Its long waterline, enormous beam, and sleek, powerful, flat-bottomed hull make it a distinctive late-1980s cruiser. The design emphasizes room and uncomplicated sailing rather than close-winded agility.
Design and Construction
The hull and deck are laminated fiberglass with an end-grain balsa core, finished with a tough isophthalic neopentyl gelcoat. Beneath the gelcoat, vinylester barrier resin below the waterline is intended to reduce the possibility of moisture penetration. Every through-hull fitting is set into solid laminate rather than core.
The deck joins the hull on an inward-facing flange. The joint is chemically bonded and fastened through an aluminum toerail with quarter-inch stainless bolts on six-inch centers. Except for the fiberglass-module head, the boat is stick-built, with bulkheads and cabinetry framed in wood rather than formed as part of a molded liner.
Keel and rudder arrangements vary by version. The standard fin keel contains 5,530 pounds of lead alloyed with a little antimony for hardness and is externally attached with Type 304 stainless-steel bolts. An externally attached, 6,180-pound wing keel was optional. The shoal keel carries 6,500 pounds of ballast internally, encapsulated in fiberglass.
All versions have an elliptical rudder and stock formed as a one-piece fiberglass layup. The boat carries a spade rudder behind the fin.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The fractional sloop rig centers on a free-standing carbon-fiber mast designed for simplicity. The large, fully battened mainsail has two reef points, with lazy-jacks fitted as standard. A small, 195-square-foot self-tending jib uses a CamberSpar to tension the clew and make the sail self-tacking. Air draft is 55 feet 6 inches, giving the boat a tall rig uncluttered by standing rigging.
Under sail, the Freedom 38 is well mannered and easy to handle. It is extremely stiff and sails quite flat; owners report a normal heel angle of only 10, perhaps 15 degrees. The boat is at its best off the wind, where the unstayed rig and generous sail plan allow it to run freely. Its flat bottom and long waterline favor that offwind ease rather than close-winded agility.
The auxiliary engine is a 27-horsepower Yanmar 3GM 30F diesel. It turns a three-blade Max Prop through a carbon-fiber shaft, driving the boat at 6 knots at 2,500 rpm and 7 knots at 3,000 rpm. Edson steering consists of a pedestal-mounted 32-inch destroyer wheel and Radial Drive.
Interior and Tankage
The interior is finished in teak veneer over marine-grade plywood, with solid-teak trim and a hand-rubbed oil finish. The sole is teak and holly, while the overhead is foam-backed vinyl held in place by teak battens. Headroom reaches 6 feet 1 inch.
Tankage is distributed around the accommodation:
- A 60-gallon polyethylene water tank sits beneath the starboard settee.
- A 37-gallon aluminum fuel tank is under the aft-cabin berth.
- A 12-gallon holding tank is beneath the head vanity.
The double sink is near the centerline, with a 6-gallon water heater below it. A top-loading icebox, insulated with four inches of closed-cell foam, occupies the aft counter.
Cockpit and Deck
The cockpit is generous. Its seats are 7 feet long and 20 inches wide, while the coamings form 11-inch seat backs. An 8-inch bridge deck protects the companionway, and two 1.5-inch drains are fitted aft. Beneath the port seat is a cavernous locker measuring 4 feet deep.
There is no anchor locker. Access to the sugar-scoop stern is provided by a centerline stainless-steel swim ladder.
The self-tacking jib and its CamberSpar occupy foredeck space and can obstruct anyone working forward. That congestion is the trade-off for the rig’s hands-off simplicity.
Known Issues and Ownership Considerations
A persistent quirk is the shallow bilge. It always contains an inch or so of water that enters through the masthead.
The unstayed mast eliminates chainplates and shrouds from the maintenance list. On the shoal-keel version, encapsulated ballast also avoids keel-bolt scrutiny. Owners must, however, be prepared to live deliberately with the masthead water path and the crowded foredeck.
The Verdict
The Freedom 38 is a thoughtfully realized cruiser that trades close-winded ability for interior volume, stiffness, and a rig that a short-handed crew can manage without drama. Mull’s hull form and the balsa-cored, gelcoat-protected structure provide a solid foundation, while the stick-built interior and teak detailing make the cabin a pleasant place to live. The masthead drainage and the self-tacker’s foredeck footprint are the price of admission.
Pros
- Unstayed carbon mast simplifies the deck and reduces rigging upkeep
- Extremely stiff, flat-sailing hull with a low normal heel angle
- Roomy, teak-finished interior with practical tankage and well-insulated icebox
- One-piece rudder and encapsulated shoal ballast remove common failure points
Cons
- Shallow bilge continuously collects water entering through the masthead
- Self-tacking jib and CamberSpar crowd the foredeck working area
- No anchor locker fitted as standard
