I’m told some Freedom 40 AC were built in Australia in the 1980s. An Internet search however, comes up with no reference to. Does anyone know if this is correct and have knowledge of the Australian builds?
No Freedoms were ever built in Australia. I was CEO of Fairways Marine, the exclusive builder outside the US.
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Hi, I’m taking advantage of you. I own a 1993 Freedom 38. I’m asking you, does the company that produces the masts, exist?
Thanks.
Francesco
I’m very happy with my F38. Every now and then, like many sailors, I ask myself: is this mast safe? Have there been any major problems while sailing? What checks should be done?
Thanks.
Thanks very much for responding, Goleen.
To your knowledge, were copies of Freedom 40 cat ketch AC produced outside of US, including in Australia?
I had a Freedom 38 myself for a few years in the early 1990s. I have not heard of any issues with the masts. Everett Pearson died last year so I do not know what happened to Tillotson Pearson, he used to own 50% when I was building Freedoms. The firm did many other things apart from masts including being subcontractor to build Freedoms and also J boats and wind vanes for the wind power sector.
TPI is still in business, but no longer makes boats/masts. They were apparently making buses—like, public transit buses—as there are a bunch of fiberglass bus frames visible outside the factory in Warren.
There’s a place in Bristol, RI that will make you a new mast if necessary. The masts for the last 40/40s were made there, and apparently better than the TPI ones. I don’t remember the name exactly but it shouldn’t be too hard to find. It’s something composites.
GMT Composites. Formerly Goetz Composites.
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