New Projects

The Friendship Yacht Company remains true to its mission to build innovative designs to the highest quality and value with the introduction of the Friendship 65 sloop.

The hull configuration of The Friendship 65 represents an evolution of the highly successful keel / centerboard hull forms refined by Ted Fontaine. The 65 is similar to the Friendship 53 and 75 in that this design has ample beam which optimizes the form stability. When combined with the flared bulb keel, the design is capable of carrying a tall and powerful sail plan and thereby maximizing sailing performance. The forward underwater sections of the 65 incorporate a slightly V-shaped section to provide a smooth entry in difficult seas. This hull shape is also proven to provide additional lift which is further enhanced by the deep retracting centerboard making the 65 a proven sailing machine.

The 65’s low wetted surface hull form minimizes drag while at the same time providing substantial interior volume, enabling fast yet comfortable passages with proven sea kindly motion. Another benefit is the Friendship 65’s shallow draft keel / centerboard design and her ability to access shallow water anchorages that most yachts of her size cannot.

The design of the Friendship 65 is unique in that the concept of the aft cockpit / pilothouse design is born from one particular customer’s request for complete protection and comfort for the anticipated long distance offshore passages expected of this design. Seaworthiness, sailing performance and comfort offshore were the dictating mandates when developing this yacht. The Friendship 65 is unique in that she possesses the interior accommodations normally found only on larger center cockpit designs. 

The goal was to create a design that maintained the common elements of an aft cockpit yacht such as the low, secure aft cockpit that allows for a drier and more secure location for sailing than the traditional center cockpit designs. The cockpit is positioned aft of the fully enclosed pilothouse. The watertight and secure pilothouse enables full navigation and operating from inside with 360 degree unobstructed visibility. The pilothouse is both an extension of the sailing cockpit as it is an expansion of the interior arrangement. A beautifully crafted dining table featuring stained walnut inlay and soft upholstered settees provide a luxurious ambiance to this versatile yet functional arrangement.

Below decks, the spacious living accommodations are cleverly separated from the open pilothouse by the galley and lower salon.  Rich, warm, satin finished raised panel mahogany joinery, complete with detailed bull nose fiddle edges throughout, provides a classic yet serene refuge from the elements above. 

Aft and under the pilothouse are two staterooms port and starboard, each fit with two berths designated for crew or guests. The port side aft cabin is so commodious it could even be considered the master cabin, complete with ensuite facilities including private shower and large locker space.  To starboard and forward of the crew cabin / work space there is a large galley, optimized as a full service area with ample storage and appliances featuring a sea kindly wrap-around counter, further enhancing the seaworthiness of the design as well as reinforcing the open and airy atmosphere down below. 

By maintaining the open ceiling above the galley, the so-called “split level” pilothouse / salon area provides a great level of openness, bringing in light to the lower arrangement from the windshield above, a design element normally found on Fontaine’s much larger designs which feature complementary sight lines between the upper pilothouse and lower salon.

The below deck accommodation of the Friendship 65 was developed with several alternative arrangements in mind, the final layout to be customized to each owner’s specific needs, be it a centerline master cabin, symmetrical upper / lower guest cabins or a private VIP cabin with a smaller side cabin for paid crew, all of which can be built with private en suite facilities.

Having satisfied the owner’s interior desires, Fontaine Design Group put a priority on proper space for housing and servicing the 250 HP Lugger main engine, 16 kW Northern Lights generator, as well as all of the service pumps, hydraulic, refrigeration, and air conditioning systems.  Included in the design is a dedicated full head room engine room/service area with a washer/dryer and convertible work bench.  This large engine room provides easy access to all systems and is accessed through the crew cabin, cockpit hatches and guest cabin.

The sailing systems for the new 65 will emulate the same single handed performance as all of the previous Friendship designs: electric winches are all located within arm’s reach of the helmsman, bow thruster and mainsheet control buttons and genoa furling controls are at the feet of the helmsman providing easy hands free operation while underway. The tall carbon fiber mast is equipped with an in boom mainsail furling system, hydraulically operated to further enhance the simplicity and ease of shorthanded sailing. The composite-built 65 will be constructed of epoxy resin, with a complete internal structure reinforced with carbon fiber where needed and composite structural bulkheads all in compliance with the code of practice as outlined by American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).  The systems are designed in accordance with the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) standards.