Frers F-3

sailortjk1 · #1 09-10-2008

Anybody know anything about these boats.
I have a friend who is looking at one.

Use would be on the Great Lakes as a cruiser with the occasional race thrown in. Maybe some around the cans beer can racing. But mostly cruising; daysailing, weekending, and one or two week longs a season.

They are '80's vintage boats, so he can expect to be doing some upgrades.
Any input on performance, sailing charteristics, comfort, etc. would be appreciated.
Thanks

tommays · #2 09-10-2008

The F33 is a bit newer but has a big following in the Long Island Sound area and they do very well

Faster · #3 09-10-2008

The Frers F3s were built by Hinterhoeller Yachts in Ontario, Canada, the same folks who built the Niagaras and Nonsuch lines. They (the builders) have a pretty good reputation overall.

The F3 is a good looking boat that should perform fairly well and was marketed as a racer/cruiser rather than the other way round. A narrow cabin house (with nice wide sidedecks) might restrict interior volume somewhat.

IIRC the rig was starting to move away from the earlier extreme long J short E measurements, and it's a bit more balanced. There are a few in our area that have done well locally in the past.

2 come up on YW - US for 45K, here in Vancouver at 67Kcdn... the one in the US looks a bit of a mess inside......

Johnrb · #4 09-10-2008

If you search on Yachtworld under "Frers" 36 ft. you will find five listed (one sale pending). Here is the URL:
1980 Frers (Sail) Boats For Sale

svsirius · #5 09-11-2008

As said above the F3 was built by Hinterholler and the hull molds were later bought by Carroll Marine who changed the deck/interior and built the Frers 36. I owned one of the Carroll Marine boats and loved it. Was a great compromise boat but clearly more towards the race side of things than the cruise side. Sailed really well and was/is very competitive to this day in it's class as long as you prep it and buy great sails. Most of these boats were raced so you need to know what you are buying and have a very very through survey done. My old boat is still being raced and does well on the Chesapeake. By today's racing standards though not the fastest thing out there and clearly not a sport boat.

Sorry can't tell you specifics about the F3's but if I can help more let me know

killarney_sailor · #6 09-11-2008

These are very nice boats and are well-built. You did not mention which of the Great Lakes your friend is on but the draft could be an issue later in the season on Lake Ontario (many marinas and yacht clubs have 6' max. I think this would also apply on Lake Erie

bshambrook · #7 03-30-2010

Does anyone know the years of production for the F3 and the Frers 36? Could an F3 have been built in 1986? As CM bought the molds I am assuming that there can be no overlap.

Faster · #8 03-30-2010

If this data is accurate, then probably not:

F3 Sailboat details on sailboatdata.com

F 36 Sailboat details on sailboatdata.com

paulk · #9 03-30-2010

We have a hard time beating the ones around here, especially in light air around the buoys. When it picks up & gets a bit rougher we're able to pull out, because we're a tad longer and a tad heavier in a J/36.

FarCry · #10 03-30-2010

Ironically in the JAM class at the International Rolex Regatta last weekend a J36 took straight bullets and a Frers F3 took straight 2nds. The winds were light for most of the races and the sails on the Frers should have been retired long ago. My understanding is that this Frers, Saga, will be up for sail after the BVI Regatta this weekend.