I have never owned one or sailed on one, but that is the type of boat that I want when I "grow up"! The Friendship Sloops are in chapter six of the book 'Best Boats; to build or buy' by Ferenc Mate. Chapter six is called: when boats had hearts. The original, 'Permaquid', was built in 1914 by Mr A Carter in Maine. To my mind it can not be improved upon even 100 years later. Let me know if you would like further info on this and its larger sister the 31ft 'Dictator'. Pleased to hear that it's not just me who has a fondness for these little ships!
If you're interested in the history of Friendship Sloops, there are 12 pages dealing with them in Howard I. Chappelle's book, 'American Small Sailing Craft'.
Sort of thing I drooled over as a kid and it was my most coveted type of small sailing yacht. There are two for sale in the UK and would love to try and get hold of one.
There are not many in the UK but there is one (c25-30ft, US built) for sale in the current CB, possibly the one built for actor Adrian Edmondson and written up in CB or somewhere a few years back.