Posted by pathmark2000 (pathmark2000@…>)
Hi everybody,
Sorry if this is obvious question but I have been researching Freedom
boats and it appears that many models come in both ketch or sloop
rigged. Is there any inherent performance difference between these
setups? Is there any particular reason you would buy one over the other?
Have either setup proved to be the more reliable? Are they both as
easy to singlehand?
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Mike
Posted by Thomas Carlton (Finesse@…>)
Mike,
Before I bought my F-33 cat ketch, I looked at the 36 and 38 in both rig versions. It was my very strong impression that these boats were designed to be sloops, but available as a cat ketch option. They do not look like they were initially designed to carry the mast all the way forward. I really wanted a cat ketch, so I narrowed my hunt to the boats that were designed from the ground up to carry that rig.
Thomas
Posted by Alan Kusinitz (akusinitz@…>)
I remember reading about wobegone daze and its cat ketch/rotating wing mast conversion I believe on Eric Sponberg’s site and it indicated they modified the bow of the 36 or 38 to provide more buoyancy.
Alan F-33 Hull # 51
----- Original Message -----
From: Thomas Carlton
To: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 10:13 PM
Subject: Re: [freedomyachts2003] Freedom cat ketch vs. Freedom sloop
Mike, Before I bought my F-33 cat ketch, I looked at the 36 and 38 in both rig versions. It was my very strong impression that these boats were designed to be sloops, but available as a cat ketch option. They do not look like they were initially designed to carry the mast all the way forward. I really wanted a cat ketch, so I narrowed my hunt to the boats that were designed from the ground up to carry that rig. Thomas
Posted by Dave_Benjamin (dave_benjamin@…>)
Ketches are faster off the wind. When we had our 39 ketch we did some
buddy boating with a 36. The 36 was much better upwind. Off the wind
it wasn’t even close. The ketches except for the fairly rare 36 ketch
(Mull) have fairly long keels and IMHO track better in larger seas.
Our 39 felt like it was on rails in 15 foot seas and 35 knot wind. It
really provided a pleasant ride even in boisterous conditions.
As far as I know the only model to be offered in both ketch and sloop
was the 36. I think the ketch rig on that boat was an afterthought.
It really needs more forward volume which explains Wobegone Daze’s
expensive but elegant bow modification.
You will find the same size Freedoms in both ketch and sloop
configurations but they are different hulls. For instance the F-28
sloop is a Mull design with fin keel and spade rudder. The 28 ketch
is a traditional catboat, very similar to the 33 (Jay Paris design)
with a long keel and in some cases a centerboard. The later model
40’s are Pedrick designed fin keel spade rudder sloops whereas the
older 40’s that got Freedom started are a Hereshoff design with a
long full keel.
All Freedoms are good boats. It’s just a matter of determining
priorities and choosing what’s right for you. Be sure to find a
surveyor well versed in cored construction, not just another yahoo
with a moisture meter. I heard a funny story about a surveyor
condemning a deck on a boat in Seattle. Nothing too startling but his
readings were taken on an overcast morning after heavy rain.
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “pathmark2000”
<pathmark2000@h…> wrote:
Hi everybody,
Sorry if this is obvious question but I have been researching
Freedom
boats and it appears that many models come in both ketch or sloop
rigged. Is there any inherent performance difference between these
setups? Is there any particular reason you would buy one over the
other?
Have either setup proved to be the more reliable? Are they both as
easy to singlehand?Thanks in advance for your replies.
Mike