Retired at last, spending Freemanly

[Freemanfan]

I retired recently and asked a chum what I ought to do to keep me from getting under the wife's feet. He suggested I buy a boat so as I'm completely unqualified and it seemed like a good idea, I spent a bit of the pension lump sum on an old Freeman and decide to put her on the Thames as that's the longest river nearest to home.

I've given her bottom some TLC, repaired the cracked plastic on the keel (thanks Youtube), scrubbed and antifouled her (but wonder if that's really necessary on a river) and popped her in the water. I took her out again immediately as the prop shaft leaked and the cooling water valve was seized. Craning fees, ouch!

While she was out of the water being fixed, I decided to have the engine serviced and a few moving parts replaced just to be on the safe side. I also scraped off the hideous looking fence paint from the wooden bits and applied many coats of varnish. I had a nice Polish man polish the hull too and she looked proper until I'd been through a couple of locks.

I've found the Freeman boat bits centre in Moulsford and a lovely chap there called Matt. Each time I see Matt, it costs me north of £200. He said that I'm his best customer this year but no discount yet.

Recently, I drove her up river to her new home in Abingdon. I stayed overnight in a couple of riverside hotels, one in Sonning with eye watering prices and a Mercedes showroom for a car park. I have to say that all the locks had someone to lend a hand when I messed up my approach and couldn't get a rope on a bollard.

I passed a group of Freemans (funny how you notice them when you have one) whose owners waved frantically at me, to the point where I began to think there was something wrong with the boat or me. Turns out they were being friendly. I'm not used to that where I come from, people don't speak to strangers.

Anyway, I've been reading the other comments on this forum and especially the ones about Abingdon. Can't wait to explore the town centre after dark, that should be fun. I like dingy and disreputable looking boozers so if anyone has a recommendation I'd be grateful to hear about it.

I'm determined to spend all my pension before I pop off and having a boat really helps - so far it's cost me a quarter of what I paid for it in repairs but I expected that given the survey I had done. I mentioned this to my chum who dismissed my comments with, 'Well, that's boating, floating money pits' and he's right.

If you see a grumpy, fat old git on a bashed up looking Freeman near Abingdon, give me a wave and let me know what I'm doing wrong.

 

[oldgit]

Well done for braving the forum.
Forum can be a excellent source of info for all things regards Thames boating (and beyond) and well worth patiently wading through all the old tosh and whinging for the few gems of info that do lurk within.
Have personally found it very useful over the years.
You will at some point come across the old addage...........
Buying a boat is like digging a hole in the water and throwing in £50.00 notes while standing in freezing cold shower.
All boaters develop a curiously very short memory when questioned about exactly how much they spend on the boat over the previous year.

 

[Actionmat]

Welcome to the forum. I like Freemans, they've got bags of character and if you haven't done so already, it's worth joining the owners club.
A group of them went from Oxford to the Thames barrier this year.

 

[oldgit]

Welcome to the forum. I like Freemans, they've got bags of character and if you haven't done so already, it's worth joining the owners club.
A group of them went from Oxford to the Thames barrier this year.

......did any make it back again ?

 

[Actionmat]

......did any make it back again ?

I saw Pat in Hurley on the return trip. All in good shape, no escort engines had clapped out

 

[oldgit]

we have a real peach of a Freeman here at the club, a total restoration.

 

[Wansworth]

Next problem will be explaining to the wife that you don’t have a flossy in Abington!

 

[prof pat pending]

......did any make it back again ?

Yep, all 11 boats that went to the Barrier made it home again
Not all of us started in Oxford, the first to set off left his mooring in Inglesham (the highest moored boat on the Thames) and picked the rest of us up along the way. We stopped off at Ashmount on the way back for our usual bank holiday weekend get together for a debrief and a few beers



Welcome to the Thames forum Freemanfan and to Freeman ownership
Wait until you get her above Oxford, best part of the river for a small freeman
ps follow the link in my signature v v

I kept my boat in Abingdon marina for 4 years, moved her Oxford which is a bit cheaper with more facilities and the peace and quiet on the river above Osney

 

[Phill]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on joining our special world, boating.
Lots of us are working hard to pay for our “habit” and hearing that you’re retired and enjoying your boat makes me slightly envious, but I’ve not got long to go now. I find it difficult to get time off work but as well as lots of weekends, We did manage five consecutive days aboard this year and made it to Abingdon which was lovely. Don’t believe all you read on this forum as there are a few old miseries popping in these days, eh Harry?
I have very fond memories of our first boat which was a Freeman 22 mk1. Beautifully made and a joy to helm. We took it from Bray to Lechlade and back over two glorious weeks and as it was our first trip on the Thames, it’ll always be special, even though that was 25 years ago.
I look forward to hearing more about your boat and experiences.
I’m sure if you have half as much fun as most of us do, it’ll be worth all the effort and expense.

 

[Nick(2)]

It’s great having another freeman owner on this forum and welcome. We have had our 23 for just over a year and we love her. She is perfect for pottering up and down The Thames. I agree that Matt and his colleagues at Moulsford are very helpful but it’s very hard not to spend spend spend!

I find the Freeman forum and two Facebook pages are great resources and very friendly online communities which have spilt over into real life - definitely worth joining.

Enjoy your Freeman - they are wonderful boats.

 

[TrueBlue]

Yep, all 11 boats that went to the Barrier made it home again
Not all of us started in Oxford, the first to set off left his mooring in Inglesham (the highest moored boat on the Thames) and picked the rest of us up along the way. We stopped off at Ashmount on the way back for our usual bank holiday weekend get together for a debrief and a few beers

View attachment 74162

Welcome to the Thames forum Freemanfan and to Freeman ownership
Wait until you get her above Oxford, best part of the river for a small freeman
ps follow the link in my signature v v

I kept my boat in Abingdon marina for 4 years, moved her Oxford which is a bit cheaper with more facilities and the peace and quiet on the river above Osney

It's great to see Ashmount being 'used' again - indeed good to hear of boat clubs doing things together.
Use of the river is in decline - perhaps more folks should get together and go cruising informally in groups.
Perhaps it might encourage those who don't sally forth from their marinas - for fear of the great unknown.

One can but dream...

 

[prof pat pending]

We’ve been gathering at Ashmount for the last 3 years, last year we set the flag to half mast :apologetic:
Eileen was kind enough to invite us back and we’re booked in again for next year

This year’s trip to the Barrier was the result of a late night chat amongst the group whilst sat at Ashmount having drunk far too much beer and whiskey. We had a few qualified skippers to accompany a few that had not previously been on anything tidal. It was quite the adventure :encouragement:

 

[AuntyRinum]

As a matter of interest, Freemanfan, why did you stay in hotels and not on board?

 

[Brayman]

We’ve been gathering at Ashmount for the last 3 years, last year we set the flag to half mast :apologetic:
Eileen was kind enough to invite us back and we’re booked in again for next year

This year’s trip to the Barrier was the result of a late night chat amongst the group whilst sat at Ashmount having drunk far too much beer and whiskey. We had a few qualified skippers to accompany a few that had not previously been on anything tidal. It was quite the adventure :encouragement:

I think Ashmount can be blamed for sowing the seeds of many an outlandish plan!

 

[prof pat pending]

I think Ashmount can be blamed for sowing the seeds of many an outlandish plan!

That I’m certain of

 

[AuntyRinum]

As a matter of interest, Freemanfan, why did you stay in hotels and not on board?

Has he gone? Was it something we said?

 

[Freemanfan]

As a matter of interest, Freemanfan, why did you stay in hotels and not on board?

I'm built for comfort, not camping and need a shower first thing or get complaints. Looking at converting the galley table space into a proper heads and shower that I can get into and get out of.

 

[Old Crusty]

I'm built for comfort, not camping and need a shower first thing or get complaints. Looking at converting the galley table space into a proper heads and shower that I can get into and get out of.

Bygone Boating in Benson are upgrading a Freeman with a new shower ready for renting out so might be able to help with drawings.

 

[prof pat pending]

There are a number of small Freeman’s that now have a shower fitted in the head, but you have to be built for it.

At 5’10” I can’t stand up in that space, with 32” legs, Mrs Pending can’t sit down, I think most use them as an emergency only thing.

there are a number of showers at the locks above Osney, you may not get one every morning though, and you often need to have tokens in advance.

 

[Actionmat]

Space is at a premium on a little Freeman. Would a shower attachment in the cockpit work? A shower tray could fold up and out of the way, a shower curtain for modesty(or just shower in trunks)And the added bonus of gravity getting rid of the water, with no need for a pump below the water line.