CONSTRUCTION
Free Spirit is constructed of Pacific Northwest Red Spruce. The long wood fibers of spruce provide high strength and flexibility at a relatively light weight, a fact that led the Wright Brothers to build the first effectual aircraft out of spruce wood; spruce is still used to make gliders. Trimarans are not designed to be heavy displacement boats like monohulls. Moreover, they are designed to be light and glide over thesea rather than struggle forward by displacing the water. The light weight and buoyancy of this wood is also the primary reason that it is difficult to sink when flooded or even overturned.
Her method of construction is “cold molded”, a process of laying multiple strips of thin plywood over the structural frames. Free Spirits plywood hulls were bonded together with Urac glue and bronze fastenings. The amas are double, diagonally laid, 4” strips of ¼” ply while the main hull is 3 layers of 3/16” ply (double diagonally laid with a horizontal layer sandwiched between. Her outer hulls and decks are covered with a double skin of 6 oz. cloth and resin with 3 layers below the waterline.
Her length-over-all (LOA) is 48’ and her beam is 24’. She is strong, spacious and extremely sea-kindly underway or at anchor. She has a comfortable accommodation below decks with a main hull beam of 8’ and 4’ in the amas.
TECHNICAL SPECS
“Free Spirit” is a custom vintage, 50’ LOA, Ketch Rigged, trimaran. She is a Hedley Nicol “Voyager” design, built by Brian Edelstein, Imperial Beach, CA. in 1968. She’s a proven world-class cruiser, safe, spacious, comfortable, and with all the conveniences of a family liveaboard. She is well maintained, modernized, and fully equipped.
As a party boat, on deck she will comfortably accommodate over 30 guests (originally USCG certified for 38). Her cruising accommodation is 12, including a double V-berth w/ private head, vanity, hot shower, and ample stowage, plus 4 spacious double berths (2 per wing deck) with ample stowage, head & vanity area in the Stbd Ama and a 3rd vanity area in the Port Ama. The large main saloon seating provides dining for 6 at the teak double-drop-leaf table, 2 additional (over/under) berths, and a large open-counter galley with a Force 10, 3 burner oven/range, Isotherm 5.2 cu. ft. refer/freezer, 125-gal potable water, raw-water foot pump, and copious stowage for food and supplies. She has full 6’ 6” headroom throughout and is well ventilated by overhead deck hatches and 10 opening bronze ports. The aft cabin is a functional, fully tooled, workshop with forward access to the generous engine room, battery banks, and fuel.
HULL
The hull is composite, “Cold Molded” (fiberglass over wood), double diagonal w/ horizontal sandwich on the main hull and double diagonal on the Floats (Amas). Over the years, extensive hull renewal has been professionally implemented from keelson to 3’ above the waterline.
DIMENSIONS
Dimensions Overall: 50’ LOA, 48’ LOD, 24’ Beam, 4’6” Draft , Displacement is 22,426 lbs., gross tonnage 23 Tons
KEEL
She has an upgraded Hydrodynamic keel designed by Antrim Associates and a redesigned Spade Rudder. Combined, greatly improving steerage, point, maneuverability, and reduced leeway.
ENGINE
She is powered by a well-maintained Perkins 4-236 (85hp) Diesel with lots of spare parts. Her reduction and reverse gear is a Borg-Warner, 2-1 Ratio, hydraulic (rebuilt 3/2019). She sports a 3-blade Classic, 70mm, Sea Shield Max Prop with a recently renewed PSS Dripless Shaft Seal and Cutlass Bearing (Duramax Marine Bird, 1 1/4” X 1 3/4” X 5”). Speed, under power is 8 knots (at current adjustable prop pitch).
STEERING
Steerage is achieved by a 32” teak helm, chain to cable to quadrant, with Raymarine Type 1 linear drive Auto Pilot.
The custom teak Helm Station displays her “state-of-the-art” instrumentation (renewed 2018), including engine gauges, Multi-Function Display w/ GPS Plotter, Radar, Auto Pilot, Depth, Wind, speed a Standard Horizon GX1600 VHF, Class D DSC w/ Ram 3, Windlass toggle plus remote, and 406 EPIRB.
SAILS AND WINCHES
- Jib: 345 sq.ft. (Very Good), Harken Roller Furling, 2 Lewmar #55, 2-spd, self-tailing Winches
- Main: 337 sq.ft. (Good), 2 reef pts., stack-pack, Harken #44, 2- speed, self-tailing Winch
- Mizzen: 173 sq. ft. (Good), 2 reef pts., stack-pack Lemar #8
- Storm Jib: 122 sq.ft. (New), Jib Winches
- Main Halyard Winch, Antal #48, 2-speed, self-tailing
- Mast and Mizzen Winches: 4 ea., Lewmar #16, non-self-tailing
- Conveniently rigged to single-hand
ELECTRICAL SUPPLY 12V
- Charging: Engine Alternator, 2 ea. Natural Power 165 W Rigid Monocrystalline Solar Panes plus 2ea. 400 W, Air-X Wind Turbines
- 300 W inverter
- Batteries: House 4 ea. G/Y, DC31 Marine 180, Cranking 1 ea. RC 875 MCA, 1 ea. Windlass 1 Gel (forward)
GROUND TACKLE
- Primary: 35# CQR w/ 300’ 5/16 HT chain
- Secondary: 21# Fortress w/ 30’ 5/16” HT chain and 300’ 9/16” 3-strand nylon
- Lunch hook: 13# Danforth w/ 200’ of 3/4” 3-strand nylon
- Bow & Stern Rollers
- Lewmar Windlass, Pro-Fish 1000, Free-Fall, (Helm Station & Wireless Remote controls)
- Chain Stopper, HD