Friendship 28 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Koopmans' hand-layup solid laminate hull gives the 28 a reassuring rigidity, and the yard's manufacturing quality is consistently considered solid solid laminate hull contributes to rigidity. The deck is a balsa sandwich, which on older boats can admit water and leave a soft, springy surface underfoot. More recent hulls used isophthalic resin in the outer layers to resist osmosis. The boat carries about 3.5 tonnes on a 28-foot hull with a ballast fraction near 43 percent, and testers noted a high ballast ratio up to 47 percent helped keep her stiff. A high freeboard keeps almost all water off the deck in waves, and the cabin trunk and cockpit coaming add to the sense of security. The original 8.70 m hull later grew by 20 cm via a glued stern scoop, and the newer type traded its single striped cabin window for three.

Rig and Handling

The masthead rig makes a very solid impression, with a baby stay that supports the mast but obstructs tacking baby stay certainly contributes to this. Sail areas run 14.5 m² in the main with a 27.5 m² Genoa I and a 150 percent genoa available as an option. On the IJsselmeer in 4 to 5 Beaufort she sails fast and high, reaching 5.2 knots to windward on the test boat with a turning angle under 90 degrees, and her speed can build to 6 knots. The rudder answers directly and initial stability is good. Some factory literature calls her slightly weatherly, corrected by early mainsail reefing or, for persistent cases, moving the mast forward; the de Slinke rebuild later shifted the keel aft to reduce that yaw. The high freeboard, trunk, and stability together convey an enormous feeling of safety.

Accommodations

Below, the layout evolved. Early boats placed the WC between the forepeak berth and the saloon, while later versions moved a separate wet room next to the companionway and relocated the galley into the old head space. Testers found two cabins, a saloon, a decent galley, and that wet room, with 1.84 m standing height in the saloon and 1.74 m in the head. Foredeck berths measure about 1.98 by 1.47 m; the aft double looks 2.13 by 1.50 m but shrinks to 1.76 m inside because the engine intrudes. An extra quarter berth sits under the cockpit at just 44 cm high, open to the cabin so it avoids feeling confined. Multiple windows, especially either side of the companionway, light the interior and most open for ventilation, making her less gloomy than some Koopmans designs.

Known Issues

The original large windows set in aluminium frames leaked notoriously, a fault later cured when the yard fitted ready-made tight panes. Balsa decks can soften from water ingress on aged boats. On older vessels the engine is a sore point: single-circuit cooled drives with decades of service are reaching the end of their lives, and the Bukh or Yanmar shaft drives of early examples warrant close scrutiny. The slight weatherly habit is manageable but worth knowing before a purchase.

Refits and Ownership

Beyond the window replacement program, the 20 cm stern extension and the later keel relocation show a design that kept being refined across several builders. Some hulls were delivered for self-construction, and their finish quality varies widely against the high standard of yard builds. Later boats gained the three-window trunk and the companionway wet room, useful upgrades when comparing examples.

The Verdict

The Friendship 28 is a genuinely seaworthy small cruiser with a stiff, confident feel and a practical if compact interior. Her solid hull and high ballast ratio reward the cautious buyer, while the balsa deck and early windows demand inspection. She is not a lightweight racer but a robust mate that handles a breeze without fuss.

Pros