Keel & Centreboard Freedom 40 cat ketch AC 1980

General Discussion
1

Were ALL Freedom 40 cat ketch AC made in 1980s produced with centreboards?

Were there some produced with no board?

2

All the Freedom 40s had centre boards build in the UK. I never heard that the US built a fixed keel version. There was a Freedom 44 (a lengthened 40) and there may have been a fixed keel version. The fixed keel Freedoms (excluding the 70 which only had a fixed keel) came with the second generation models designed by Gary Mull (38 and 45) and Ron Holland (PH 39).

3

Thanks very much Goleen

4

Goleen, sorry to bug you. You appear to have good knowledge of Freedom 40. I’m looking at a Freedom 40 cat rig AC in Australia. Possibly built in the UK. I can’t find a hull number. But will look again. The boat does not have a centreboard. Hence my posting in April, which you kindly replied. I’m trying to find some information on what the absence of the centreboard might possibly mean to the performance and seaworthy of that boat? Can you comment on this please? Thank you, Wade

5

If I remember correctly, Fairways did offer a fixed keel version of the Freedom 40 and the slightly stretched version 44. The 40 had both centre cockpit and aft cockpit versions. I was CEO of Fairways from January 1980 until September 1982. The 44 was only aft cockpit. To do a fixed keel was not difficult. I hope this is helpful.

You should get photos of the one in Australia. Please send to me.

Best wishes,
Chris

6

Thanks very much Chris. I planned view the boat again tomorrow. Particularly to do some moisture tests. Balsa-core hull & deck, correct? However, heavy rain here so postponed. I’ll signal again when have more more information. Regards, Wade

7

Wade,

The hull and deck were balsa cored on Freedom 40s. They were made in the Isle of Man by Chris Johns who started building Freedom 40s in 1979. When I did the deal with Gary Hoyt, we incorporated Chris continuing to make the 40 hulls and decks which were shipped to our Port Hamble yard for fit out. Which year was this one built? 1980-82 would have been at Fairways Port Hamble. Fairways also build the Fisher range (30 to 46ft) and the Seastream range (34 and 43ft). Back then, 40ft was regarded as big in the sailing boat world.

How did your viewing go?

When we made the mould tools for the Freedom 70 (she was 68ft LOA), we were moving to a much larger dimension. The profit margins increase with length.

Chris