Around 50 people at the yard built Friendship yachts up to 38 feet. One worker from Balk recalled producing the complete interior of a 22-footer alone each week, using boatbuilding plywood with thick veneers and wood-panelled lockers.
Design and construction
The hull is solid polyester spray laminate with hand-laid roving mats, while the deck is a balsa sandwich with an inner shell. That deck construction is the boat’s known weak point because the balsa sandwich is sensitive to moisture ingress. Osmosis, by contrast, is rare; the period test attributed this to the quality of the gelcoat.
The keel arrangements were unusually flexible for a 22-footer. A ballast centreboard formed part of the original design rather than being a later retrofit. Fixed keels were also available, with drafts of either 1.10 or 1.35 metres and identical ballast. The 1984 test boat had the 1.35-metre keel.
Rig and handling
The Friendship 22 carries a 7/8 fractional rig on an 8.30-metre mast. A hinge at the mast base makes it easy to lower for trailering or winter storage.
The sail plan comprises:
- an 11 m² mainsail;
- a 14.2 m² Genoa I;
- a 12.0 m² Genoa II;
- a 2.6 m² working jib; and
- a 29.7 m² spinnaker.
Steering is by an attached rudder with a long lever that can turn the boat sharply when needed. The boat has low initial stability, a trade-off associated with its narrow, ballasted hull form rather than a defect.
Accommodation
Cabin headroom is 1.54 metres, and the layout provides four berths. The forward berths are two metres long, while those in the saloon measure 1.95 metres.
A sliding pantry is fitted. Buyers could specify a dog bunk to starboard in place of a locker, as well as a lockable main bulkhead that created a separate foredeck. The open version is considered the wiser choice because it gives a better sense of space.
According to the Balk worker, the interior was built from boatbuilding plywood with thick veneers and wood-panelled lockers.
Known issues and refitting
The period survey identified two practical shortcomings. The cable run between the inner shell and deck has no conduits, making electrical tracing or upgrades more complicated. The anchor-locker cover is also difficult to open. Neither issue undermines the structure, but both are worth noting on a used boat.
The original engine option was a Volvo Penta petrol unit with Saildrive.
Because the deck is sensitive to moisture, any refit should prioritise keeping the balsa sandwich dry and promptly repairing breaches in the gelcoat.
Verdict
The Friendship 22 is a thoughtfully designed small cruiser. Its award-winning debut rested on a flexible choice of keel arrangements and a practical, roomy interior for its size. The balsa deck demands respect, but the hull’s resistance to osmosis and the soundness of its basic laminate make it a credible used proposition.
Pros
- Ballast centreboard and alternative fixed-keel drafts designed in from the start
- Award-winning 1978 YACHT test pedigree
- Four berths of sensible length
- Optional open layout creates a better sense of space
- Osmosis is rare, thanks to the quality of the original gelcoat
Cons
- Balsa-sandwich deck is vulnerable to moisture
- Low initial stability
- Cable run has no conduits
- Awkward anchor-locker cover
