Freeman 32 First Look, Price Expectations and Specs

Freeman 32 at a glance

The Freeman 32 is the newest boat from Freeman Boatworks, the South Carolina builder Billy Freeman founded in 2006. In 2026 Freeman listed it as new and invited buyers to reserve an early-production hull. By mid 2026 the company's lineup ran to nine models from 28 feet to the Signature 56, with the 32 filling the space between the redesigned 29 and the 35.

Freeman's description is short and confident: the 32 combines what the company calls legendary Freeman performance with a more versatile platform, with spacious bow and helm seating, and shares the same DNA as the larger models. Freeman also claims it goes further, faster and more efficiently than anything in its class. That is a builder claim, and at the time of writing there were no independent tests to back or challenge it.

• LOA 31 ft 8 in, beam 11 ft 8 in, draft 20 in
• Fuel 390 gal, fresh water 40 gal
• Coffin box 460 qt, forward insulated box 400 qt
• Transom livewell 70 gal
• Engines, weight, maximum horsepower and performance not yet published

A 32 that is wider than the Freeman 35

The most striking number on the spec sheet is the beam. At 11 feet 8 inches the 32 is two inches wider than the Freeman 35, which measures 35 feet 10 inches by 11 feet 6 inches, and almost a foot wider than the retired 34VH at 10 feet 10 inches. For a 31-foot 8-inch boat, that is a very full planform, and it explains the emphasis on seating. A wide catamaran carries its beam well forward, so the extra width shows up as bow seating and helm space rather than just a wider cockpit.

The trade-off is trailering. Anything over 8 feet 6 inches needs a wide-load permit in most states, and at 11 feet 8 inches the 32 is a boat for a slip, a lift or a high-capacity dry stack, not a weekend tow. If you are moving up from a Freeman 28 because you liked trailering it, this is the point where that ends.

390 gallons and what that range could mean

Fuel capacity is generous. The 32 carries 390 gallons, 100 more than the Freeman 29 and nearly as much as the old 34VH's 400 gallons. For comparison, Freeman rates the 35 at 43 mph and 1.35 mpg with 510 gallons, and the 28 at 40 mph and 2.0 mpg with 250 gallons. Freeman has not released an mpg figure for the 32, but if it lands anywhere between those two boats, its tank gives a reach that suits overnight canyon runs, Bahamas trips and long tournament days without refueling.

We are deliberately not publishing a cruise or top speed until Freeman or an independent tester does. Ask the factory for the test numbers from its own sea trials, and ask which engines and props they were run with.

Cockpit and fish storage

The published fishing numbers are serious for the size. A 460-quart coffin box sits forward of the console, a 400-quart forward insulated box adds more cold storage, and the transom carries a 70-gallon livewell. That livewell is the same size Freeman fitted to the transom of the 37VH and lists for each of the dual transom wells on the 35, so the 32 is clearly meant to handle live bait for kingfish, sailfish and tuna, not just a dozen pinfish.

Forty gallons of fresh water is also generous next to the 13 gallons of the 28 and the 14 gallons of the 29, which points to freshwater washdowns and probably a shower for a crew that spends long days aboard. Freeman's larger boats add side dive doors, electric reel plugs, Gemlux outrigger bases and Zipwake trim systems, and we expect much of that to carry over, but confirm the standard list for your build.

Where the 32 sits in Freeman's lineup

Freeman's mid-size history is worth understanding. The original 33, built in 2007, gave way to the stepped and vented 34VH in 2015, and later to the 35, which the company describes as a modern nod to Billy Freeman's first 33. The 37VH grew into the 38. The new 32 slots below the 35 and above the 29 and 28, and with its wide beam it looks aimed at buyers who want a family-friendly twin engine cat with real offshore fuel capacity but do not need, or cannot dock, a 35.

If your priority is maximum range and a dive door, the 35 is the proven choice. If you mostly fish nearshore and want to tow, the 28 or 29 make more sense. The 32 is for the owner in between.

Buying an early-production hull

Freeman's sales page for the 32 asks buyers to reserve an early-production boat, which is common for a new Freeman and can be a good way to secure a slot. It also means you are buying before the specification has fully settled. Get the engine package, maximum rating, weight, standard equipment and warranty in writing, ask how many hulls have been delivered and when, and request a sea trial on a finished boat rather than relying on renderings.

Early hulls of a new model sometimes receive running changes in the first year. That is not a reason to avoid them, especially from a builder with Freeman's track record, but it is a reason to ask whether later improvements will be offered to early owners.

Expected running costs

Plan on $18,000 to $38,000 a year for insurance, a wide slip or lift, twin outboard service, canvas and electronics care and fuel. The exact figure depends heavily on where you keep the boat. Wide slips cost more than standard ones in many marinas, so price your dockage before you sign the build contract.