FRIENDSHIP 30 (BRUNO & STILLMAN)

About the FRIENDSHIP 30 (BRUNO & STILLMAN)

The following is a brief history of Friendship Sloops by Betty Roberts, found on the Friendship Sloop Society website ( fss.org): A beautiful gaff-rigged sloop developed around 1880 from the fishing and lobstering needs of the men of Muscongus Bay on the Maine coast. The original builders constructed sloops varying in length of 21' - 50'. Probably the average length would be about 30' - 40'. They all had an elliptical stern, and most of them a clipper bow, and were gaffed rigged. The pre-set formula included such measurements as: the beam equaled one third the overall length, and the length of the mast should equal the length overall plus half the draft, etc. In 1903 there were 22 sloops being built on the shores of Bremen Long Island alone. Builders include: Carters, McLains, Collomores, Winchenbachs, Morses and others but Wilbur Morse's name comes up as father of the Friendship Sloop due to the large number that came from his shop. Wilbur's mass production and his shop being located in Friendship, this great sloop acquired the name of the town he was building in. The above Friendship 30 was one of the first Friendship Sloops made from fiberglass. LOD: 30.5 ft Engine options: Volvo Penta MD2, 15.5 hp diesel Osco 21, 21 hp diesel Reported sail area above includes main, staysail and jib. Add main topsail and jib topsail. SA becomes 860 sqft.

The Friendship 30 is a rare, classic gaffhead sloop designed by Marbridge Associates and built by Bruno & Stillman in the USA between 1969 and 1973. With only 19 hulls produced, this vessel represents a highly exclusive segment of the market, characterized by its substantial 12540.0 lb displacement and traditional full/long keel design.

Best for:

This boat is best suited for experienced coastal cruisers and traditional sailing enthusiasts who prioritize comfort and stability over high-speed performance. Its heavy displacement and gaff rig make it ideal for relaxed, short-handed cruising rather than competitive racing.

Bluewater capability:

With a low capsize ratio of 1.72 and a high displacement-to-length ratio of 358.29, the Friendship 30 exhibits strong inherent stability and motion comfort suitable for offshore passages. Its full keel design provides excellent tracking and structural integrity for bluewater cruising.

Comparables:

Comparable vessels include other late-1960s to early-1970s American-built gaff ketches or sloops with full keels, such as the Island Packet 32 or older Columbia 30s, due to their shared emphasis on seaworthiness and traditional aesthetics. These boats share similar displacement characteristics and target the same market of conservative cruisers.