New Model: Freeman Signature 56

Freeman continue to rewrite the rules in the offshore center console power catamaran segment and present the new Signature 56 flagship.  An expansion of three meters to the previous 47 flagship which arrived in 2020, the Signature 56 is a big challenge to all sportfish center-console in this size.  Freeman is the name which put the catamaran center console in that new level of desirability, after it debuted with a 33 in 2007, it has been in an unstoppable spiral of success.  From that 33 its just been an expansion, and today Freeman is the leader of the offshore sportfish center console power catamaran segment, offering nine models from 28 to this new Signature 56 flagship.  All this confirms the Carolina boat builder leadership, but also puts into a new outlook as the Signature 56 unlike it's smaller sisters also brings cabin space, offering a lower deck sleeping four, in two single berths and a master stateroom forward in the port-side hull, while the starboard hull features a galley with day head/shower forward.  The Freeman Signature 56 is powered by quadruple Mercury 600hp for speeds up to sixty knots, and a cruise of 34 knots, with a six hundred nautical miles range being possible. 

Technical Data:

LOA - 17.06 m (56ft)

Beam - 5.02 m

Draft - 0.76 m

Displacement - 15875 kg dry, 19958 kg medium load

Fuel Capacity - 5413 l

Water Capacity - 454 l

Accommodation - four berths in two cabins

Engines - 4 x Mercury V12 Verado 400hp outboards

Propulsion - quadruple duo-prop outboards

Speed - sixty knots max, 34 cruise

Range - up to six hundred nautical miles

www.freemanboatworks.com

competition = Frontrunner 55 Catamaran

John Freeman 1917 - 2013

It is with regret that we have to announce the death of Mr John Freeman one of the pioneers of the modern marine industry. He passed away peacefully at home in Devon on Friday 26th July 2013, two days before his 96th birthday.  Mr Freeman who led an interesting life and sparkled with energy and enthusiasm was one of the paramount leisure craft manufacturers from the 1950's to the 1980's. He manufactured over 6500 cruisers from 22ft to 41ft with a range of 27 models. Mr Freeman was born into a farming family in 1917; he was very keen on woodwork and by the age of 12 was making poultry houses to help sustain his family. At 17 he built his first caravan - it had a wooden frame and 'deck chair' canvas for the sides! He spent the war years in the RAF continuing the caravan construction while on leave and after his de-mob in 1946.  At this time polyester resin was an unknown quantity but he experimented with it during the development of his caravans. GRP caravans were very heavy and not so successful however the idea of a boat led to the first GRP production line for family cruisers with the 'birth' of the iconic Freeman 22 in 1957. The introduction of the Freeman brand was at Olympia during the London Motor Show. Mr Freeman, at this time, revolutionised the industry by producing a ready to go, all the comforts of home, user friendly boat you could just order. There was no longer any need to commission an architect to design or a boat-builder to construct your individual vessel. The highest quality craftsmanship and materials were used in production to the degree of buying a tree and using the same grained veneer throughout each cruiser. As there were very few wholesalers at this time Mr Freeman designed and manufactured his own fittings. The continued success of the Freeman brand is owing to the fact that we are able to continue to supply virtually all of the original fittings and through the Freeman Owners Club we expect to be able to secure their future.  Mr Freeman will be greatly missed but his inspiration will live on.