liberty 458 sailboat review

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Hans Christian 43 vs. Liberty 458

Discussion in ' Sailboats ' started by bellubentu , Oct 1, 2010 .

bellubentu New Member

Hi everybody, I hope that you will forgive me for my imperfect english (I'm Italian !) I'm looking to buy a 42 - 45 feet (pre owned) and now I'm idecided between two boats: the Hans Christian 43 (1990) and the Liberty 458 (1990). If you know these boats, which of them prefer ? and why ?  

BATAAN Senior Member

The HCs are excellent. Not familiar with the other. What use do you plan for the boat?  

My target is to live aboard for few years and sailing also in ocean passages. I am looking first of all to a solid and safe boat, possibly also comfortable. Having visited both boats I am sure that the Liberty is more spacious and more comfortable when you are at anchor, but I do not know if I can say the same when I'm sailing in rough sea.  

Hans Christian 38 reprop

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Review of Liberty 458

Basic specs..

The hull is made of fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season.

The Liberty 458 is equipped with a long keel. A full keel provide a better directional stability than a similar boat with a fin keel; on the other hand, better directional stability means also that the boat is more difficult to handle in a harbour with less space.

The boat can only enter major marinas as the draft is about 1.92 - 2.02 meter (6.30 - 6.60 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

The boat may be equipped with an inboard Ford Lehman diesel engine at 90 hp (67 kW).

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 8.5 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Liberty 458 is about 323 kg/cm, alternatively 1810 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 323 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 1810 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is a Ballast Ratio?

Maintenance

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 54m 2 (581 ft 2 ). Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Liberty 458 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

Liberty 458 - Overview

Read more posts by this author.

Liberty means freedom. And to a sailor, freedom to enjoy high performance, comfort and safety, without restraint. The Liberty 458 was designed and built with excellence in mind.

Graceful lines. Unsurpassed structural integrity. Exceptional directional stability. Built by Shin Fa Industry, one of Taiwan's oldest and most respected boat builders, working collectively with her developers and inspectors, the Liberty 458 sets an example of the highly perfected craftsmanship and construction techniques now emanating from Taiwan.

Her spacious interior provides an impressive amount of space, for living, lounging, dining and sleeping, with unbelievable storage, making her a great liveaboard and off shore cruiser.

Warm polished teak, gleaming brass ports - special amenities such as the glass enclosed beverage cabinet, with indirect lighting, add touches of luxury and elegance in the uniquely designed salon. Deck prisms, strategically placed in the companionways, galley, heads and navigation station, reflect day light, creating a bright, airy feeling.

The aft cabin, with its oversized berth, is available in either athwartship or fore and aft versions. The handsome stern transom windows provide additional light, creating a pleasing visual effect. The ports on the starboard and port allows for excellent cross ventilation. A full length hanging locker with drawers and additional storage for shoes and off season apparel is more than adequate.

The large molded-in shower eliminates showering in cramped quarters and cleans up with a simple wipe down. The cantilevered sink enables use of both facilities simultaneously.

The well designed galley of the Liberty 458 receives the applause of both off shore and liveaboard sailors. It's compact, but not crowded, with space for a microwave oven and abundant storage for large pots and pans, dishes and provisions. The double stainless steel sinks are convenient to the dining area and the general layout allows the galley chef to be included in the conversation without being inconvenienced by passing traffic. With creative utilization of space, attention to detail, and superb finishing throughout, it is not surprising that the Liberty 458 has earned the respect of everyone who has experienced her exceptional comfort and performance.

The Liberty 458's uncluttered deck design allows crew to move freely and safely, with considerable room for lounging, sunning or fishing. With all lines aft to self-tailing winches, convenience and ease of handling is assured. Her handsome exterior, with stainless steel or brass ports, is enhanced with sufficient teak to please the eye without being a burden to maintain. Coded wiring and easy engine access from both sides saves time and energy when maintenance is necessary. Bulwark mounted stanchions essentially eliminate the possibility of leaking.

The spacious interior of the Liberty 458 is available in several configurations, allowing you to fulfill your individual requirements. You can conveniently work at the chart table while sitting down, or standing; and the moveable bucket seats allow you to increase the seating capacity of the dining area. Creative utilization of space results in unsurpassed storage capabilities. With four large hanging lockers and numerous drawers and cabinets, the Liberty 458 is the perfect liveaboard and offshore cruiser.

She is in a class by herself.