1965 Friendship Friendship Sloop

Amicitia is a 1965 Friendship Sloop designed by John Alden and built by Lash Bros. in Friendship, Maine. She embodies the classic lines and construction methods of the type: cedar planking over white oak frames, bronze fastened, with a white oak keel carrying 3,000 pounds of external lead ballast plus 2,000 pounds of removable internal lead. Her hollow Sitka spruce mast, fabricated in 2014, is finished bright and rigged with all standing rigging. The boat is 33 feet on the waterline with a beam of just over 10 feet and draws 5 feet 3 inches.

Below deck, Amicitia accommodates four sleeping berths in her current configuration, with two additional hanging bunks available to increase capacity to six. She is powered by a 1995 Yanmar 3GM30F diesel of 24 horsepower, fresh-water cooled with a Kanzaki 2.61:1 reduction gear driving a bronze three-blade propeller. The engine is estimated to have roughly 2,500 hours and received a new water pump assembly in 2024. Fuel filtration is through a Racor 500MA, and electrical systems were renewed in 2016 with Blue Sea distribution, switching, and isolation gear. Navigation equipment includes a recently installed Raymarine fathometer, and communications are handled by a VHF radio added in 2016. An Origo two-burner alcohol stove and manual Groco head with Rule 1500 bilge pump support day-to-day operations.

The sails—roller-furling jib, staysail, and mainsail—were made by Ernie Smith's loft in Fairhaven. Running rigging is in good condition with wood blocks and finished bright, and main sheet is new. A 28-inch mahogany steering wheel and worm-gear steering complete the deck layout. Ground tackle includes Danforth anchors of 14 and 40 pounds with new rode fitted in 2024.

Over the past fifty years, Amicitia has received continuous care. Major work includes below-waterline planking replacement and garboard work, keel bolt inspection, new stern tube and aft deck, beam and clamp upgrades performed by Triad Boatworks, and additional fastening and water stops renewed by Wooden Tangent in 2017. She has been stored indoors during winter months and is well documented with original plans and comprehensive ownership records.