Design and Construction
The Freeward 30 adopted a double-ended hull form drawn from traditional North Sea fishing boats, intended to provide their sturdy sea-keeping character. That working hull gained finer ends and a pronounced sheer. Deep bulwarks helped keep the crew safe on deck, while the long keel balanced the sloop rig. The concept also retained the easy sailing motion of yachts launched by Millers and other Scottish yards.
Rig and Handling
The sloop rig used a straightforward masthead arrangement. Together with the long keel, it gave the boat good directional stability in a seaway.
The hull measured 29.99 feet overall, with a waterline length of 24.93 feet. At a displacement of 14,555 pounds, the Freeward 30 moved with the deliberation of a heavy coastal cruiser. Its 6.69-knot hull speed reflected that steady character.
Accommodation
A 9.48-foot beam and 4.27-foot draft placed the Freeward 30 in the traditional cruiser band. Its double-ended form prioritized seaworthiness over a pointed-transom lazarette. The available authority material does not detail the interior arrangement.
Known Issues
The Freeward 30 shows no structural defects or systemic failures across its early service history. Its early production history is marked only by the later change of name to Fisher.
Production and Ownership
David Freeman and Gordon Wyatt marketed the concept to established builders and yards. Closer work with David Skellon then yielded the first boats sold. The renaming to Fisher marked the design’s transition out of the Freeward badge.
The Verdict
The Freeward 30 is a traditional double-ended cruiser, executed as a sea-kindly, directionally stable sloop on a long keel.
Pros
- Double-ended hull with the sea-keeping character of a North Sea fishing boat
- Long keel that balanced the sloop rig and provided good directional stability
- Deep bulwarks for crew safety
- Easy sailing motion retained from the Scottish-yard tradition
Cons
- An early-name example only; the yacht was later renamed Fisher
- Interior arrangement not detailed in the available authority material
