Friendship 23 by Mayer

Description

The Friendship 23 by A.H. (Adriaan Herman) Meijer, a Dutch naval architect celebrated for his elegant, seaworthy designs in the 1960s–70s, is a classic fiberglass sloop that captures the spirit of traditional Scandinavian-inspired cruisers with a modern twist, built primarily by small yards in the Netherlands (such as De Vries Lentsch or custom builders) from around 1968 to 1975 in limited numbers—estimated at under 20 hulls—making it a rare gem for enthusiasts of pocket blue water boats. Measuring 23'0" LOA on an 8'0" beam, with 3'6" draft (fixed keel variant; shoal centerboard models at 2'6"/5'0"), 4,800 lbs displacement, and 1,800 lbs internal iron ballast, the solid laminate fiberglass hull (no coring for simplicity) delivers a SA/D ratio of ~17 under its masthead sloop rig (180 sq ft sail area), achieving 5–6 knot coastal speeds in 10–15 knots with a balanced, forgiving helm and a Comfort Ratio around 25 for gentle motion in chop, though it's happiest on reaches and trades rather than light-air slogs. The compact yet inviting interior, with 5'8" headroom, sleeps four via a V-berth forward, saloon settees, and quarter berth aft, plus a minimal galley (sink, single-burner stove, icebox) and chemical head—suited for solo or couple overnights with clever Dutch joinery in teak and mahogany, including a fold-down nav table.