound NC. I did this trip solo, some parts outside, some onIntracoastal waterway. I believe that the boat is actually bettersuited for open water work than protected waters. You will miss furling fore sails every time you travel ICWW.I have some issues with steering in a blow and following seas too.Barn door rudder develops a lot of helm while boat is easily going 7-8knots.I believe it is all minor issues. Overall it is great boat.My boat is in NC, however I’m in NYC, waiting for a mooring. I’m notsure when I’ll see my boat next time, however you are welcome to join me. RegardsVladimir