Posted by Robert (robert@…>)
The Freedom name may have a value to someone if manufacturing was to begin again, but as the molds for the hulls, decks etc. are destroyed and any future boats built would therefore be totally new, then I see the existing documentation as worthless for any new venture. It’s value is either historical, in which case it should be kept like all the old Chris-Craft documentation that is now in the possession of the Mariner’s Museum located in Newport News, VA. or its value is to owners of the boats that was built using the information and therefore it should be donated to an interest or members group to be freely used by all.
I am sure if anything was to be done to form a central information source or even a members group it would have to involve a fee to cover the cost of the required resources, even if the manpower was all voluntary, no one should be ‘out-of-pocket’ for the benefit of others and therefore a more formalized organization would be required with a membership fee which would cover the costs involved. The information could then be free to members and/or available on a ad-hoc basis for a fee. I for one am interested and willing to help organize.
Does, anyone know who and how to contact the current custodian of the aovementioned documentation?
On a side note: For the Freedom 32 there was a news letter that ran in the late 80’s and into the 90’s, I have nearly all volume 1, 2 & 3 and there are interesting articles in there about the problems encountered by owners and the remedies tried by the factory to resolve them, these include the mast rotation problem and the problems encoutered with the fuel tank pick-up, priming of the fresh-water system along with a number of interesting owner modifications and repairs. This is interesting information and I am sure it would be of interest to the group, particularly if the missing issues are found. I have been considering scanning the copies, when time allows and uploading to the group, but it would require organization on the existing FreedomOwnersGroup as space allocated for the database is limited and the data really needs to be organized for each boat model.
I am sure this will be an ongoing topic of discussion.
Robert
From: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Stephen DeweySent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 8:42 AMTo: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.comSubject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: Freedom Out of Business
I agree. Perhaps the freedom owners group could chip in to aquire said documentation???With today’s technology it is relatively easy to turn the paper documentation into electronic format to facilitate knowledge sharing. Even large size drawing plots are easy to scan.Although many models are covered, perhaps the “business” model to follow would be that of the various one design organizations. If the OEM manufacturer ceases production, the one design organization will often aquire the documentation & tooling and then license other builders to continue production to class standards. J-24,. Etchells, Rhodes 19 come to mind.I have no idea how much the documentaion would cost, but a possible method of recovering any outlay would be to charge a fee if anyone was to build a new Freedom. I think from a resale value perspective, it can’t hurt to preserve the documentation & facilitate access to it. It would be kind of a quasi factory support system. I mean what happens when Paul Dennis retires?
Stephen Deweyhttp://www.linkedin.com/in/stephendewey
From: Roger L. <rogerlov@ix.netcom.com>To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.comSent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 8:09:26 AMSubject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: Freedom Out of Business
I think that someone ought to make a concerted effort to saveall that documentation. Do you have any suggestions as to whereto start? Is there an owner’s organization with a library?Perhaps the company would donate or allow copies…Roger----- Original Message -----From: “Mark Edwards” <markedwards55@ yahoo.com>To: <FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com>Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 10:46 AMSubject: [FreedomOwnersGroup ] Re: Freedom Out of Business> When I left the company in December of 2005, the plans for allthe> older and newer Freedoms were in flat file drawers and stillin> storage. There were also red binders on each Freedom modelthat I> had created when managing customer service that containedbills of> materials, parts and rigging lists, and diagrams I had founduseful> in advising Freedom owners over the years. My guess is thoseand the> prints are still available at the factory and would be a partof the> package if someone bought the name. Mark Edwards>> — In FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com, “Robert”<robert@…>> wrote:> >> > Mark> >> > What has happenend to the drawings and documentation on theFreedom> sailboat> > product?> >> > Robert> >> > _____> >> > From: FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com> > [mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf OfMark> Edwards> > Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 2:25 PM> > To: FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com> > Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup ] Re: Freedom Out of Business> >> >> >> > Michel,> >> > The Freedom sailboat molds have been cut up some time ago.They had> > been stored outdoors and fell into disrepair. I believe ifyou are> > interested in acquiring a couple of Legacy power boat moldsthe> > Legacy 32 and the Legacy 42 molds might still be available.These> > are both excellent designs and worth saving. Also, thismight be an> > opportune time for someone to buy the Freedom Yachts name.Any> > takers? Mark Edwards> >> > — In FreedomOwnersGroup@ <mailto:FreedomOwne rsGroup%> 40yahoogroups. com>> > yahoogroups. com, “michel.capel”> > <michel.capel@ > wrote:> > >> > > Indeed sad. Do you know if the molds (moulds?) of thesailboats> > still> > > exist?> > >> > > Michel> > >> > >> > > — In FreedomOwnersGroup@ <mailto:FreedomOwne rsGroup%> 40yahoogroups. com>> > yahoogroups. com, “Geoffrey Schultz”> > > <geoff.freedom@ > wrote:> > > >> > > > Maybe I’ve missed it, but I haven’t seen any discussionabout> > > > Freedom/Legacy going out of business. They closed theirdoors> > over a> > > > month ago. All of the staff is gone and the contents ofthe> > factory> > > > has been purchased by the owner of the building.> > > >> > > > Sad…> > > >> > > > – Geoff> > > >> > >> >>>>> ------------ --------- --------- ------>> Yahoo! Groups Links>>>