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OldPelican · 16-01-2013, 17:47

I've decided that I want to go voyaging in a Freedom F25 if the one I want is available or comes on the market in the next couple of months.

This may come as a surprise to the few who've read my handful of postings here. Those folks probably think I'm inclined toward more traditional, more or less full-keeled, boats especially those designed by Carl Alberg in the '60's... and they're right. I love those boats. I love classic designs in general. Hell, I even like John Hanna's Tahiti ketch, saints and ministers of mercy preserve me.

I know it's a heretical thing to say in this sub-forum, but I actually like multihulls too. I've owned a Piver 25' Mariner and I love what John Marples and Jim Brown have done with trimarans. I dearly love Jim Wharram's catamarans and if I were going to build a boat, that's whart I'd build; especiallty his more recent stitch-and-glue designs.

But, here's the thing: I'll be 64 in April and I've wanted to go voyaging for at least thirty years. Why I haven't yet is a subject for another thread in another sub-forum when I'm at least as nearly drunk as I am now

What I want:

A boat easily singlehanded. I don't have an "Admiral" and probably never will. I'm old and ugly and gay; therefore, I'm a singlehander

I'm a New Englander ( I'm a descendant of a Mayflower family) so I like catboats.

I've read Jeff_H's posts denouncing the designs of the 60's and he has a point, even if he is more of a racer than a cruiser :P

Unstayed masts are attractive to me (junk rigs intrigue me) as is Gary Hoyts gun mount spinnaker.

What I like about the F25:

The round mast on hull #'s later than 100 (I think}. I definitely don't think I'd like the rotating wing mast of earlier versions.

All, and I do mean all, lines lead to the cockpit. Never any need to go out on the foredeck.

The interior is actually quite voluminous for such a small LOA and beam.

Relatively cheap to buy and very cheap to maintain.

Excellent performance downwind or on a reach. Not so great when beating but what cruiser is? Anyway, gentlemen don't go to windward

What I don't like:

While I loved my Catalina 30', I'm not a huge fan of fin keel/spade rudder boats for cruising beyond the 100 fathom line. The F25 and F21 have transom hung rudders, and that's a plus in my book, and the fin keel has a draft of less than 4' which is another plus. I guess I'll just have to be very careful about running into things or tangling fish nets and crab pots

The B/D ratio is just over 30% BUT there's a deep bilge over the keel for storing heavy stuff like ground tackle...which is a good thing since there's no foredeck access to a chain locker!

The cockpit is awfully large for offshore sailing but it's very comfortable, ergonomically and the bathtub-like footwell my make a useful rain catchment...an important consideration given the limited tankage

...and the likes and dislike lists go on.

Bottom line, if a suitable F25 shows up on rthe market soon, it's mine. Otherwise I'll buy an F21 and go camper/coastal cruising for awhile until one does

**boatman61** · 16-01-2013, 17:56

Old Pelican.... what can I say...

Welcome to CF...

Sumner · 16-01-2013, 18:12

An interesting boat....

http://barefoot.phaup.net/photos/fre...%20Boat%29.pdf

...good luck in your search,

Sum

OldPelican · 16-01-2013, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by boatman61

Old Pelican.... what can I say...

Welcome to CF...

Hey! I don't want to hear it from a bilge-keeler who couldn't figure out which side to put the dagger board down on. the English are notoriously bad shipbuilders qanyway. That's why the 19th century Admiralty prize courts paid so well for captured French built ships

Butler · 16-01-2013, 18:23

Welcome Pelican...
I have no idea how these sail so my input is limited but it seems you couldn't ask for a simpler boat and simplicity is a joy as we all know.
The cockpit can always be modified or be used to store things that reduce the volume. Jessica W kept her life raft back there I believe. Stern hung rudders are always a good idea in my book and the keel doesn't sound that problematic.
Is there an owners site on line and can you get a ride on one locally just to make sure it works for you as you think it might and get owner feedback while underway?
Best of luck with the search!

OldPelican · 16-01-2013, 18:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sumner

An interesting boat....

http://barefoot.phaup.net/photos/fre...%20Boat%29.pdf

...good luck in your search,

Sum

I have that pdf saved to my harddrive

Butler · 16-01-2013, 18:25

Wow... funny!
Guess you been told Boatman! HE HE :-) :-)

westsail374 · 16-01-2013, 18:34

Cored hull?

Potential water in hull/deck cores?

Check carefully!

OldPelican · 16-01-2013, 18:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by westsail374

Cored hull?

Potential water in hull/deck cores?

Check carefully!

Yes. I'm aware of that potential problem area. As near as I can tell, very few boats have exhibited problems here UNLESS an owner has made some careless modifications.

gjordan · 17-01-2013, 00:08

OldPelican, 25 foot is plenty to take a single hander any place other than high lattitudes. I would not use the cockpit for water catching. Do you want to catch water from a place that your bare bum might have been sitting on a half hour before? Better to use an awning with a soft funnel sewn in, or a deck drain that normally drains down thru a thru hull, with a valve in the line that can divert the water to a tank(or tanks). You might want to check out the Quartermaster wind vane for your transome hung rudder, It is simpler than the stainless /aluminum/expensive, contraptions that people hang on the back of their small boats. I too love the Carl Alberg boats, but I will jump off with the best boat I can afford, when I think the time is right. Best of Luck to you!_____Grant.

OldPelican · 17-01-2013, 00:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by gjordan

OldPelican, 25 foot is plenty to take a single hander any place other than high lattitudes. I would not use the cockpit for water catching. Do you want to catch water from a place that your bare bum might have been sitting on a half hour before? Better to use an awning with a soft funnel sewn in, or a deck drain that normally drains down thru a thru hull, with a valve in the line that can divert the water to a tank(or tanks). You might want to check out the Quartermaster wind vane for your transome hung rudder, It is simpler than the stainless /aluminum/expensive, contraptions that people hang on the back of their small boats. I too love the Carl Alberg boats, but I will jump off with the best boat I can afford, when I think the time is right. Best of Luck to you!_____Grant.

Good tip! I'm pretty sure that company is out of business but they were very popular on Folkboats and Contessas so I might be able to find one'

Richard5 · 17-01-2013, 01:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by gjordan

OldPelican, 25 foot is plenty to take a single hander any place other than high lI would not use the cockpit for water catching. Do you want to catch water from a place that your bare bum might have been sitting on a half hour before?

He said, "gay".

Other than that, Semper Fi leatherneck. That is all.

Richard5 · 17-01-2013, 01:10

I don't know a thing about this type but have you checked this?

Freedom 25 sailboat for sale

Offer $2,500.

**boatman61** · 17-01-2013, 04:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldPelican

Hey! I don't want to hear it from a bilge-keeler who couldn't figure out which side to put the dagger board down on. the English are notoriously bad shipbuilders qanyway. That's why the 19th century Admiralty prize courts paid so well for captured French built ships

****.... who builds your boats...

no wonder your still looking while the rest of us are out sailing... don't know the difference between bilge and boards...