Freedom 36
Built 1985–1989 by Tillotson-Pearson Inc. (TPI)
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About the Freedom 36
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1985–1989
- Builder
- Tillotson-Pearson Inc. (TPI)
- Designer
- Gary Mull
- Length
- 36.42 ft
- Waterline
- 30.63 ft
- Beam
- 12.5 ft
- Draft
- 4.5 ft
- Displacement
- 14,370 lb
- Ballast
- 6,500 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass-cored
- Hull / keel
- fin keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 35 gal
- Water
- 64 gal
- Holding
- 12 gal
- Water heater
- AC · standard
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- pedestal cable · Edson
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
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Fuel 35 gal
“Tankage: Fuel - 35 gallons” — owner's manual, freedomyachts.org · “Fuel tank 35 gal” — search excerpt (1988), machinio.com · “The reality is: fuel: 28 gallons” — search excerpt, freedomyachts.org · “The original specs for the boat indicate fuel: 35 gallons” — search excerpt, freedomyachts.orgThe builder's (TPI) through-hull, tank and pump location drawing (F-36-900M) in the Freedom 36/38 owner's handbook gives one 35-gal aluminum tank. One owner measured about 28 gal usable; that is the gap between usable and rated capacity, not a different tank.
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Water 64 gal
“Tankage: Water - 64 gallons” — owner's manual, freedomyachts.org · “Fresh water tank 64 gal” — search excerpt (1988), machinio.com · “water: 61 gallons” — search excerpt, freedomyachts.org · “water: 65 gallons (original specs)” — search excerpt, freedomyachts.orgThe owner's handbook tank drawing shows one 64-gal tank amidships as standard, plus an optional 40-gal tank in the forepeak (104 gal with both). An owner's recollection of 65 gal and measurement of 61 are close to the builder's figure.
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Holding 12 gal
“Tankage: Waste - 12 gallons” — owner's manual, freedomyachts.org · “holding tank: 12 gallons (original specs)” — search excerpt, freedomyachts.org · “Holding tank 12 gal” — search excerpt (1988), machinio.comThe builder's tank drawing in the owner's handbook shows a 12-gal waste (holding) tank. Some owners have fitted 20-gal replacements.
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Water heater AC · standard
“Freedom 36 PUMPS AND HEATER: A HOT WATER HEATER; B SHOWER SUMP PUMP OPT; C WATER PRESSURE PUMP; D AUTOMATIC BILGE PUMP O” — owner's manual (c. 1985-86 (TPI)), freedomyachts.org · “Water Heater Caution: When the water heater is operating from shore power, a continuous supply of water must be availabl” — owner's manual (c. 1985-86 (TPI)), freedomyachts.orgTillotson-Pearson's Freedom owner's handbook (Freedom 36 pages) marks the shower sump and automatic bilge pump optional but not the hot water heater, so it appears to be standard. A shore-power element is described; an engine loop isn't mentioned in the pages we read. Capacity not given.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster unknown
Tillotson-Pearson's Freedom owner's handbook (commissioning, mechanical and electrical sections) doesn't mention a thruster, and no option list was found.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Our earlier figure of none has no source, and nothing was found either way.
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Steering pedestal cable · Edson
“Your vessel is equipped with an Edson pedestal steering system. ... Freedom 36 - Radial Drive System. Additionally, an e” — owner's manual, freedomyachts.orgTillotson-Pearson's Freedom owner's handbook (on the Freedom owners' site) lists the Freedom 36 with an Edson pedestal driving a radial drive wheel by chain and wire, plus an emergency tiller stowed in a cockpit locker. That confirms our earlier figure of wheel steering as standard.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Unstayed carbon mast with small self-tacking jib (technically a sloop); cat-ketch versions also offered. Deep-keel version is an external bolted lead fin (sailboatdata: 6.0 ft draft, 13,400 lb displacement); shoal keel is encapsulated. Specs above are the shoal version. Spade rudder. Hull-deck joint through-bolted through an aluminum toerail.
Engines fitted
-
Yanmar 3GM (3GM30F) — 27 hp, diesel, single
standard
sailboatdata lists a 27 hp Yanmar 3GM as original equipment. Search snippets of 1987-88 listings show the freshwater-cooled 3GM30F, but those pages could not be opened to confirm.Sources: sailboatdata.com
Generator
Tillotson-Pearson's owner's handbook covers batteries, chargers and shore power, but no generator.
Known problems for this model
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Balsa-cored hull and deck hull
Hull and deck are balsa-cored throughout; through-hull and deck fittings must be sealed carefully and any damage repaired promptly to keep water out of the core.practical-sailor.com
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Unstayed carbon mast rigging
The freestanding carbon mast bends noticeably in puffs by design; Practical Sailor knew of at least one damaged by lightning. Check the mast finish and partners.practical-sailor.com
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Hard-to-reach dipstick engine
The 27 hp Yanmar is adequate but its dipstick is awkward to reach from any access panel.practical-sailor.com
Engines & parts
Yanmar 3GM / 3GM30F parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Yanmar 3GM (3GM30F)”
Very popular (used 3GM30Fs sell for $3,000+) and supported by a strong parts network. Cylinder head overhauls (valve seals, lapping, injector service) are a common, parts-supported repair.
Parts sources: Mack Boring & Parts (Yanmar distributor), HDI Marine (stainless exhaust elbows), Parts4Engines
Common problems (2)
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Overheating at cruise rpm cooling
The 3GM30F has a known overheating tendency linked to its heat exchanger; owners also trace it to coked elbows, worn impellers, scaled heat exchangers or air in the raw water circuit. Some heat exchangers were replaced under warranty.forums.sailboatowners.com
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Mixing elbow corrosion exhaust
OEM elbows corrode internally and should be inspected or replaced with stainless versions before they let water into the engine.practical-sailor.com · facebook.com
Maker’s service schedule (2)
| Fuel filters & water separator | 250 hrs | “The normal replacement interval for the element is 250 hours ... Filter cleaning First time 50 hours Filter element repl” — manufacturer, c320.org |
| Air filter / intake silencer | 250 hrs | “Washing period Every 250 hours” — manufacturer, c320.org |
Service part numbers (10)
| Oil filter | Yanmar 119305-35170 Replaces 119305-35151, 119660-35150 |
“3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 119305-35170 1 FILTER ASSY, D68XL65” — dealer, oldportmarine.com · “Maintenance kit Yanmar 2GMF, 2GM20F, 3GMF, 3GM30F ... Yanmar 119305-35170 Oil Filter” — dealer, marinedustrie.com |
| Fuel filter | Yanmar 104500-55710 | “Fuel Filter Element 1 104500-55710 / Fuel Filter O-Ring 1 24341-000440” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 104500-55710 1 ELEMENT, FUEL FILTER” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Raw-water impeller Japan-built 3GM / 3GM30(F) (serial not starting with E) |
Yanmar 124223-42092 | “Impeller 1 124223-42092 / Impeller Gasket 1 124223-42110” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 124223-42092 1 IMPELLER, PUMP” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Raw-water impeller European-built GM-YEU (serial starting with E) |
Yanmar 128990-42570 Replaces 128990-42200 |
“(Supersedes part number: 128990-42200) ... 3GM30-YEU, 3GM30C-YEU 3GM30F-YEU, 3GM30FC-YEU” — dealer, palmerpower.com · “It fits Yanmar 2GM20F, 2YM15, 3GM30F, 3GM30FC, 3TN30F, 3YM20, 3YM30, 3YM30AE engines. Cross Reference: 128990-42200” — dealer, deltadieselparts.com |
| Drive belt | Yanmar 25132-003700 | “Alternator Belt 1 25132-003700” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 25132-003700 1 V-BELT, A37” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Drive belt | Yanmar 104511-78780 | “S/W Pump Belt 1 104511-78780” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 104511-78780 1 V-BELT, M/19” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Air filter | Yanmar 128270-12540 | “Air Filter Element 1 128270-12540” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 128270-12540 1 ELEMENT, AIR CLEANER” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Zinc / anode raw-water 3GM / 3GM30; also sold for the F (heat-exchanger) versions |
Yanmar 27210-200300 | “27210-200300 Yanmar Engine Zinc Anode For 2GM(D), 3GM(D), 2GM20, 3GM30” — dealer, zincsforboats.com · “It fits Yanmar 2GM, 2GM20F, 2GM15, 2GM20, 3GM30F, 3GMF, 3HMF, 3GM30H engines.” — dealer, deltadieselparts.com |
| Thermostat 3GM30F / 3GMF (fresh-water cooled) |
Yanmar 121750-49800 | “Thermostat 1 121750-49800 / Thermostat Gasket 1 129350-49541” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “Thermostat for Yanmar 2GMF, 3GMF, 3HMF, 2GM20F, 3GM30F, 3HM35F / REC121750-49800” — dealer, marineparts.eu |
| Thermostat 3GM / 3GM30 (raw-water cooled) |
Yanmar 105582-49200 | “Replaces Yanmar Marine 105582-49200 ... 1GM, 2GM, 3GM, 1GM10, 2GM20, 3GM30” — dealer, repowermarine.com · “1GM10, 2GM20 & 3GM30 Thermostat to fit raw water cooled engine versions ... equivalent to 105582-49200” — dealer, parts4engines.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Steering
Edson — Pedestal chain-and-wire steering parts: good
Edson (New Bedford, MA) still sells service parts: chain-and-wire kits, sprockets, idlers, pull-pull conduit steering and internal pedestal parts, and keeps steering data sheets by boat model, many decades old.
Parts sources: Edson Marine (service parts)
Common problems (3)
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Old or slack steering wire steering
Edson advises replacing steering wire about every five years, checking tension with the wheel locked, and inspecting under load annually; owners often find decades-old stiff wire.usna.edu · youtube.com
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Lubrication and fastener checks steering
Chain, wire, sheaves and pedestal bearings need regular oiling or greasing, and clevis/cotter pins and bolts should be checked monthly to avoid failures.usna.edu
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Replacing engine control cables in the pedestal steering
Swapping throttle/shift cables inside an Edson pedestal is a common owner job requiring removal of the wheel shaft sprocket pin.forums.sailboatowners.com
Edson — Traditional geared steerers (worm / rack-and-pinion) parts: good
Edson says its traditional wheels and geared steerers are still available, now built with modern materials; rack-and-pinion steerers are offered for transom-hung and inboard rudders.
Parts sources: Edson Marine (traditional steerers)
Model sources (3)
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Other Freedom models
- Freedom 33 1979–1983
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.