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Freedom 28 Cat Ketch
Designer: Garry Hoyt/Jay Paris  ·  Builder: Tillotson Pearson Inc, (Usa)  ·  First built: 1979
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About the Freedom 28 Cat Ketch

Designed by the innovative team of Garry Hoyt and Jay Paris, this distinctive cat ketch represents a bold departure from conventional sailboat design philosophy. Built by Tillotson Pearson beginning in 1979, the Freedom 28 embodies the revolutionary unstayed rig concept that defined the Freedom yacht line during sailing's modern era. The boat's most striking feature is its cat ketch configuration with fully battened, loose-footed sails supported by robust carbon fiber masts that require no standing rigging whatsoever. This eliminates the complexity and maintenance associated with traditional shrouds and stays while providing exceptional ease of handling. The 434 square feet of sail area, distributed across two manageable sails, makes this yacht particularly appealing to short-handed crews or those seeking simplified sailing. At 28.33 feet overall with a moderate 5.33-foot draft, the Freedom 28 strikes an excellent balance for coastal cruising and protected water sailing. The fiberglass construction combined with 3,800 pounds of ballast in a 7,000-pound displacement creates a stable, confidence-inspiring platform. The keel/centerboard configuration offers versatility for both deeper waters and shoal exploration. With a comfort ratio of 20.83, this yacht prioritizes ease of motion over ultimate speed, making it ideal for relaxed coastal cruising and weekend adventures where sailing enjoyment trumps racing performance.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$8,500 – $8,500
typical asking price
Median $8,500  ·  1 listing used
All listings
$8,500 – $8,500 1
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 28.33 ft / 8.63 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 25.75 ft / 7.85 m
Beam 9.33 ft / 2.84 m
Max Draft 5.33 ft / 1.62 m
Min Draft 2.50 ft / 0.76 m
Displacement 7,000.00 lb / 3,175 kg
Ballast 3,800.00 lb / 1,724 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 434.00 ft² / 40.32 m²
Headroom 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Cat Ketch (unstayed)
Construction FG
Designer Garry Hoyt/Jay Paris
Builder Tillotson Pearson Inc, (USA)
First Built 1979
Associations FreedomYachts.org
Related Sailboats Oday 28 · Hunter 285 · Tartan 28 · Sabre 28 3 · Irwin 28 Mk Iv
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For
High Rigging
The Freedom 28 uses unstayed, free-standing carbon fiber or fiberglass composite masts. The mast partner/step area on deck is a known stress concentration point; check for cracking, crazing, or delamination of the deck laminate around both mast partners where cyclic loads are transmitted directly into the deck structure.
High Rigging
The wishbone booms and their attachment hardware are subject to fatigue cracking at the jaw fittings and pivot points. Early fittings were aluminum and prone to corrosion-induced failure; inspect all wishbone hardware closely as replacement parts are difficult to source.
1979–1984 models
High Hull/Deck
The centerboard trunk on keel/centerboard versions is a known leak point; the trunk-to-hull joint can crack under repeated centerboard loading and water intrusion into the surrounding laminate leads to delamination in the bilge area.
Medium Hull/Deck
Deck hardware backing plates were often undersized from the factory, and the relatively thin deck laminate around the mast partners and any cleats or blocks can show stress cracking and core saturation due to inadequate load distribution.
Medium Keel
The centerboard pivot pin and its retaining hardware are prone to corrosion and wear, leading to a sloppy or seized board. Inspect the pivot mechanism carefully as access is very restricted and repair requires significant labor.
Medium Sails
The Freedom 28 sail plan uses fully battened freestanding sails with a wishbone rig that is largely proprietary. Replacement sails must be custom-made to the specific mast taper profile, making sail replacement significantly more expensive than for a conventional rig.
Low Accommodations
The shallow bilge design on the centerboard version provides minimal bilge volume, meaning even small amounts of water intrusion from the centerboard trunk can wet out the interior sole and cabinetry quickly; check for soft or stained interior joinery at the base of the trunk.

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 19.04
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 54.29
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 183.03
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 20.83
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.95
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.80 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 858.43 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Yanmar
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 15
Fuel Capacity 18 gals / 68 L
Water Capacity 35 gals / 132 L
How It Compares

vs. Hunter 285, Irwin 28 Mk Iv, Oday 28, Sabre 28 3, Tartan 28

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Freedom 28 Cat Ketch ★
28.3 ft
Hunter 285
28.4 ft
Irwin 28 Mk Iv
28.4 ft
Oday 28
28.3 ft
Sabre 28 3
28.4 ft
Tartan 28
28.3 ft
LWL
Freedom 28 Cat Ketch ★
25.8 ft
Hunter 285
23.8 ft
Irwin 28 Mk Iv
23.0 ft
Oday 28
22.9 ft
Sabre 28 3
22.8 ft
Tartan 28
23.3 ft
Beam
Freedom 28 Cat Ketch ★
9.3 ft
Hunter 285
10.5 ft
Irwin 28 Mk Iv
9.0 ft
Oday 28
10.3 ft
Sabre 28 3
9.2 ft
Tartan 28
9.9 ft
Displacement
Freedom 28 Cat Ketch ★
7 lbs
Hunter 285
7 lbs
Irwin 28 Mk Iv
7 lbs
Oday 28
7 lbs
Sabre 28 3
7 lbs
Tartan 28
7 lbs
Ballast
Freedom 28 Cat Ketch ★
3 lbs
Hunter 285
3 lbs
Irwin 28 Mk Iv
3 lbs
Oday 28
2 lbs
Sabre 28 3
3 lbs
Tartan 28
3 lbs
Sail Area
Freedom 28 Cat Ketch ★
434 sq ft
Hunter 285
398 sq ft
Irwin 28 Mk Iv
377 sq ft
Oday 28
370 sq ft
Sabre 28 3
—
Tartan 28
408 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Freedom 28 Cat Ketch ★
—
Hunter 285
—
Irwin 28 Mk Iv
—
Oday 28
203 s/nm
Sabre 28 3
—
Tartan 28
177 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Freedom 28 Cat Ketch ★
19.0
Hunter 285
17.5
Irwin 28 Mk Iv
15.4
Oday 28
15.8
Sabre 28 3
—
Tartan 28
17.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Freedom 28 Cat Ketch ★
54.3 %
Hunter 285
42.9 %
Irwin 28 Mk Iv
—
Oday 28
—
Sabre 28 3
39.7 %
Tartan 28
43.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Freedom 28 Cat Ketch ★
20.8
Hunter 285
18.8
Irwin 28 Mk Iv
26.2
Oday 28
20.7
Sabre 28 3
—
Tartan 28
22.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Freedom 28 Cat Ketch ★
1.95
Hunter 285
2.20
Irwin 28 Mk Iv
1.82
Oday 28
2.12
Sabre 28 3
—
Tartan 28
2.03
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Freedom 28 Cat Ketch ★
183
Hunter 285
233
Irwin 28 Mk Iv
—
Oday 28
—
Sabre 28 3
292
Tartan 28
264
Hull Speed
Freedom 28 Cat Ketch ★
6.8 kts
Hunter 285
6.5 kts
Irwin 28 Mk Iv
6.4 kts
Oday 28
6.4 kts
Sabre 28 3
—
Tartan 28
6.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Freedom 28 Cat Ketch ★
—
Hunter 285
2.4
Irwin 28 Mk Iv
1.7
Oday 28
1.9
Sabre 28 3
—
Tartan 28
2.1
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