Drum Beat was the name, thanks.There were two Freeman 33’s built specifically for the Thames, the one you’re thinking of is Drum Beat, Four Ferrets is the other one and resides above Radcot at the Anchor boat club.
Mine has been modified in the way described above, it involved a chainsaw
The 26 is still a solid boat and if it’s been looked after, holds its price well.
For example Freeman - 26 for sale in Suffolk, Eastern, United Kingdom | Boatshop24
I would be interested in having a look if the owner is okay with that. I’ll PM you my email address.Rather unsurprisingly, that one has been on the market for a while
I know a guy who’s intending to downsize this year.
I can put you in touch if you’re interested in a look before it goes on a brokerage?
There’s a bit more to the conversion that lifting off the hardtop and putting a canopy on though. There is some cutting and shutting to do
Hi... Drumbeat is my boat, we’ve owned her for 23 years now. Has been across the Channel (under previous owners) several times. Original engines were Leyland 2.5litre (very agricultural) diesels from the FX3/4 taxis. Re-engined in 2010 with a pair of 50hp Nanni’s plus PRM350gearboxes. Will do 10kts tops. The low headroom which gets us under Osney would probably limit the seas you would go out in as the cockpit is not self-draining and the top of the screen is less than 84” above the waterline. The hull would handle it beautifully - having been designed for a pair of very much larger engines. On the Tideway or anywhere else on the Thames she’s perfect. We have en-suite (shower/loo/double bunk) cabins each end and all mod cons, but generally, it’s a ‘sleeps 2, drinks 10, feeds 6’ type of boat and we spend several weeks on board each year. With her wide, flat all-round decks., low windage and very steady handling she’s dead easy to run single-handed too. If you could find a really nice hardtop F33 with the 150hp+ engines it could be worth getting out the chainsaw - but Freemans stopped production in the early ’80’s. BTW, with the larger engines, they’re bl***y noisy - esp. after a Broom flybridge!There were two Freeman 33’s built specifically for the Thames, the one you’re thinking of is Drum Beat, Four Ferrets is the other one and resides above Radcot at the Anchor boat club.
Mine has been modified in the way described above, it involved a chainsaw
The 26 is still a solid boat and if it’s been looked after, holds its price well.
For example Freeman - 26 for sale in Suffolk, Eastern, United Kingdom | Boatshop24
Interesting information. Many thanks. If yours will do 10 knots with twin 50s, what will one do with twin 120s? I presume comfortably cruise at10 knots or so?Hi... Drumbeat is my boat, we’ve owned her for 23 years now. Has been across the Channel (under previous owners) several times. Original engines were Leyland 2.5litre (very agricultural) diesels from the FX3/4 taxis. Re-engined in 2010 with a pair of 50hp Nanni’s plus PRM350gearboxes. Will do 10kts tops. The low headroom which gets us under Osney would probably limit the seas you would go out in as the cockpit is not self-draining and the top of the screen is less than 84” above the waterline. The hull would handle it beautifully - having been designed for a pair of very much larger engines. On the Tideway or anywhere else on the Thames she’s perfect. We have en-suite (shower/loo/double bunk) cabins each end and all mod cons, but generally, it’s a ‘sleeps 2, drinks 10, feeds 6’ type of boat and we spend several weeks on board each year. With her wide, flat all-round decks., low windage and very steady handling she’s dead easy to run single-handed too. If you could find a really nice hardtop F33 with the 150hp+ engines it could be worth getting out the chainsaw - but Freemans stopped production in the early ’80’s. BTW, with the larger engines, they’re bl***y noisy - esp. after a Broom flybridge!
All the best with your quest...
Hi... Drumbeat is my boat, we’ve owned her for 23 years now.
Congratulations Pat, she's a lovely looking boat?No problem at all
This is the standard roof, it separates at the arrow (is also the boat mentioned above) The top section of arch, and the brown part of the roof are one bit.
View attachment 85453
This is my boat
View attachment 85454
Note the new split in the arch, level with the rails on the rear cabin roof
View attachment 85457
To get under Osney, you need it to do this
View attachment 85458
Or wait for Drum Beat or Four Ferretts s to appear on the market
Disclaimer....not my work, I bought her this way having admired her for a number of years
Thanks Mat
Hopefully catch up with you over the summer