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Freedom 42
Designer: Gary Mull  ·  Builder: Tillotson Pearson Inc, (Usa)  ·  First built: 1987
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About the Freedom 42

Gary Mull's distinctive Freedom 42 represents one of the most innovative approaches to cruising sailboat design from the late 1980s. Built by Tillotson Pearson starting in 1987, this 42-footer features Freedom Yachts' signature unstayed carbon fiber mast system, eliminating the complexity and potential failure points of traditional standing rigging. The boat's fractional sloop configuration with free-standing mast creates an exceptionally clean deck layout ideal for shorthanded sailing. With a moderate displacement of 24,000 pounds and fin keel with spade rudder arrangement, the Freedom 42 offers responsive handling while maintaining comfortable cruising characteristics. Her substantial beam of 13.42 feet provides generous interior volume and impressive initial stability. This design particularly excels at coastal and offshore cruising where simplicity and reliability take precedence over pure performance. The comfort ratio of 29.01 indicates a relatively stiff, comfortable ride in seaway conditions, while the capsize screening value of 1.86 suggests good offshore capability. The unstayed rig system allows for easier sail handling and reduces maintenance requirements, making this boat attractive to couples or sailors seeking to minimize complexity without sacrificing seaworthiness. Her reputation centers on rugged construction and the unique sailing characteristics that come with the revolutionary mast design.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 42.00 ft / 12.80 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 39.50 ft / 12.04 m
Beam 13.42 ft / 4.09 m
Max Draft 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Displacement 24,000.00 lb / 10,886 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 788.00 ft² / 73.21 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Frac. Sloop (Free standing)
Construction FG
Designer Gary Mull
Builder Tillotson Pearson Inc, (USA)
First Built 1987
Related Sailboats Tartan 42 · Niagara 42 · Swan 42 · Hinckley 42 Competition · Passport 42
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 102
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
 15.21
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
 173.85
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
 29.01
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
 1.86
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. 8.42 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.79
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. 1,894.07 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 15.22
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 38.00 ft / 11.58 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 13.83 ft / 4.22 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 56.83 ft / 17.32 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 18.50 ft / 5.64 m
SA Fore 262.77 ft² / 24.41 m²
SA Main 525.68 ft² / 48.84 m²
SA Total (100%) 788.45 ft² / 73.25 m²
Est. Forestay Length 40.44 ft / 12.33 m
How It Compares

vs. Hinckley 42 Competition, Niagara 42, Passport 42, Swan 42, Tartan 42

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Freedom 42 ★
42.0 ft
Hinckley 42 Competition
42.0 ft
Niagara 42
42.0 ft
Passport 42
42.0 ft
Swan 42
42.0 ft
Tartan 42
42.0 ft
LWL
Freedom 42 ★
39.5 ft
Hinckley 42 Competition
32.0 ft
Niagara 42
32.5 ft
Passport 42
34.8 ft
Swan 42
33.8 ft
Tartan 42
32.0 ft
Beam
Freedom 42 ★
13.4 ft
Hinckley 42 Competition
12.2 ft
Niagara 42
12.8 ft
Passport 42
12.8 ft
Swan 42
13.0 ft
Tartan 42
12.3 ft
Displacement
Freedom 42 ★
24 lbs
Hinckley 42 Competition
21 lbs
Niagara 42
19 lbs
Passport 42
25 lbs
Swan 42
22 lbs
Tartan 42
22 lbs
Ballast
Freedom 42 ★
—
Hinckley 42 Competition
—
Niagara 42
8 lbs
Passport 42
9 lbs
Swan 42
9 lbs
Tartan 42
9 lbs
Sail Area
Freedom 42 ★
788 sq ft
Hinckley 42 Competition
921 sq ft
Niagara 42
—
Passport 42
764 sq ft
Swan 42
802 sq ft
Tartan 42
758 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Freedom 42 ★
102 s/nm
Hinckley 42 Competition
—
Niagara 42
111 s/nm
Passport 42
132 s/nm
Swan 42
78 s/nm
Tartan 42
114 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Freedom 42 ★
15.2
Hinckley 42 Competition
19.1
Niagara 42
—
Passport 42
14.2
Swan 42
16.4
Tartan 42
15.5
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Freedom 42 ★
—
Hinckley 42 Competition
—
Niagara 42
40.9 %
Passport 42
35.3 %
Swan 42
41.8 %
Tartan 42
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Freedom 42 ★
29.0
Hinckley 42 Competition
33.9
Niagara 42
—
Passport 42
35.6
Swan 42
30.9
Tartan 42
34.5
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Freedom 42 ★
1.86
Hinckley 42 Competition
1.76
Niagara 42
—
Passport 42
1.75
Swan 42
1.85
Tartan 42
1.75
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Freedom 42 ★
173
Hinckley 42 Competition
292
Niagara 42
257
Passport 42
269
Swan 42
253
Tartan 42
—
Hull Speed
Freedom 42 ★
8.4 kts
Hinckley 42 Competition
7.6 kts
Niagara 42
—
Passport 42
7.9 kts
Swan 42
7.8 kts
Tartan 42
7.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Freedom 42 ★
2.8
Hinckley 42 Competition
2.0
Niagara 42
—
Passport 42
1.7
Swan 42
2.1
Tartan 42
1.6
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