In 2006 I left on a cruise on my boat Fenix. By September, 2006 I was in American Samoa. I looked along the pier where a number of boats were tied up med style. From my previous visit to Samoa I knew the boats in this area had been here for a long time. Many had accumulated a heavy weed around the waterline and a green patina caused by the some kind of growth over much of the deck and topsides.
Tucked in close to the shoreline was a small double ender. That looks a lot like a Pacific Seacraft 25 I thought to myself. Image that small boat getting all the way here, only to be stuck for a long time by someone afraid to leave the US.
Seeing that boat instantly brought back memories of the PS 25 I had built many years earlier. Imagine my surprise when upon closer inspection I realized I was looking at my creation. There could be no mistake. Certain customizations I made to the boat during construction were unique. The reason I did not instantly recognize Freedom was because of her current condition. The pictures below tell you the story.
Freedom, now called "Poti Iti" sits tied to the pier in Pago Pago harbor.
"Iti" in polynesian is a diminutive meaning small.
We're all familiar with what "Potti" means in english.
To me it is sad to see my creation reduced to a "Small Toilet".
Freedom is sitting 4" to 5" below designed waterline.
That means she is carrying at least an extra 2,000 lbs.
Quite a bit considering her designed displacement is around 5,000 lbs.
is a custom cast bronze fairlead that I had made by Elk Brass.
On the right is a stainless chainplate I had made for the headstay.
These are two of the many things I did that made "Freedom" unique
and can be seen in two of the before pictures.
Sadly the white oak sampson post and rudder cheeks are long gone.
It now appears to serve as a boarding step as well.
Except that which is © by others.