Design and Construction
The hull and deck are laminated fiberglass with an end-grain balsa core, and the outer laminate wears a tough isophthalic neopentyl gelcoat anchor. Beneath the gelcoat a vinylester barrier resin below the waterline is intended to reduce the possibility of moisture penetration, while every through-hull fitting is set into solid laminate rather than core. The deck meets the hull on an inward-facing flange, chemically bonded and fastened with quarter-inch stainless bolts on six-inch centers through an aluminum toerail. Save for the fiberglass-module head, the boat is stick-built, with bulkheads and cabinetry framed in wood rather than a molded liner.
Keel and rudder geometry varies by version. The standard fin keel is lead alloyed with a little antimony for hardness, weighing 5,530 pounds and bolted on externally with Type 304 stainless steel. A wing keel was offered as an option, externally attached at 6,180 pounds, and the shoal-keel ballast of 6,500 pounds is internal and encapsulated in fiberglass. On all variants the elliptical rudder and its stock form a one-piece fiberglass layup anchor, and the boat carries a spade rudder behind the fin.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig centers on a free-standing carbon-fiber mast built for simplicity. A large fully battened mainsail with two reef points and lazy-jacks as standard is augmented by a small 195-square-foot self-tending jib whose clew is tensioned by a CamberSpar that also makes it self-tacking. With 55 feet 6 inches of air draft, the rig is tall but uncluttered by standing rigging.
On the water the 38 is well mannered and an easy boat to sail, extremely stiff and sailing quite flat. Owners report a normal angle of heel of just 10, perhaps 15 degrees. She sails best off the wind, where the unstayed rig and generous sail plan let her run freely; the flat bottom and long waterline contribute to that offwind ease rather than closewinded agility.
Accommodations
Inside, all surfaces are teak veneer over marine-grade plywood with solid-teak trim and a hand-rubbed oil finish; the sole is teak and holly, and the overhead is foam-backed vinyl held by teak battens. Headroom reaches 6 feet 1 inch. A 60-gallon polyethylene water tank sits under the starboard settee, a 37-gallon aluminum fuel tank under the aft-cabin berth, and a 12-gallon holding tank beneath the head vanity. The double sink near centerline has a 6-gallon water heater below, and a top-loading icebox insulated with four inches of closed-cell foam occupies the aft counter.
The cockpit is generous: seats run 7 feet long and 20 inches wide, with coamings forming 11-inch seat backs and an 8-inch bridge deck guarding the companionway. Two 1.5-inch drains are fitted aft, and a cavernous 4-foot-deep locker lies beneath the port seat. There is no anchor locker, and access to the sugar-scoop stern is by a centerline stainless swim ladder.
Known Issues
A persistent quirk is the shallow bilge, which always contains an inch or so of water that has entered via the masthead. The self-tacking jib and its CamberSpar occupy foredeck space and can obstruct anyone working forward, a trade-off against the rig's hands-off simplicity.
Refits and Ownership
The auxiliary is a 27-horsepower Yanmar 3GM 30F diesel turning a carbon-fiber shaft and a three-blade Max Prop, driving the boat at 6 knots by 2,500 rpm and 7 knots by 3,000 rpm. Steering is by Edson, with a pedestal 32-inch destroyer wheel and Radial Drive. The unstayed mast removes chainplates and shrouds from the maintenance list, and the encapsulated shoal ballast avoids keel-bolt scrutiny, but the masthead water path and foredeck congestion are worth living with deliberately.
The Verdict
The Freedom 38 is a thoughtfully realized cruiser that trades closewinded edge for volume, stiffness, and a rig a short-handed crew can manage without drama. Mull's hull form and the balsa-cored, gelcoat-protected structure give a solid foundation, while the stick-built interior and teak detailing make the cabin a pleasant place to live. The masthead drainage and self-tacker footprint are the price of admission.
Pros
- Unstayed carbon mast simplifies deck and reduces rigging upkeep
- Extremely stiff, flat-sailing hull with low normal heel angle
- Roomy, teak-finished interior with practical tankage and icebox insulation
- One-piece rudder and encapsulated shoal ballast remove common failure points
Cons
- Shallow bilge collects masthead water continuously
- Self-tacking jib and CamberSpar crowd the foredeck working area
- No anchor locker fitted as standard
