To achieve a high reliability and durability for wave energy technologies, the effect of extreme wave conditions on the system must be understood. Wave tank experiments are an essential tool to evaluate this, and provide also a foundation for validation of numerical and analytical methods. However, it is not straight-forward how to design such small scale experiments so that they realistically represent wave energy converters in the ocean. In this paper, wave tank experiments of a 1:30 scaled friction damping linear power take-off (PTO) and cylindrical buoy with ellipsoidal bottom are presented. The linear PTO includes a rod that moves vertically against a Teflon block which introduces friction damping. The damping can be adjusted by changing the spring length that provides the compressive force between the Teflon block and the rod. To study extreme forces and snap loads, two load cells measure the line force both directly beneath the buoy, and at the top of the PTO. The motion of the PTO and the buoy are measured with a wire draw line position sensor and Qualysis system, respectively, and a data acquisition system collects and synchronizes the data. The extreme wave conditions used in the experiments are sea states with 50 years return period at the Dowsing site, North Sea. The waves are modelled as regular, irregular and focused waves. Here, the experimental setup and dry testing experiments are presented, and results of the wave tank test experiment for extreme forces are evaluated and further compared with WEC-SIM, to evaluate the agreement of the numerical and experimental model.