I’m currently at the later stages of saving up and preparing for a solo circumnavigation. I’ll be working as a philosophy teacher untill the summer of 2025, to then spend six months to a year buying and then updating/repairing whatever boat I’ll find (well, and learning how to sail better by slowly making larger and larger trips over the span of another 6 months or so).
Of the boats in my budget, I’ve been hoping to find a freedom cat ketch 28/33/35/36/38/4040 to make my home for the roughly 4 years that I’m planning on sailing (the camper & nicholson 38 is a close second choice).
I’m returning to europe this winter to visit family, so I could come over to take a look if anyone has a freedom boat available. However, I probably wouldn’t be able to actually buy the boat untill June/July 2025 (unless you’re willing to give me a steep discount? ˆˆ)
I’m considering selling my 1995 freedom 35 (Pendrick) it has been well maintained by myself and her previous two owners. Shes livated in New England at the moment
Andreval I just saw your message. I have a Freedom 30 cat ketch with carbon fibre masts. In very good condition
It is located in Galicia NW Spain.
It has all the usual—- Volvo diesel, Raymarine auto helm, Raymarine chart plotter, solar panel charging, almost new Rocna Anchor + 30 M chain+ 30 M anchor plait etc.
As I have health problems, I am selling it at a discounted price €16,500
Sounds interresting. Unfortunately, I had to decide to extend my working life for another year…after going over the numbers over and over again, I noticed I simply didn’t have enough to do what I wanted to do!
If your boat is still available next year, autumne 2026, I might take a look
Andreval just to catch up with you and you’re Big Adventure. My boat is still available, but because of health problems I have decided to reduce the price to €16,500.
So I am reasonably confident the boat will sell
I’ve had 3 Freedoms a 30, 36 , and a Legacy, I would recommend a Freedom 39 (Pendric), the twin masts down wind are great, no need for spin. Having two masts cut the main’s size and hight and makes dropping one a quick reef. the hull/keel is also better for blue water, I like the DS but many like the aft cockpit. I think there is a you tube of the 39 sailing
There has been a Freedom 35 for sale in Plymouth asking £20,000 that has a new Beta engine installed (which I did with my F35). The cost of the new engine and installing was about £12,000. The boat in Plymouth appears in good order and would be an excellent buy for your purposes and seems well equipped. If I remember correctly, she also has vane steering which you will need for solo circumnavigation. If you can’t find the boat on line, please text me back. It may have sold by now. I recommended friends to consider buying but it was premature for their own plans. The 35 is called the 33 in the US. The next alternative, and slightly larger interior, would be the Freedom 39 pilothouse version designed by Ron Holland but with considerable input from others. I commissioned the 39 as the new second generation Freedoms when I was CEO of Fairways Marine. Chris
I have a UK built Freedom 35 cat rigged ketch for sale, with centreboard. Two owners from new (1987). Though we have used it mostly for Baltic cruising, it has made several Atlantic crossings, including winning one race from the Canaries to Barbados. It retains most of the equipment for long distance sailing, especially the wind vane self steering, though we have dispensed with the SSB radio. She has a sea kindly motion, due to the hull shape and adequate ballast, and is surprisingly fast when not close hauled in rough water.
Regularly and carefully maintained, she has been overwintered ashore in Sweden since 2016, launched each season for the summer months only. The original engine has been extensively overhauled twice, the last time in 2022, and is very reliable. She could be used for long voyaging with only moderate further refit, mostly updating the electronics.
At present lying on the East coast of Sweden, she has tax paid status in the European Union, and will be eligible for returned goods relief (i.e. no VAT) in the UK, too.
If you are still looking for a boat of this type, let me know and I can provide more details and pictures. There is no great urgency in the sale. I have often posted on this board, so a search will give some further details and pictures.
Regards,
Gerald Freshwater
p.s., whatever you buy, I hope your voyage goes well!
Yes, I’ve been looking at that boat for a while now . I Even emailed the broker with a few questions months ago, but no reply.
I might take a look if it’s still available once I finish my job contract in August…although I would not be looking forward to the 20-25% import fee the Dutch government would charge me to register the boat in the EU .
I’ll probably continue working till August of this year, but any further details about your boat would be appreciated!
ps. I’ve heard the centreboard requires a lot of (bi-yearly) attention to avoid it becoming uncomfortably noisy on the open ocean, has this been your experience?
The boat is still available. The current owner has spent some significant money on the boat. I installed the same new Beta engine, changed the shaft and put on a new prop, The total cost was about £12,000. He has also changed all the electronics and done other modernisation work. The boat is ready to go sailing. I would ask the owner why he/she is selling, how long he/she has owned the boat and where they have been and what they have upgraded. She looks a bargain at the asking price of £20,000 so I would try a cheeky offer of £15,000 subject to inspection and survey. I expect the current owner spent at least £25,000 plus the cost of purchase.
My Freedom 35 cost £20,000 in 2022 and I spent over £40,000 refurbishing her. I rewired her, installed new VHF and electronics (Raymarine) including new radar, chart plotter, depth sounder and wind instruments, with displays in the cockpit and at the chart table, new lighting, I installed new diesel heating, new gas oven and hob, new treadmaster on the deck, new fore hatch, new ports, a bow thruster, and new electric windlass. If you will be boating alone the bow thruster will make berthing easy. I also redid all the running rigging, and refurbished the sails
The 35 is a good size and will take you safely anywhere you choose. The two single berths in the aft cabin are good at sea and the fore cabin double is very comfortable at anchor or berthed. The 35 is an excellent sailing boats. The lifting centre plate means you have shallow draft and can attach legs to beach upright.
. I Even emailed the broker with a few questions months ago, but no reply.
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