I have seen Freedom 45cc with roller furlers and am assuming they stayed self tacking. Has anyone flown a 150% Genoa? Will the mast take the loads. I know I will have to sheet to the toe rail which is fine and I have winches at the traveler for when a spin is being used that can also be used for the genoa.
I have also seen models that have the headsail boom removed, how did this affect the sailing ability and handling. Would be nicer to not have the headsail boom sprawled across the deck when packed away.
Hi. Did you buy the 45 CC in NC? I was looking at it and went with the one in BVI bcs it had a newish mast.
Anyway, the jib in all Freedoms is kind of a bummer and a bit of a joke, (except when you go wing on wing and surf) but what is NOT a joke is a gun mount spinnaker. I am seriously considering building one for my 45 and it may be a better option than a big masthead top genoa which might stress the mast too much. You need to speak to a naval architect before you attempt this so that you know what you are putting the boat through.
I sailed a whole lot on a 32 with a gunmount rig back in the day and I think its a great solution. A GREAT solution - and you will be smoking most monohulls out there when you fly one ina fresh breeze.
Best of luck
Andre S.
S/Y Water Bear
Freedom 45 CC
I read your post and am not sure what you meant by “gun mount” sail ?
I have a 1987 Freedom 30 new to me and also am not impresses how small the jib is !
When i bought my 1987 Freedom 30 I had a few hirline cracks in the surface of the carbon mast that turned out to be nothing. I contacted the navel architect(retired) who designed the mast and have his contact info here below:
Yes i did buy the NC 45. I will also have to ask what is a gun mount spinnaker? Never heard of this term. Veryfamiliar with assyms and symetricals as i race 3 other boats when not on the 45 ( Catalina 30, ultimate 20, and and international 505) As for the 150 question it was never intended for a masthead set up, the luff would be the same as the std headsail, but the clew would be further back. Just wondering if anyone has done this or know its a total no,no.
Hello all. The gunmount spinnaker in this writers opinion is the greatest contribution to sailing by the Freedom line, just behind the double freestanding masts. Its a way to fly the spinnaker without ever leaving the cockpit, by one person. It came standard on many midsize Freedoms, and many owners removed it. I dont know how to attach pics to this post or i would send you one but just google freedom gun mount spinnaker and you will see some. Basically its a spar in a pivoting sleeve that is attached to the reinforced pulpit and extended out and retrieved with a pulley system. The sail lives in a bag on deck when not in use. It looks clunky and complicated but when you use it its the greatest thing, and provides a lot of power to the boat.The spinnaker is cut so the head is smaller than normal and it requires very little attention when deployed. Try the link below or just google it.
Super cool, there is a spinnaker onthe boat which i havent dragged out yet, however no pole or swiveling cup. The bowsprit does have the plate on top to attach one. Time to get manufacturing
