Freeport Spec. Changes

The Robert Perry designed Freeport 36 was built by Islander Yachts between 1977 and 1984 with the bulk of production being between 1978 and 1980. Freeports were offered with two interior layouts; the A-Plan, with a forward v-berth and port side head/shower, or the B-Plan with a forward head/shower and a raised ‘Pullman‘ berth on the port side, mid-ship. Approximately 155 boats were built, with the B-Plan layout by far the most popular. 

We Old Matelots bought our 1982 Freeport, Circe (B-Plan, hull #147), in the summer of 2010 and since then we have been working hard to get her to our ideal set-up. As we have repaired, replaced, upgraded, improved and generally got to know Circe more intimately we have become aware of numerous significant changes to the boat’s specifications that occurred during the production run. By talking to other Freeport owners and looking at their boats, blogs, records and photographs and comparing them to Circe it appears that most of the major changes occurred after 1980. Almost all the changes seem to have been directed toward cost reduction and, in our opinion, diminished what was originally a very comprehensive specification. The 1978 and 1979 boats appear to have had the best specification for the marque and, seemingly, were built to the highest standard. From our experience and observations, the build quality deteriorated quite markedly after 1981 as the 36F production run was slowing and the factory focus shifted to the short lived 38C. Some evidence of this quality shortfall can be seen in the Horror Gallery elsewhere on the Blog. After 1980, many previously standard features either became up-charge options or disappeared completely. Here, in no particular order, are some of the changes we have seen between the pre and post 1980 boats:

• Fixed companionway steps, with hinged treads for easy access to integrated storage under, were eliminated. Replaced by detachable ladder with smaller & less accessible storage.
• Drawer, cupboard & cutting board eliminated from forward galley counter. Replaced with a louvre door and plain shelves.
• Separate, independent fridge & freezer compartments eliminated. Replaced with single large ice box. (compressor/holding plate available as up-charge option.) 
• Access door eliminated from dinette into the forward galley under-counter storage space.
• Access eliminated to storage area under the range/stove.
• Side slides eliminated from all drawers in the boat. Replaced with wooden center runners.
• Contoured teak pulls eliminated from cupboard doors above sofa and dinette. Replaced with finger notches in edge of cupboard doors. Hinges moved from bottom of  doors  to sides. 
• Contoured teak pulls eliminated from all drawers in the boat. Replaced with finger notches in edge of drawer faces.
• Lighted, vanity drawer with mirror and jewelry compartments between hanging lockers eliminated. Replaced by a standard, plain drawer.
• Double sinks in galley made smaller. 
• Contoured, full-wrap teak ‘eyebrow’ trim around the outside of the salon roof and the forward cabin roof eliminated. Replaced with straight trim strips on roof sides only.
• Teak trim around the front and sides of the helm seat eliminated.
• Flexible duct vent hoses from cabin-top dorades to engine room eliminated (B Plan) with dorades left in place but opening directly into Pullman berth.
• Engine Room & Bilge blower(s) eliminated but vent cowls on transom left in place.
• Small overhead locker in Pullman berth eliminated (B-Plan).
• Padded headboard in Pullman berth eliminated (B-Plan).
• Propane tank moved from port side aft locker to starboard side aft locker. 
• Engine instrument panel moved from aft end of port cockpit locker to aft end of starboard cockpit locker.
• PVC raceway for engine room cable/wiring eliminated. Replaced with zip ties and cable clips.
• Locker under the breaker panel at Nav. Station eliminated. (This change increased the size of the starboard cockpit locker)
• Floor hatch at Nav. Station eliminated, reducing access to wiring harness.
• Floor hatch at Galley eliminated.
• Three floor hatches between the Pullman berth and hanging lockers reduced to two. The forward and centre ones were combined into a single long skinny hatch that warps & doesn’t lay flat.
• Keel ballast changed from lead shot to steel shot.
• Perkins 4-108 went from standard engine to special order. Pathfinder became standard engine.
• Port side handrail in main cabin eliminated and replaced with a plain trim strip.
• Cabin floor and floor hatches for engine room access reduced in thickness from 1" to 0.75".
• Double anchor roller at bow eliminated. Replaced with single roller.
• Separate port & starboard cap-rail mounted navigation lights eliminated. Replaced with single combo light unit mounted on bow pulpit.
• New scuppers added at the rear of the side decks to eliminate standing water.
• Foot pump under sink in head eliminated, head faucets plumbed directly into pressure pump circuit. No easy way to get water to head if electric pump fails.
• Fuel tank capacity reduced from approx. 80 gal to approx. 50 gal to help address problems of ‘stern squat’ when loaded. (We understand that the earlier boats addressed the same problem through additional lead ingot ballast in the bow)   

The items listed are the most significant ones we have encountered during our various projects to date. There are likely other less obvious ones and we will amend the list as and when we find them.