Dudley Dix Houtbay 40

Freedom Song is a Dudley Dix design " Hout Bay 40 ", with the Marconi cutter rig. (https://www. Dixdesign. Com/hb40. Htm)
The vessel was built by Novio Marine in Durbin South Africa and launched in 1996. Freedom Song was purchased by its second owner in Florida in Jan 2007 and trucked to Port Townsend in Washington State where it was put on the hard for a refit. In March 2008 she was moved to a berth in a marina at Port Orchard. The current owner purchased the boat in May 2010 and sailed back to Brisbane. Freedom Song is set up for single handed offshore cruising and has cruised most of the island groups in the South Pacific over the last 12 years, it has proved to be a comfortable and secure live aboard cruiser.

She has recently been painted and cleaned out for new owners. She is currently on the hard in Townsville.

BASIC DIMENSIONS
Length on deck 12.09 Mt.
Length overall 14.2 mt. Note! From pulpit to davits
Length waterline 9.60 Mt.
Beam 4.0 Mt.
Displacement 12 Tonne
Ht above water 17.60 Mt.
Diesel tank 350 Lt.
Water tank 350 Lt.
Holding tank 80 Lt.
Note! Section of pulpit can be removed to fit 14.0 Mt. Marina berth

HULL
The hull is constructed using 3/16 (4.76 mm ) Corten steel which is an alloy steel resistant to rust, the present condition of the hull shows the effectiveness of this steel. Other parts of the boat ie. The gunnels and cabin sides have had to be patched in places over the years.

MOTOR
The original motor was replaced in 2012 with the present Nanni 50 HP motor and has done around 2000 Hrs, it drives a 3 blade fixed Propeller.

SAILS
The Main sail, Headsail and Staysail were all replaced in Dec. 2011 and are still in good condition. The original Headsail has been restitched and the Luff replaced to suit the furler, it is stored under the V berth as a spare. Headsail and staysail both use " Reefurl" furling and reefing systems manufactured in the Whitsundays. The spinnaker was serviced by a sailmaker in 2012 and used once in 2014, as a single hander I prefer to use the motor in light conditions.

RIG
One major consideration for me when I purchased the boat was the strength of the rig, with 2 backstays, forestay, inner forestay, 4 lowers and 4 shrouds any one of these could fail without endangering the rig. The rigging wire was replaced in 2011 and swageless fittings used top and bottom, I used these fittings because it was my intention to cruise in remote areas of the South Pacific and I wanted to be self sufficient. None of the fittings have needed replacement. The Himod http://www. Petersen-stainless. Co. Uk/product-highlights-white-papers/hi- mod-swageless-compression-fittings. Html
fittings used have a very high breaking strain and use a 316 SS wedge that can be reused. NOTE! The cost of these fittings today is approx $260 Aud each and there are 24 on the rig. The original rig had running backstays for the inner forestay, I fitted fixed stays in 2013 which do not use Himod fittings.

ANCHOR GEAR
The main anchor is a 22 Kg. (48.5 lbs. ) EXCEL http://www. Anchorright. Com. Au/products/sarca-excel-anchor/
attached to 100Mt. Continuous 10mm good quality Italian chain and 20 Mt. Nylon rode.
The Anchor winch is a Vetus - Maxwell HRC10 1200 Watt. It is fast and powerful.
Anchor, chain and winch were fitted in 2020 and have had little use.
The second anchor is a 36 lb. Plough stored on the stern rail with aprox. 18 Mt. Chain and 50 Mt. Nylon rode. Only ever used as a stern anchor.
There is a spare anchor stored under the V berth, this is a 25 Kg. Maxwell plough with aprox 20 Mt. Chain and 80 Mt nylon rode, the anchor has had little use.

RADIO and NAVIGATION
The ICOM HF radio is adjustable for all marine and amateur frequencies.
The Standard Horizon VHF radio has AIS receive capability when connected to the Garmin hand held GPS receiver mounted in the cockpit, this unit is completely independent of the Camino Class B AIS transceiver.
The class B transeiver connects to both the Nav Computer and the Lowrance plotter showing AIS targets.
The Nav computer runs Open CPN with world charts corrected to 2013, I use this mainly for planning and when offshore.
The Lowrance HDS9 is a recent addition, it has recent charts for all of Australia including Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and the Southern part of New Guinea.
The CPT Autopilot is a robust, waterproof and reliable unit, there is a complete back up unit plus spare parts stored on the shelf under the cockpit.

EXTERIOR FEATURES
Freedom Song has wide side decks with high bulwarks and numerous handholds making movement on deck at sea very secure. The solid dodger adds to safety and comfort when conditions deteriorate. Both headsails are handled from the cockpit, the mainsail is reefed and furled at the mast, solid rails at the mast provide a secure work area. All 6 cockpit winches are Armstrong stainless steel self tailers, five are 2 speed one is single speed the 2 mast winches are 2 speed.
I always carry the dinghy up side down on the foredeck when offshore, there are davits on the stern for use in sheltered waters. There is a drop down swim platform on the stern and a stainless steel boarding ladder on the Port side.
There is a large opening hatch over the V berth and a large " Butterfly hatch " over the saloon. Both hatches have canvas covers.
The Davit frame supports one 130 watt and one 200 watt solar panels.
A wash down outlet is located on the fore deck.
The life raft on deck has not been serviced for some years, if going offshore I would consider getting a new one.

INTERNAL FEATURES
The anchor well is accessed through doors at fwd. End of V berth, the drain hose comes out at the aft end of the V berth with a tap to allow draining into a container.
There is a large storage area under the V berth.
The V berth is a large double with the opening hatch over.
Moving aft the head is to Port with electric macerator toilet featuring a large bowl and 80 litre holding tank. A spare motor and macerator is under the Vberth.
There is a simple shower and hand basin.
A full height towel cupboard is to starboard.
A portable toilet is stored under the basin.
Adjacent to the head to Starboard is a hanging cupboard and a pilot berth with storage under the berth and storage cupboards above the berth.
Next aft is the U shaped dining area to Port and settee to Stbd. With storage under seats and behind seat backs, shelving both sides. The saloon area can seat 6 or 7 people comfortably and still have room to walk around.
The engine box is central extending aft under the sink.
A full size chart table to Stbd. With radios and fuse panel. A 200 watt inverter is under the chart table for computer and phone charging.
The galley is next to Port with 2 burner plus oven gymballed gas stove, a generous top loading refrigerator and storage under the bench.
To stbd. Is the aft berth best described as a friendly double, it has standing room and cupboard storage.
Aft under the cockpit to Port is the battery box with one engine battery and 2 golf cart batteries for house power, I have found this setup adequate to run refrigeration, autopilot and lights overnight when offshore, occasionally needing some motor time if overcast.
To Port is the fridge unit and shelving, a bracket for outboard storage is on the aft end of the refrigerator box.

Dinghy and motor
The dinghy is 2.55 mt. X 1.36 mt. Beam plastic moulded clinker hull, double skin giving huge bouyancy, these dinghy's are robust and easily rowed.
The reliable 2 HP. Yamaha outboard can be stored on the rear rail or on a bracket below deck.
https://www. Missionkayaking. Com/shop/Kayaks/Lake+Kayaks/DINGHY. Html

The information contained within this listing has been compiled by TYBB from information provided by the owner, TYBB accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies which may appear in this inventory.