Freedom 45 CC Used Boat Review

A Gary Mull–designed cruiser with a rigging-free deck, the Freedom 45 CC combines spacious liveaboard accommodations and protected center-cockpit handling with a freestanding carbon fiber mast—but prospective buyers should know the unconventional rig demands specialist inspection and careful sail management.

By
Ray Ville
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3
The freestanding 62-ft. carbon fiber mast eliminates the rigging maintenance typical of stayed rigs, with the thicker aerodynamic profile engineered to flex under load like an aircraft wing—spilling wind in gusts and providing stability without shrouds or stays. Photo courtesy of YachtWorld.com
The freestanding 62-ft. carbon fiber mast eliminates the rigging maintenance typical of stayed rigs, with the thicker aerodynamic profile engineered to flex under load like an aircraft wing—spilling wind in gusts and providing stability without shrouds or stays. Photo courtesy of YachtWorld.com

When I received a message about surveying a 1989 Freedom 45CC, I knew there was something unique about this sailboat, but I couldn’t remember what it was. A quick search reminded me. The infamous freestanding carbon fiber mast—how can I forget. As I approached the mooring, she looked stunning. I circled her a few times in the dinghy to admire her sleek lines. It was strange to see a mast without rigging, odd with an unfinished look. I rarely get excited about surveying a boat these days, but this was different, something that I had never seen, sailed or surveyed.

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Ray Ville
Ray Ville has been a Navtech Certified Marine Surveyor since 2009. He has surveyed vessels in Canada and the Dominican Republic, where he currently resides. During the summer, he flies back home to Canada and lives aboard his 1982 Mirage 33 in the North Channel of Lake Huron.

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3 COMMENTS

  3. Freedom 45 has been on my very short list back in 2018 when I was looking for a serious center cockpit offshore cruiser. Many of the described elements here were on my pros, the clean lines, quality construction and ease of handling were major as well as the outstanding interior setup.
    Have seen three identical models, have spoken with owners all over the world, but eventually and very sadly declined…(for a Contest 43 CC)
    – With the flexible mast, it is impossible to have a furled head-sail and no way to have a genoa… – A furlex has been mentioned in the review here but can’t see it in the pictures which shows the standard hank on with a kind of a self tacking wishbone boom for the very small headsail. Clearly, the main sail is the well proven powerhouse downwind, however, this lady isn’t doing so well upwind.
    – Have also found it challenging to reef the huge main and upgrading to an in-boom furling would add around $30K to the cost…
    — Yet, whenever I see a Freedom 45 (or 38, 40…) my heart it jumping a bit 🙂