Freedom Cruise

 

Issue: June 2005

Freedom?s new ?Cruise? model represents a step forward into a brave new world for this Queensland boat builder. For many years Freedom have been renowned as builders of excellent, value for money entry-level packages, but with the Cruise they?ve stepped outside this square.
Now, Freedom is moving towards the top-of-the-range where the big guys rule.They have done an excellent job on this boat, although that, as they say, is getting ahead of the story.

The Freedom Cruise is set-up as a comfortable weekender for a couple, or a day cruiser for owners plus a couple of friends. The layout is similar to most boats of this style with a bow bunk, deep bucket seats in the helm area and an aft lounge/ dinette. And powered by a 140hp Johnson four-stroke and swinging a 19? pitch prop, we didn?t expect the 6.2m Cruise to perform like a ski racer ? and it didn?t. But it wasn?t designed to either.

In the confines of the Noosa River estuary, the combination was nimble enough and while the EFI DOHC four- cylinder outboard didn?t shove you in the back in your seat when the taps were turned on, it was no slouch with a top speed of almost 35 knots (34.9).

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This boat is ?Cruise? by name and cruise by nature. And this Freedom does it effortlessly between 4000rpm (19.3 knots) and 5000rpm (27.3 knots), translating into economical cruising.

Fit-out
Her level of appointment is high with standard fittings like an electric anchor winch, a built-in refrigerator and a sink with pressurised freshwater on tap. The standard equipment inventory also includes suede upholstery, a fully lined interior and a height/reach-adjustable helm seat mounted on a suspension post.

There is a transom shower and a spacious U-shaped aft lounge, again upholstered in suede, with a removable table that makes it a dinette when required.

However, our first thoughts as we clambered onboard via the folding telescopic ladder mounted on the stern was about suede in a small boat? it?s inevitably going to get wet in bad conditions, even if the guests can refrain from plonking themselves down on the lounge while still dripping wet from a swim. Surely, the suede upholstery can?t last.

Well, we need not have worried, because apparently it?s not real suede (as in leather)at all, it is an Italian-made suede replica that is reportedly totally saltwater proof. While enquiring about the suede we were informed that all of the Freedom?s seating contains no timber. Even the backing boards of the bunks and lounge seats are made from inert material, so wood rot isn?t going to be a problem.

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