I’m the proud new owner of a Freedom 36. I bought her last winter and she’s been on the hard ever since. I’ve never sailed her, but I’m looking forward to launching in a couple of weeks in Mackinac City.
I’d love all your input and feedback on sailing this one-of-a-kind boat.
I’d especially appreciate tips on sailing to windward, jibing, etc.
This boat is rigged with a roller-furling headsail and a Leisure Furl boom for the mainsail. I’ve never used an in-boom furler before.
Hi, Congratulations on your Freedom 36. Interesting that both sails are furling. Certainly makes reducing sail easier. I like the self tacking camberspar but I understand why others would prefer a furler.
I tend to fall off to a cruiser’s close reach. But if pointing is needed then bringing the traveler up and setting jib cars will help like any other boat. No winches or jib car for camberspar.
The Main and boom on an F36 is pretty big. So if you are going deep down wind in decent breeze a preventer is worth rigging to prevent an accidental gybe.
Your boom will be heavier than most so keep an eye on the gooseneck and vang fittings on the carbon mast.
Lastly, the carbon mast is “bendy” so in a breeze the top of the main spills off and tends to depower automatically. There is a Harstick trim guide in the site search.
Always been curious how a furler and a carbon mast would work together.
Here is an interesting video from Tom Cunliffe on the Leisure Furl. It seems pretty handy and reliable. Presume just like any other furl it would need luff tension to keep roll alignment right.
I’m down in Boyne City and have a Freedom 36 that we keep down in Mexico. Happy to give you a hand if you need one, though ours is factory rigged. Always wondered how a furling headsail would work on this boat - lst us know!
