Sailboats with Free Standing Masts

[daletournier]

For those that think that a stayless mast boat cant go to wind, some can. Freedom 32, Freeform.
https://youtu.be/v3VZB3yH5o0

[barnakiel]

The Sunbird looks a fine boat.

How do you get such small diameter masts? Are they ribbed inside? Is the tube some sort of hi-tec alloy? Is the tube wall extra thick?

I have only seen such fine masts one time before, on a small German junk boat.

barnakiel

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

The Sunbird looks a fine boat.

How do you get such small diameter masts? Are they ribbed inside? Is the tube some sort of hi-tec alloy? Is the tube wall extra thick?

I have only seen such fine masts one time before, on a small German junk boat.

barnakiel

That is the first Sunbird I have ever seen. I like the look of it very much. I don't have more info on it, but have not searched deeply either.

Good questions about the Masts. I don't have the answers.
Google searched for Needlespar and found this:
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Needlespar Masts are World Famous for their Tube and Track Technology. This give a very narrow, low windage mast with a consistent bend coefficient. The top section is made from a separate tube and is tapered where class rules allow. This section is then bonded into the main section. The wall thickness of the top section can be the same as the main section or it can be a thinner wall tube giving the top more response in gusts. Using this technique each mast can be tailored by selecting the mast wall thickness to suit each sailors needs.

By varying the wall thickness for different parts of the mast we can give it strength where it needs it, and keep it light at the top. This makes each Needlespar mast all but indestructible and gives it a low centre of gravity.

The High Grade Aluminium Track is bonded to the main tube only where it is needed, keeping the rest of the mast as thin as possible giving minimum drag. In tests, Needlespar mast can have up to 20% less drag than the opposition.

Needlespar have produced masts for National, European, World and Olympic Champions in over 17 different classes.

If you are looking for a mast custom built to your needs or a stock mast that will be fast from day one, then give us a call for a Price or quote today.

Needlespar currently Specialise in masts for:

Solo
Mirror
Lightning
Challenger
Fireball
Scorpion
Lymington Scow
Junk Rig and Una Stayed Yachts

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by alansmith

I bought the 5K dollar Egret Munroe designed cat-ketch that Steady Hand found in Craig's list. I will just include a couple of pictures not posted above. This is not a serious blue water boat. She is strictly coastal. That is enough for me. My needs are simple and not overly ambitious. My criteria was trailerable so that I can pull my boat to any area of N. America and drop her in. Small...so that I can handle her all by my self if need be. Shoal draft ...so that I can go skinny in deltas like Sacramento, Bahamas, Sea of Cortez, and San Juans. No diesel engines...weight, through hulls, complexity, no underwater stuff to deal with, and expense. Preferably free standing masts so not dealing with chain plates, rigging, shipping and unshipping masts, and low bridge access issues.

She is Spartan to say the least. The most advanced feature on her is LED steaming lights. Well, I have Steady Hand to thank for finding her. Thanks Mate...

I am sincerely very happy for you and the boat.

And thank you for letting us know you bought her. A success story or happy ending is always nice to see, especially for those special boats like yours that take a special sailor who sees the appeal of the boat and is willing to handle the unique compromises while enjoying it.

She is Spartan, but seems like a good fit for your goals.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

That Sunbird 32 is a very interesting boat on many levels. The combination of modern underbody and ancient rig is appealing to me, and I really like the unusual interior layout. Getting a big storage area forward that can be converted into a v berth if you have guests is great, and it would be comparatively easy to male that forward bulkhead semiwatertight. Thanks for posting this Steady.

We think alike.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by daletournier

I've probably cruised more than most on a Freedom 32 , now sold and I'm on another boat.
Just incredible value and so under rated, a little boat that thinks it's a big boat. Tuff, roomy, reasonably quick and just so easy to cruise. Freeform saw some quite remote places, sailed in a couple of gales, bumped into a couple of reefs and just always come through.
It always surprises me how cheap they are, alot of boat for the money, you could do much worse.Attachment 146737

DALETOURNIER,

Thanks for adding your comments about your Freedom, and the video too.

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To ALL FSM SAILORS:

If you have some more photos showing your boat in exotic (to others) locations, please post them, along with any descriptions you want. I think photos help the discussion.

And if you have a blog with that on it, post a few excerpts here to add content for readers of this thread, with a link to your blog for more reading.

[daletournier]

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by daletournier

Attachment 146841

Thanks for posting that photo. I like it. Nice that it shows a local boat in the photo too.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Sandpiper Sharpie 32

_________________________

Steady's Notes

1. This is a boat with a two Free Standing Masts. The masts rotate, which furls the sails.

2. The hull is very shallow draft "Sharpie" design with minimum draft of 2' and one of the photos shows it being launched from a trailer. While this boat design may not appeal to everyone, and it is not intended for offshore passages, it is designed for local conditions that dictate a shallow draft boat. Sharpies can be found in Long Island Sound and the Chesapeake, where a shallow draft boat allows access or use from some shore properties where shoaling or shallow water exists. This would also be useful in the Florida Panhandle, Houston (Galveston Bay), Biscayne Bay in Miami, or some lakes or possibly the Gulf side of the Florida Keys. I used to live on a salt marsh on Hilton Head Island, and this boat could have been launched from my home there. It is designed for places where shallow water is common. The fact this boat can be trailered (and apparently easily launched, since it does not have a keel) makes it transportable to many locations.

3. This boat appears to be in very nice condition. I like the use of wood in the interior. It has a Diesel engine.

4. I find boats like this interesting from a design aspect. The goal was to create boat that can operate in very shallow waters. The use of Free Standing Masts is also something I find interesting. This particular boat has ROTATING masts, for furling the sails.

5. This boat features a nice large cockpit, a private marine head, and a galley comparable to most other 32 foot boats with a two burner stove, sink, and icebox. There are more photos of these on the ad, via the link below.

___________________

Sale Listing Ad (May 2017)

1978 Marine Innovators 32 Sandpiper Sharpie Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Location = Greenport NY, USA
Asking Price = $25,000

Dimensions
Beam: 8 ft 0 in
Minimum Draft: 2 ft 0 in

Engines
Total Power: 12 HP

Engine 1:
Engine Brand: Yanmar
Engine/Fuel Type: Diesel
Engine Power: 12 HP


Description from Ad

1978 32' Marine Innovators Sandpiper Sharpie Schooner

Stored inside at our facility!

Yanmar 12HP Diesel

Presto type shoal draft sailboat. Sails on rotating masts, wishbone booms, 2 bilge boards are housed beneath bunks.

Designed and built by Walt Scott in Clearwater, Fla.

Sleeps 4. Head fwd w/sink. 2 berths to port, 2 to stbd. Galley aft w/SS sink & icechest to stbd. 2 burner alcohol stove to stbd. Dinette table, all opening portholes replaced.

Cockpit has cushions & bimini top, Standard VHF Radio, Seafarer depth finder, battery charger, dockside power, DC & AC charger for phones and accessories, two self-tailing winches.

New in August 2016: Anderson self tailing winches, Raymarine auto pilot and new depth gauge.

Very well maintained original owner boat with many updates.

_______________
___________________________________

My Disclaimers and Requests:

I have no financial or other connection to this boat or the seller.
I have not seen this boat in person, nor have I sailed on it.
As with any boat, it is a good idea to research the design to learn about how they sail, common problems and owner opinions.
As with any boat, it is smart to have a qualified yacht surveyor perform a survey of the boat to assess its condition.
I am posting this to help others find boats. This one caught my eye, and I hope this thread helps others find a good fit for them.
I hope this thread proves helpful to CF Members. If so, let me know, as it is nice to know the time spent on it has helped others.
IF you purchase this boat, let me know (a PM would be OK).
IF you purchase this boat, I would enjoy seeing it, or going for a sail on it, if I am ever in your area. Or, if you own a similar or sister boat send me a PM. I enjoy sailing on a wide variety of boats and would like to get some time on many designs, including this one.
Good luck on your own boat hunt.

[td0tz]

Originally Posted by daletournier

I've probably cruised more than most on a Freedom 32 , now sold and I'm on another boat.
Just incredible value and so under rated, a little boat that thinks it's a big boat. Tuff, roomy, reasonably quick and just so easy to cruise. Freeform saw some quite remote places, sailed in a couple of gales, bumped into a couple of reefs and just always come through.
It always surprises me how cheap they are, alot of boat for the money, you could do much worse.Attachment 146737

I'll say. Your video is quite the walk of your talk, capturing in just two minutes a very nice angle of sail - pointing better than 45 in 20 knots apparent at SOG of 7.5+. Then the Lat/Long shown video places you in the Celebes Sea north of between Indonesia and the Philippines. Didn't know you gave that much away? LOL That volcanic cone island would be Awu Karangetang? Lovin' it.

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by td0tz

I'll say. Your video is quite the walk of your talk, capturing in just two minutes a very nice angle of sail - pointing better than 45 in 20 knots apparent at SOG of 7.5+. Then the Lat/Long shown video places you in the Celebes Sea north of between Indonesia and the Philippines. Didn't know you gave that much away? LOL That volcanic cone island would be Awu Karangetang? Lovin' it. [emoji3]

I didn't realize you could see my postion, good eyes! We'd left the Philippines and were on the way to Raja Ampat 2015, it was an incredible trip over 4mths, one of the most memorable I've done.
That night (the day of video) we anchored in a beautiful bay watching lava flow down that volcano, a little island that view cruisers go to. Scuba dived the next day listening to the rumble of the volcano under the water.
That north part of Indonesia is awesome, volcanoes everywhere and the diving at Raja Ampat is spectacular.

The little Freedom 32 proves you don't need a expensive boat to adventure into the blue, mine was kitted out pretty well and was just a awesome machine that has been half way around the world and to many places most don't go with very few problems. When im a old man that boat and the adventures will be in my memories constantly.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Howdy Sailors!

Show Your FSM Boat Sailing!

Now that the summer sailing season has started in North America, I think it is time for this thread to show some Boats with Free Standing Masts in the act of sailing!

Please post a photo of YOUR boat sailing, or of your favorite FSM Boat model sailing.

Whether it is your own Pride and Joy, or your Dream Boat, let's show the CF members what makes the FSM Boats so special.

Let's put in some more photos to illustrate the FSM Boat world here in this thread.

IF you don't have a photo of your own boat sailing, then do a Google image search and find a sistership. Or post a photo of another FSM Boat you admire.

And, if you have been doing some cruising on your FSM Boat, take a photo from your blog or own site and share it here, with some comments about what you liked about your boat on your cruise. Tell others about YOUR boat or your model.

Let's see some sails!

[SqPeg]

Hunter Vision 32 1990

[captprogreso]

Hi, as an new owner of a freedom 33 and an as j24 racer and other sailboat i can have an opinion on free stand mast.

Those are not too popular for only two reason:
they are really expensive
people do not realize how strong is carbon fiber so they think them has unsafe sailboat.

My boat has two mast one 2 feet from the bow that could be impossible to have with standard mast. the other is a little behind of the middle of the sailboat.

I do not see many advantages with free standing mast unless you are not using this set up.

The big advantages of the cat ketch over a standard ketch are:
the mizzen is almost as big has the main. In a ketch is impossible to do.

There is a big gap between the main and the ketch so both sails work better.

The freedom is better upwind that most cruising boats but not over racing ones.
Only because rolling jib cannot be has flat has a standard one.

The jib is much better upwind than the main because there is no mast in front of the sail.

The only thing i miss is when i have to walk to the front there is nothing to grab on.

I will not buy another free standing sailboat if it will be a marconi rig. Really i do not see the advantages of having a very expensive mast only because i do not want to have all the mess of a standard rig.

in order to be a good boat is because you take the advantages of the position you can have your mast. (not the same logic in smaller trailerable boats).

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by captprogreso

Hi, as an new owner of a freedom 33 and an as j24 racer and other sailboat i can have an opinion on free stand mast.

Those are not too popular for only two reason:
they are really expensive
people do not realize how strong is carbon fiber so they think them has unsafe sailboat.

My boat has two mast one 2 feet from the bow that could be impossible to have with standard mast. the other is a little behind of the middle of the sailboat.

I do not see many advantages with free standing mast unless you are not using this set up.

The big advantages of the cat ketch over a standard ketch are:
the mizzen is almost as big has the main. In a ketch is impossible to do.

There is a big gap between the main and the ketch so both sails work better.

The freedom is better upwind that most cruising boats but not over racing ones.
Only because rolling jib cannot be has flat has a standard one.

The jib is much better upwind than the main because there is no mast in front of the sail.

The only thing i miss is when i have to walk to the front there is nothing to grab on.

I will not buy another free standing sailboat if it will be a marconi rig. Really i do not see the advantages of having a very expensive mast only because i do not want to have all the mess of a standard rig.

in order to be a good boat is because you take the advantages of the position you can have your mast. (not the same logic in smaller trailerable boats).

Howdy CAPTPROGRESSO!

I see you just joined CF today, and this is your first post too.

Welcome aboard CF!

And thanks for participating in the discussion.