How much does it cost to convert a Freedom sailboat to in-mast furling?

Converting a Freedom sailboat to traditional internal mast furling is impossible without replacing the entire unstayed mast, which would cost upwards of £15,000 and destroy the boat's design. Instead, you must look at external mast furlers for about £4,000, or preferably, boom furling systems starting around £10,000.

Why internal furling fails

Freedom yachts are defined by their unstayed freestanding masts. These spars are engineered to flex and depower in gusts. They rely entirely on the structural integrity of the continuous carbon fibre or aluminium tube. Standard internal mast furling systems from manufacturers like Seldén or Z Spars require a large aluminium extrusion with a continuous slot cut down the aft face.

If you attempt to cut a sail slot into a freestanding Freedom mast, the spar will buckle and fail the first time you beat into a Force 5. The mast wall thickness and carbon layup were never designed to handle an interrupted cross section. Replacing the unstayed mast with a stayed furling mast defeats the entire purpose of owning a Freedom. It would also require expensive structural reengineering of the hull to accept shroud chainplates and bulkheads capable of taking the new rigging loads.

External mast furlers

If you are set on rolling the sail vertically without replacing the rig, your only mast option is an external system like the Facnor CF or a CDI Mainsail Furler. These bolt or rivet directly onto your existing mast track, placing a continuous furling foil just behind the mast.

• Hardware costs: A complete external system for a 35 foot boat typically costs between £2,200 and £3,000.
• New sail: You cannot use your existing mainsail. A new hollow leech battenless main will cost around £1,500 to £2,000.
• Installation: Expect a rigger to charge £600 to £900. This job requires going aloft and carefully tapping fasteners into the carbon or aluminium spar.

When drilling into a carbon mast for any retrofitted track, always wear a P3 respirator mask because fine carbon dust is hazardous to your lungs. The total cost will hover around £4,300 to £5,900. I rarely recommend this setup on a Freedom. The external foil adds considerable weight high up and changes the mast bending characteristics. The necessary battenless sail will also rob you of the large roach that gives a Freedom its signature performance.

In boom furling upgrades

For a freestanding rig with a large mainsail, boom furling is the correct solution. Systems like Leisure Furl or Schaefer allow you to keep a fully battened mainsail with a proper roach. This preserves the sailing characteristics of the boat while making reefing a controlled job from the cockpit.