History of the Friendship Sloop
Friendship Sloop is the quintessential work-boat of the Maine cost from 1880 - 1920.
She is perhaps the most beautiful boat ever contrived by man.
A perfect combination of form and function to serve off the beautifully rugged Maine cost.
Wilbur Morse was the most prolific builder of Friendship Sloops in history. He was quoted as saying in response to what is a Friendship Sloop "a sloop built in Friendship Maine by Wilbur Morse. Of coarse there is more to it than that.
She is perhaps the most beautiful boat ever contrived by man.
A perfect combination of form and function to serve off the beautifully rugged Maine cost.
Wilbur Morse was the most prolific builder of Friendship Sloops in history. He was quoted as saying in response to what is a Friendship Sloop "a sloop built in Friendship Maine by Wilbur Morse. Of coarse there is more to it than that.
Friendship Sloops evolved over time along the New England coast. The design origins go back to the Muscongus Bay Sloop. A clipper bowed boat used for lobstering. Similarities can be seen from the historic Gloucester Fishing boats. Refined over the years to perfection in the Friendship Maine coast, where finally she took its name. Though each friendship Sloop is a little unique they all follow the basic pattern of having a hollow clipper bow with a transom that overhangs the water curving slightly upward. She is a low squatting boat with a graceful sweeping sheer that looks like a gull sitting on the water. Generally Friendship sloops follow a very proportionate rule: The width is 1/3 her length and her draft (depth under water) is 1/2 her width. PATIENCE follows this rule exactly as she is 30 ft. long, 10 ft. wide and draws 5 ft of depth.
I think the Friendship sloops gets its inspiration, beauty and functionality form nature - God's creation. Looking at he seagull which is prevalent along the Maine coast you can easily see the shape of a clipper bow and overhanging transom.
When the sails are hoisted the Friendship Sloop goes like a bird in flight! The Friendship Sloop is a work-boat that is harmony with nature for which she was designed to harvest from the sea. I believe this is why a Friendship Sloop is a classic beauty.
When the sails are hoisted the Friendship Sloop goes like a bird in flight! The Friendship Sloop is a work-boat that is harmony with nature for which she was designed to harvest from the sea. I believe this is why a Friendship Sloop is a classic beauty.
The Friendship Sloop PATIENCE is such a boat. Just look at her standing proud even when she is out of the water. She has the graceful lines of a sea bird awaiting to take her flight. Though this boat was built from 1957-1965 she is a direct decedent of the pedigree from the 1880's - 1920. FSS PATIENCE is listed in the Friendship Sloop registry as #74. Proudly built by Maine's most expert bout builder Malcolm Brewer.