With a displacement of 7,000 pounds, 3,800 pounds of lead ballast, and a swing-up centerboard, the Freedom 28 was conceived from the outset as a robust, bluewater-capable cruiser rather than a racer.
Design and Construction
The hull is a hand-laminated fiberglass sandwich with an end-grain balsa core. The deck uses similar construction, and its hardware is well backed up. An aluminum toerail and deck flange are fastened to the hull flange every six inches with 5/16-inch bolts and 3M 5200 sealant—a methodical approach to closing the structure.
Unlike many production boats of its era, the Freedom 28 has no interior liner apart from the shower pan in the head. The plywood bulkheads and furniture are secured with tabbing. Deck fittings are through-bolted, with the fasteners exposed inside the cabin for easy inspection.
A bridge deck forms part of the main bulkhead, stiffening the hull and helping keep cockpit water out of the cabin. A slotted transom scupper can drain large volumes of water quickly without admitting the worst of following seas.
Rig, Sail Handling, and Performance
Hoyt’s cat ketch eliminates shrouds, stays, turnbuckles, chainplates, and associated parts. In their place are two unstayed carbon-fiber masts: substantial tubes measuring 6 1/2 inches at the base and tapering to 3 3/4 inches. They’re said to be as much as four times as strong as aluminum and are bolted with steel angle brackets to a beam above the ballast.
All running rigging leads aft to the cockpit and is handled with a single self-tailing winch. A single-line reefing system simplifies reefing, while two sets of lazy-jacks ease furling. Owners report that the boat can be tacked without handling a jib. When reefed, the mizzen weathercocks the boat, allowing her to heave-to readily.
For downwind sailing, the main and mizzen can be set wing-and-wing for a balanced arrangement. A staysail can also be rigged between the masts to add sail area.
Test sailors found that the Freedom 28 wasn’t especially close-winded and that the booms couldn’t be brought amidships without sheet travelers. Even so, she foots well to weather. In 12- to 15-knot gusts, she steered herself with the wheel locked while making 5 to 6 knots with an easy motion.
Initial models had wrap-around sleeve sails and wishbone booms. Later boats changed to conventional sails and booms, though Freedom also offered wishbone spars as an alternative.
Cockpit, Deck, and Steering
Wide, shroud-free sidedecks, bordered by slotted-aluminum toerails, make movement forward safe. The outboard rudder is virtually foolproof, and an emergency tiller is stored in a cockpit locker.
There are compromises at the bow. The mainmast and its collar, together with a pair of heavy 10-inch mooring cleats and chocks, greatly limit foot room on the bow when docking and anchoring. Fitting a windlass on that foredeck would also be difficult.
The port cockpit-seat locker is shallow because it sits above the quarter berth. The starboard locker is deep and contains the manual bilge pump, while also providing access to the rear of the engine and transmission.
Accommodations
Below, the Freedom 28 is traditional and no-frills, but generous for its length. The forward cabin contains two 6-foot 6-inch berths that can be joined with an insert. There’s stowage beneath them, and the cabin has a closing door.
In the saloon, a U-shaped dinette to port seats four and converts to a double berth. Opposite, a starboard settee of the same length provides another berth. A 50-gallon water tank and pump sit beneath it. Partial bulkheads provide useful handholds, and a teak-and-holly sole runs throughout the interior.
The large mizzenmast is stepped between the saloon and galley. Its intrusion into the accommodation may deter some buyers.
The L-shaped galley beside the companionway includes a two-burner propane stove, a 5-cubic-foot icebox, and a deep sink. Twin 2-gallon propane tanks are slung over the stern pulpit.
The head is to port and has a vanity, lockers, and a 25-gallon holding tank ventilated through a Beckson port.
Engine and Systems
The Yanmar 2GM diesel sits in a tight, sound-deadened box. Primary access requires removing the companionway ladder, while the deep starboard cockpit locker gives access to the rear of the engine and transmission. A 16-inch two-blade prop is well matched to the engine.
The Verdict
The Freedom 28 Cat Ketch is a well-conceived, robust cruiser with bluewater capabilities. Its unstayed rig offers a degree of simplicity, safety, and low maintenance that conventional rigs can’t match. It’s a joy to sail shorthanded in heavier weather, though some sailors will miss the weatherliness of a sloop.
Pros
- Unstayed carbon-fiber cat ketch rig, with all lines led aft
- Hand-laminated cored hull and sealed deck-flange construction
- 6-foot 6-inch berths and a practical, no-frills interior
- Centerboard and 4-foot 6-inch draft for gunkholing
Cons
- Bow foot room is cramped by the mast collar and cleats, and a windlass would be difficult to fit
- Cabin mizzenmast intrudes into the accommodation
- Not close-winded, with limited ability to pinch upwind
