Alan, I bought the Freedom 28 cat/ketch you almost bought last November. I bought it after carefully investigating every aspect of this boat and its construction. I tracked down the naval architect involved in the design of it who was cruising the Bahamas with his wife, I contacted and tracked down the plant manager that was there in 1983 when the boat was built, and I also tracked down another fellow who participated in building them in 1983 who knows every aspect of the boat intimately. After 2 weeks of back-and-forth deliberating whether I should or should not let the offer stand, I went for it I would have done the same as you if I were 2500 mile!s away however.