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"Silver Gem" was the second Freeman 30 to be built, it is believed it was built alongside the first one in the workshop. It was supplied new in 1966 to Mr and Mrs Free and initially called Ivory Gem. Mr and Mrs Free were close friends of Mr Freeman, who incidentally had boat number one for himself. Number 3 went to his brother Bert Freeman.

Soon after purchasing the boat, Mrs Free took a photo of Mr Free enjoying their new boat on the river and when it was showed to Mr Freeman he asked if it would be possible to use the photo on some publicity material. It then featured on the front cover of the second printing of the Freeman 30 brochure. An interior shot of Ivory Gem was used on the first edition.

When the Free's bought a larger Freeman a few years later, they renamed the boat Silver Gem and retained the name Ivory Gem for their new Freeman 32.

She was moored on the lower Thames for many years but has had owners on the Gt. Ouse (Incidentally at the same St Neots boat club as I am now a member!!) she moved to the RIver Severn for a number of years before returning to the Thames where we purchased her in 2009 and had her returned to St Neots.

She has a number of interesting features not seen on later Freeman 30's. A folding windscreen, the same as fitted to the Freeman 26's, possibly all that was available at the time. A wooden veneered cockpit, all later ones had black vinyl. She has a pilot berth or settee in the main cabin, later ones had a larger toilet, dinette or a set of cupboards in this location.

Unusually for a pleasure boat, Silver Gem has much of her history well documented. Almost every owner, letters form first owner, port of registration documents, Detailed receipts for all purchases going back years, including one for the curtain hooks!!!!