original freedom 28

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1

Posted by nuvaslacker (anthony@…>)

I am considering buying a Freedom 28, the original type with a
wishbone cat ketch rig, and I have a few questions. Is there a group
member who owns or used to own this model? Apart from the files I’ve
found attached to this group, I’ve found very little on the www.

I’m looking for a boat suitable for the east coast of England (shallow
mud).

  1. So one of the important parameters is the draft; the description I
    have is ‘long keel with centreplate’; I assume it’s like the original
    Freedom 40, with a very shallow draft when the centreplate’s up. If
    you have any figures I’d like to hear them.

  2. Although most of the bottom is soft mud, we do have some hard sand;
    is the turn of the bilge firm enough to sit fairly upright when drying
    out?

  3. The displacement is given as 6300kg (over 6 tons), which seems very
    high; I suspect it’s 6300lbs (under 3 tons). Any authoritative figure
    would be appreciated.

  4. I know that the balance with the later sloop rig is not very good
    on some courses; with the ketch rig is the older version likely to be
    better balanced, as I’d like to junk the wheel steering and install a
    proper tiller?

  5. Are there any particular things to look out for on this model? I
    assume like other Freedom boats it’s balsa core, so needs checking for
    deterioration. I’ll get a survey before buying, but there may be
    obvious faults that would save the money of a survey.

I apologise for the length of this posting.
TIA
regards

2

Posted by Herman and Gail Schiller (hschiller2@…>)

The Freedom 28 sales brochure states that the displacement is 7000
pounds with 2300 pounds of ballast in C’board and internal. Sail area
of 395 sq. ft. LOA 28’4", LWL 25’9", Beam 9’4". The long keel with
centerplate version (draft 2’6"-5’4") was only for the first
(approx.) 20 boats, with subsequent boats having a fixed fin keel
appended under the original boat shape. The earlier boats had 4 ports
per side, later boats had only three. Earlier boats had wishbone
booms, later ones had conventional booms. Be aware that Freedom was
not accurate about maximum draft. The balance on all points of sail
in the later F-28 (Mull design) is as good as any I’ve seen provided
the skipper knows how to trim sail. I presently own one. The later
Mull boat states draft of 4’6", but is really 4’10" (caveat emptor).
I agree with you about wheels vs. tillers. On my Freedom 25, I sailed
with the tiller between my knees and could deal with the rope
orchestra with two hands.
Herm

At 12:02 PM 8/2/2008, you wrote:

I am considering buying a Freedom 28, the original type with a
wishbone cat ketch rig, and I have a few questions. Is there a group
member who owns or used to own this model? Apart from the files I’ve
found attached to this group, I’ve found very little on the www.

I’m looking for a boat suitable for the east coast of England (shallow
mud).

  1. So one of the important parameters is the draft; the description I
    have is ‘long keel with centreplate’; I assume it’s like the original
    Freedom 40, with a very shallow draft when the centreplate’s up. If
    you have any figures I’d like to hear them.

  2. Although most of the bottom is soft mud, we do have some hard sand;
    is the turn of the bilge firm enough to sit fairly upright when drying
    out?

  3. The displacement is given as 6300kg (over 6 tons), which seems very
    high; I suspect it’s 6300lbs (under 3 tons). Any authoritative figure
    would be appreciated.

  4. I know that the balance with the later sloop rig is not very good
    on some courses; with the ketch rig is the older version likely to be
    better balanced, as I’d like to junk the wheel steering and install a
    proper tiller?

  5. Are there any particular things to look out for on this model? I
    assume like other Freedom boats it’s balsa core, so needs checking for
    deterioration. I’ll get a survey before buying, but there may be
    obvious faults that would save the money of a survey.

I apologise for the length of this posting.
TIA
regards

3

Posted by nuvaslacker (anthony@…>)

Thank you very much for your prompt reply. It certainly looks as
though it would be suitable.

regards

— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, Herman and Gail Schiller
<hschiller2@…> wrote:

4

Posted by vladimir_ud (eremeev@…>)

I have one o the first F28, hull #10, centerboard model. I think that
boat is ideal for shallow mud.
I believe that draft is slightly deeper than 2.5 ft, I’d say 3 ft.
with board(plate) up.
I’m not sure if boat will sit upright unsupported, however I had dried
out the boat in a dock for bottom cleaning, it was sitting on it’s
bottom, supported by lines.
I have numbers for displacement at 7000 lbs, and 7500 lbs, not sure
which is right.

Boat is exceptionally well balanced upwind, it will sail itself for
hours with wheel locked. Downwind it becomes tricky.

I’m considering tiller too, I have a feeling that tiller will have
enough purchase, one of original drawings of a boat shows tiller.
However, I’m not 100% sure that ditching a wheel is a good idea.

There is a block on cabin top. it’s turning point for the line for
lifting centerboard. This block supports all weight of the plate. I
have seen four F28-33 boats. All had fiberglass cracked, core
saturated around this block(Mine boat included)


Overall it is good boat, I put 2000 miles through shallow waters this
year, I liked centerboard feature very much. When the boat isn’t heavy
loaded, it does quite well upwind too.
US phrf handicap puts F28 cat ketch at 186. It is fast for a solo
cruising boat
http://www.ussailing.org/phrf/Tool_%20HI_LO_AVG%20Report.pdf

Good luck with the boat. Let us know how it is going.
Vladimir


— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, “nuvaslacker” <anthony@…>
wrote:

I am considering buying a Freedom 28, the original type with a
wishbone cat ketch rig, and I have a few questions. Is there a group
member who owns or used to own this model? Apart from the files I’ve
found attached to this group, I’ve found very little on the www.

I’m looking for a boat suitable for the east coast of England (shallow
mud).

  1. So one of the important parameters is the draft; the description I
    have is ‘long keel with centreplate’; I assume it’s like the original
    Freedom 40, with a very shallow draft when the centreplate’s up. If
    you have any figures I’d like to hear them.

  2. Although most of the bottom is soft mud, we do have some hard sand;
    is the turn of the bilge firm enough to sit fairly upright when drying
    out?

  3. The displacement is given as 6300kg (over 6 tons), which seems very
    high; I suspect it’s 6300lbs (under 3 tons). Any authoritative figure
    would be appreciated.

  4. I know that the balance with the later sloop rig is not very good
    on some courses; with the ketch rig is the older version likely to be
    better balanced, as I’d like to junk the wheel steering and install a
    proper tiller?

  5. Are there any particular things to look out for on this model? I
    assume like other Freedom boats it’s balsa core, so needs checking for
    deterioration. I’ll get a survey before buying, but there may be
    obvious faults that would save the money of a survey.

I apologise for the length of this posting.
TIA
regards

5

Posted by nuvaslacker (anthony@…>)

— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, “vladimir_ud” <eremeev@…>
wrote:

I have one o the first F28, hull #10, centerboard model.

Thank you for some very interesting information. I’ll certainly check
around the centreboard uphaul.

I’ll try to get down to look at the boat some time this week.

regards