Freeman 26 for Survey

I had a trip down to Loddon on the South Broads at Jonathon Greenways yard this morning to Survey this Freeman 26.

Using the same hull as the Freeman 25, the Freeman 26's superstructure was developed from the Freeman 22 Mk2. You can see the return of the step in the deck and the larger cabin windows. The Freeman 26 offers larger accommodation and together with the Freeman 22 Mk2 formed the back bone of what was generally known as the Freeman range.

These craft are essentially a stretched version of the smaller 22 and 23 model. Over 300 were built between 1965 and 1973.
A shallow V hull with long keel allows for easy, slow speed handling. 

Surveyors comments: Its well documented that many of the older Freeman models get some Osmosis. (blistering in the gelcoat below the waterline). Experience has shown that early treatment of osmotic boats tends to be less successful than treatment of vessels with more advanced problems. While this may seem to contradict normal precautionary practice, it has been found that breakdown reactions in GRP laminates take some time to reach their conclusion; and if treatment is carried out prematurely it is much more difficult to remove reactive or hygroscopic compounds from the laminate, with the result that a recurrence of osmosis is much more likely to occur. The overriding factor must always be the integrity and safety of the hull. Osmosis in its early stages is very much a chemical condition, which usually has very little effect on the hull strength.