Posted by Jay Glen (svfantasy@…>)
Michel, George,I think I have the same or a similar document. Mine says the internal ballast is 4000 lbs and the centerboard is 2000 lbs, for a total of 6000 lbs. I just have a hard time believing I’m lifting 2000 lbs when I lift the centerboard with my Barient 27-48 self-tailing winch.
On 7/20/07, michel.capel <michel.capel@…> wrote:
Jay, George,
I have a set of the original typewritten specification document of
the Freedom 40. It states that the CB is made of fibreglass and that
the internal portion of the ballast is 6000 lbs. Total ballast
weight or CB weight is not mentioned.
— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, “Jay Glen”
<svfantasy@…> wrote:
George,
I own and liveaboard “Fantasy” a 1981 Freedom 40 Cat-Ketch on San
Francisco
Bay. There are photos in the original group photo file. Anyway, my
centerboard had some damage to the leading edge when I bought her
three
years ago. I’m not sure whats inside, but whatever it is it’s
encased in
fiberglass and has a nice air-foil shape all the way to the bottom
of the
board. I have very little slop in the board and do not notice any
clunking
of the board when sailing or at anchor. I replaced the lifting
pennant (all
braided line 1/2 “) when I purchased her. The pennant connects to
the aft
edge of the centerboard and runs straight up the raceway to the
deck just
forward of the mizzen mast. There it runs back to the cockpit
cabin top
where it is lifted by a Barient 2 speed 27-48 self-tailing winch.
It lifts
fairly easy,but I’m guessing the board weighs in over 500 lbs.
Everywhere I
find specs for this boat the numbers are different. Draft is
listed between
3’ 9” to 5’ 6", and the centerboard weight runs from 500 lbs to
2000 lbs.
When I haul out this Fall in preparation to my trip to Mexico, I’ll
determine the substance of the centerboard, lead or iron. I’ll
also measure
her for her draft.
As far as sailing this type of rig, its a little different than
what I
expected. I still have wishbones (aluminum) and both sails are
full battened
with large roaches. The run on Harken Batt car system. I have the
original
commissioning document thats lists all specs for hardware, running
rigging,
sails, electrical, plumbing etc etc. Plus, I have a copy of “Sail
Handling
Hints” written by Gary Hoyt for Freedom Yachts. Its a very
interesting
primer on how to trim and handle the sails. If you would like, I
can make
copies and send them to you (and anyone else in the group who may
be
interested). Just send me your address and I’ll get them out to
you. Just
cover the copying and mail cost.
I love this boat and she sails very well. I generally put the
first reef in
at 18 knots. The mizzen needs to be carefully trimmed so as not to
overpower
the helm, so I reef the mizzen around 15 to 18 knots. For comfort,
I then
reef the main at about 25 knots. Both get the second reef at about
30 knots.
These boats really fly off wind, and point fairly well depending
upon sea
conditions. I sail SF Bay and offshore where we typically have
fairly good
winds and seas. She is very comfortable, even in 14 foot swells on
the
quarter.
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
On 7/19/07, george huffman <thatboatguy2@…> wrote:
Wow! I’m getting a lot of help here much faster than I
thought I
would. I really appreciate every response and we are feeling a
lot better
about this. I’ll be conducting the probing described by
Katorpus as best I
can. The boat was hauled when we bought her so we didn’t have a
say about
how she was blocked. She is really low to the gravel and it’s
making it
tough going. Also there has been plenty to occupy us in the
mean time with
doing some blister repair and a new bottom. We will not pay
another round
trip on the travel lift which is what they want to charge us
just to pick it
up and block it higher. If we have to do that I’ll splash it
and take it to
a more reasonable yard. In fact it’s my desire to have her out
of there as
soon as possible.
I spoke with Eric Sponberg on the phone today. He is a very
friendly and
knowlegable person to deal with and he has turned me onto a guy
named Paul
Dennis of Warren River Boatworks. You guys are probably already
familiar
with this name as was responsible for final assembly at the yard
where our
boat was built for some years and he specializes in repairing
Freedoms.
Thanks for so much help so fast.
If you find that email with sailing instructions… I’m all ears!
George and Kerri
katorpus <jrb@…> wrote:
George
I prepared a lengthy post on this last night which somehow never
posted here or appeared in my mailbox…I’ll reconstruct it
briefly
-
The slop is on purpose…if the board were so tight on the
axle
that it couldn’t contact the side of the centerboard box (at the
bottom edge, where the hull is uber-strong), then drifting
sideways
into rocks etc would put incredible leverage on the axle and its
mounting.
-
Since the boat is out of the water, you ought to be able to
figure
a way to “wiggle” it up and down (at the axle end) by resting
the tip
on the ground or other object and levering upwards against the
leading
edge of the board (while “pinning” the tip to keep it “still” so
it
won’t move).
If the board truly DOES weigh 2000#, then this may require a
jack to
accomplish. The idea is to observe the motion of what you can
see of
the upper end of the board and extrapolate the amount of “slop”.
If it won’t move “up and down” on the axle attachment (or doesn’t
move “far” (a subjective determination), then you don’t have a
problem.
- If the “knock” at anchor (or while drifting in near-calm air)
bothers you, then just raise the board “tight” (at anchor) or put
a “little” tension on it (in light air) and the problem will go
away.
Just think of all the barnacles that are getting smashed when the
board knocks and you’ll feel better about it (hard to clean that
area
when the boat is floating, so they tend to build up there.
If you have visual evidence that the board is “tearing up” the
bottom
of the box, then you might want to go ahead and pull it out and
re-do
the pivot (and/or replace the board), but don’t put it back
together “too tight” (for the reasons explained in item #1)
ATTENTION MARK EDWARDS – if you’re out there monitoring this
discussion, do you have any comments?
Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your
pocket:<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48253/*http://mobile.yahoo.com/go?
refer=1GNXIC>mail, news, photos more.
–
Jay Glen ki6jtk
s/v Fantasy
Freedom 40 Cat-Ketch
San Francisco Bay Area
– Jay Glen ki6jtks/v FantasyFreedom 40 Cat-KetchSan Francisco Bay Area