Friendship 53
Center Cockpit

Following on the heels of his successful luxury daysailer, the Friendship 40, Ted Fontaine responded to a request from a customer in search of the same classic aesthetic but with more cruising amenities for reaching more distant destinations.

The designer’s concept for the larger fiberglass boat coalesced in the Friendship 53 aft cockpit sloop launched last fall by Austral Yachts in New Zealand. While retaining a nearly identical exterior, the stretched version of the 40 could accommodate two or three staterooms below instead of the single cabin of the 40.

With their latest project, Fontaine Design Group creates a full-on 53-foot cruising version with a center cockpit. Particular attention has been placed on the volume of the yacht in respect to client needs for long-distance cruising. In this version, there will be a master cabin and head aft and two twin cabins with a shared head forward. Retaining the 40’s shallow draft, she draws 5’ 9” with the centerboard up and 12’ 3” with the board fully extended. ...

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