Freedom 32 1984

Ken Cross · Mar 24, 2015

Wet core is no surprise in a used boat. re-bed the offending hardware and fix it if it's soft (there are several ways to do that, just check archives.) Having said that, I've never heard of wet balsa core on the sides. Is this unique to a Freedom 32?

barnstormer · Mar 24, 2015

A friend of ours owns a 30' freedom and it seems to be well built and it sails quite well. The mainsail is HUGE with a self-tending small jib so it's easy to single hand which is why our friend bought it. Great walking space on deck due to no stays. Nice boat.

Gunni · Mar 24, 2015

I sailed one +25 years ago down in the Virgins and really liked the performance, was impressed by the innovative rig engineering, and ease of handling. Just a day sail. Would want to know EXACTLY what was going on with that cored hull before I called one mine.

shemandr · Mar 24, 2015

Casagf66 said:
Previous survey denotes possible wet balsa on the aft of the port side from the toe rail down to the water line running 8' forward.

Isn't that where a Port tacker usually hits a Starboard tacker? Surveyor should have noted a repair, if it exists, to that area but I would give that area a close look for busted tabbing, or toe rail damage, etc.
Original sails for 1982 are nearly 35 years old! Same for the motor. Just saying.

Ebbing Lattitude · Mar 24, 2015

Does it have the port light in the aft cabin facing out? If so, this is a common area of moisture and delamination in the 32. Just bought one myself in the fall, it's wet, but less than half the surface area you're describing.

I'm told it was due to the hull not being well sealed at the cutout for the portlight. I will be getting into mine once it warms up to see what's what.

Stu Jackson · Mar 24, 2015

What engine?

Ebbing Lattitude · Mar 25, 2015

Anything loose above could be the culprit, but recommend plans to check the port as well. You can find more info at freedomyachts.org. The 32 is a great boat from my short experience, and extensive reading, but gauge the extent of that delamination in your decision making, and valuation for purchase.

JK_Boston_Catalina310 · Mar 25, 2015

Our friends bought a Freedom and have been fixing it up. They have a lot of the repairs documented on their blog: Tidal Life.

You will have to surf around a bit. Their blog has a lot of other info. They just finished a big recore of their deck.

Tom even spent a season working for Paul Dennis. Paul was the actual builder at Freedom before they went out of business. Paul's shop now specializes in working on Freedoms.

I am sure Tom would talk to you about the boat. Try getting him through the contact on their blog.

shemandr · Mar 25, 2015

Casagf66 said:
The only damage I see is above on the top deck above this wet area. There are loose radar arm post attached to the deck and a patch of what looks to be crazing apx 8" x 4" in size above the wet hull.... Possible suspects ?

The crazing may be due to the wet core underneath not the cause of it.
Re-reading the OP I note the suspicious area is aft of where I was thinking. Is the wet core in the deck or is it on the hull? Or both? Since you are using a previous survey, how old is the survey? The owner elected to not repair it. For how long? While I've owned boats with core issues I'd probably avoid buying one that I knew had them. The survey also said the rest of the boat is in "Average" condition. Not a ringing endorsement. Why THIS boat?

JK_Boston_Catalina310 · Mar 25, 2015

I get this. The Freedoms are very unique boats. I looked at my friend's boat twice before he bought it because I like the Freedoms too. And you don't have anything on the market that compares to them in many ways.

Hell, my friend Tom sold everything he had in Seattle, drove across the country in a van full of tools then lived in the van for several months in a parking lot while he fixed up the boat. That's how much the Freedoms appealed to him. I would bet this Freedom would show better than Tom's. His needed an entire interior gut, had wet decks, the survey said the keel needed to be dropped (didn't but Tom took the gamble), the rudder was almost frozen and couldn't move, etc. And all of that was on top of the standard TLC things like cleaning, waxing, bottom job, etc.

Projects aren't always bad. You just need to know what you are getting into and do an honest assessment of your skills.

shemandr · Mar 25, 2015

OK. You like the Freedom over other available boats and are willing to deal with the deficiencies. I have no problem with that. I just want you to go in eyes wide open.
I was at one point looking at a Freedom 36. It was similar vintage. It wasn't inexpensive. In the end I choose to buy a newer better equipped boat for less money. I just couldn't understand the value in the older more expensive boat. And if it needed repairs .... no way. Many would disagree but that was my take on it.

Ebbing Lattitude · Mar 25, 2015

I agree with both above comments. Know what you're getting into, but you sound like you're going into exactly as I did 5 months ago. I have a decent amount of maintenance before she goes back in the water this spring, but even wit the list of todos I'm excited about all that lies ahead.

Gunni · Mar 26, 2015

The CW on autopilots is that they are disposable, the elec. motors have a rated life of maybe 500 hours. Then there are the more robust but pricy hydraulic units. So I would just plan on buying one of the high-production models with parts availability, not used. But you definitely want an autopilot.

Ebbing Lattitude · Mar 29, 2015

Congratulations! Post some pix soon. I don't know about the parts needed, but look forward to updates.

Stu Jackson · Mar 29, 2015

Casagf66 said:
Anyone know where I can get a clutch lever for a 3000 autohelm...

Only ones I've been able to find is from the UK on eBay.

Congrats on the boat.