is a Freedom 33 Cat Ketch. I like the semi-traditional look, the uniqueness
(is this a word?) of the cat ketch rig in a (more) modern yachts and, from
following the Yahoo owners group, the dedication displayed by the owners for
these boats.
I like the 36 too but not real fond of the big bump out in the cockpit
created by the aft cabin. We (the family and I) enjoy a large(r) cockpit and
this arrangement wouldn't work for us.
I'd like a shoal draft/swing keel but like the openess of the cabin with the
fixed keel (swing keel version has the trunk bisecting the salon), but can't
have everything so probably settle for the fixed keel.
I've seen other more recent cat ketches but most look like most other modern
boats that just happen to have this rig, almost as an after thought while
the Freedoms maintain some of the "chunkyness" of the old cat boats.
Not looking for screaming speed or to wow the dock walkers, but more the
comfort, design, ease of use and style of these boats.
Just trying to start a boat/cruising related discussion.
What do you guys think?

"mmc" wrote in news:49d230de$0$4893
:

What do you guys think?



Isn't it fun to dream?

I sail on an old Sharki 41 out of Charleston.

I've had the pleasure of sailing on the Amel 54 they make now.

http://www.amel.fr/

put your mouse on "La Gamme" and click Amel 54, the only one they make,
now.

Click the Video, sit back and enjoy......

It IS fun to dream......(c;]

You can go to France and watch them make yours......(sigh)

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"mmc" wrote in news:49d230de$0$4893
:

What do you guys think?



Isn't it fun to dream?

I sail on an old Sharki 41 out of Charleston.

I've had the pleasure of sailing on the Amel 54 they make now.

http://www.amel.fr/

put your mouse on "La Gamme" and click Amel 54, the only one they make,
now.

Click the Video, sit back and enjoy......

It IS fun to dream......(c;]

You can go to France and watch them make yours......(sigh)

We met a couple from the RAF Yacht Club that had a Amel. What a beautiful
boat.

"mmc" wrote in
ng.com:

We met a couple from the RAF Yacht Club that had a Amel. What a
beautiful boat.



The outside is nearly as pretty as the bilge! Under the Sharki 41's galley
is the main bilge pump. It's so far down to that pump, my arm only reaches
about half way to it!

I like the feeling of also have 3 watertight bulkheads between me and
sinking, not zero. The chain locker aft bulkhead is the first. The main
salon's forward bulkhead is second. The aft bulkhead of the aft cabin is
third. All sink/shower drains go into the bilge to be pumped overboard
ABOVE the waterline. No plastic fittings blowing off and flooding her or
water spraying up into a sink in a blow. The forward head shower and sink
drain into a basin under an open teak deck water just runs through.
There's a steel pipe with ball valve to secure in a bow breach back to the
main cabin watertight bulkhead to prevent flooding the main bilge. It's
all very well thought out, first class.

The whole center cockpit deck is the engineroom cover that hinges up.

"mmc" wrote in news:49d230de$0$4893
:

What do you guys think?



http://www.caraibe-yachts.com/en/sec...t=Amel+54+2007

Isn't it amazing what 3/4 of a million Euros can buy?

On Mar 31, 12:29 pm, Larry wrote:
"mmc" wrote in news:49d230de$0$4893
:

What do you guys think?

http://www.caraibe-yachts.com/en/sec...t=Amel+54+2007

Isn't it amazing what 3/4 of a million Euros can buy?

I once chartered a Freedom 33 with swing keel and did not like it.
The swing keel was a bear to winch up or let down. Sail handling also
seemed difficult for some reason but my impression was that it was due
to poor maintenance. I believe that if the boat was well maintained
our charter would have gone much better.

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"mmc" wrote in news:49d230de$0$4893
:

What do you guys think?



http://www.caraibe-yachts.com/en/sec...t=Amel+54+2007

Isn't it amazing what 3/4 of a million Euros can buy?

Holy cow Batman! If I had that kind of scratch, I'd buy the Freedom 33 and
hide the other $700k+ under my mattress!
The lump probably wouldn't do for my back an favors.

"mmc" wrote in message
g.com...
is a Freedom 33 Cat Ketch. I like the semi-traditional look, the
uniqueness (is this a word?) of the cat ketch rig in a (more) modern
yachts and, from following the Yahoo owners group, the dedication
displayed by the owners for these boats.
I like the 36 too but not real fond of the big bump out in the cockpit
created by the aft cabin. We (the family and I) enjoy a large(r) cockpit
and this arrangement wouldn't work for us.
I'd like a shoal draft/swing keel but like the openess of the cabin with
the fixed keel (swing keel version has the trunk bisecting the salon), but
can't have everything so probably settle for the fixed keel.
I've seen other more recent cat ketches but most look like most other
modern boats that just happen to have this rig, almost as an after thought
while the Freedoms maintain some of the "chunkyness" of the old cat boats.
Not looking for screaming speed or to wow the dock walkers, but more the
comfort, design, ease of use and style of these boats.
Just trying to start a boat/cruising related discussion.
What do you guys think?

The advantage of the swing keel in a smaller sailboat, besides sailing in
shallow waters, is the ability to easily launch/retrieve & tow.
With a 36 boat, I'd be more concerned about stability in heavy seas... so
I'd stick with a fixed keel.

Don White wrote:
"mmc" wrote in message
g.com...
is a Freedom 33 Cat Ketch. I like the semi-traditional look, the
uniqueness (is this a word?) of the cat ketch rig in a (more) modern
yachts and, from following the Yahoo owners group, the dedication
displayed by the owners for these boats.
I like the 36 too but not real fond of the big bump out in the cockpit
created by the aft cabin. We (the family and I) enjoy a large(r) cockpit
and this arrangement wouldn't work for us.
I'd like a shoal draft/swing keel but like the openess of the cabin with
the fixed keel (swing keel version has the trunk bisecting the salon), but
can't have everything so probably settle for the fixed keel.
I've seen other more recent cat ketches but most look like most other
modern boats that just happen to have this rig, almost as an after thought
while the Freedoms maintain some of the "chunkyness" of the old cat boats.
Not looking for screaming speed or to wow the dock walkers, but more the
comfort, design, ease of use and style of these boats.
Just trying to start a boat/cruising related discussion.
What do you guys think?

The advantage of the swing keel in a smaller sailboat, besides sailing in
shallow waters, is the ability to easily launch/retrieve & tow.
With a 36 boat, I'd be more concerned about stability in heavy seas... so
I'd stick with a fixed keel.



regardless of what it does to windward performance...

In article ,
says...
Don White wrote:
"mmc" wrote in message
g.com...
is a Freedom 33 Cat Ketch. I like the semi-traditional look, the
uniqueness (is this a word?) of the cat ketch rig in a (more) modern
yachts and, from following the Yahoo owners group, the dedication
displayed by the owners for these boats.
I like the 36 too but not real fond of the big bump out in the cockpit
created by the aft cabin. We (the family and I) enjoy a large(r) cockpit
and this arrangement wouldn't work for us.
I'd like a shoal draft/swing keel but like the openess of the cabin with
the fixed keel (swing keel version has the trunk bisecting the salon), but
can't have everything so probably settle for the fixed keel.
I've seen other more recent cat ketches but most look like most other
modern boats that just happen to have this rig, almost as an after thought
while the Freedoms maintain some of the "chunkyness" of the old cat boats.
Not looking for screaming speed or to wow the dock walkers, but more the
comfort, design, ease of use and style of these boats.
Just trying to start a boat/cruising related discussion.
What do you guys think?

The advantage of the swing keel in a smaller sailboat, besides sailing in
shallow waters, is the ability to easily launch/retrieve & tow.
With a 36 boat, I'd be more concerned about stability in heavy seas... so
I'd stick with a fixed keel.



regardless of what it does to windward performance...

Until you get into the classes like the America's Cup yachts, with
their tilting keels, doesn't a fixed keel improve windward
performance?

Mark Borgerson