He conceived the interior as designed around "the velocity of children". Economy, comfort and ease of handling were prime objectives. She so suited Mr. Butler that he still owns her today and he has always made sure she was one of the best cared for yachts in the world. Mr. Butler intended that even with her genoa set she could be reasonably single handed. He felt that she could be handled by a 10 year old in reasonable conditions. In this he was correct, by the standards of his own family and your present author's daughter. Perhaps some of today’s more passive television oriented youngsters might have some problems.

Those of us with a deep affection for this design are fond of pointing out that this vessel is actually over 37' long. This has made a number of the friends of this design say that you've got to love a yard which sells a 37'3" boat as a 36 footer!

Her light displacement reduces the need for large engines, large sail plans or heavy equipment. One of these vessels with a modified deck plan made a circumnavigation and your present author believes he remembers a second later did it as well.

She accommodates up to seven people and would be an excellent liveaboard for a family. The port berth forward pulls out to make a double berth. Center cockpits and aft cabins were a very new idea when this boat was designed. Very few boats as well have ever had an aft cockpit to go with the aft cabin. Even rarer is the forward cockpit for anchor handling and watching the bow wave.

The Controversy series were among the very first post war boats to be built in modern wood construction. At the time, their strip planked construction over bulkheads and frames with everything glued to everything else was very innovative. Yet ultimately their construction has proven extraordinarily successful. While we have grown accustomed to regarding fiberglass boats more than a very few years old as old boats, these strip planked boats have gone on quietly demonstrating the durability of modern wood construction for decades. To this day they seem to need as little work and fuss to maintain as just about anything you can find in any material of any age.

The design is highly enough regarded that the prestigious Wooden Boat Magazine has chosen to sell the plans to a new generation who will undoubtedly come to treasure them as much as previous generations have.”

Overview

CONSTRUCTION:

• Brightside “Largo Blue” topsides (painted 2022/2023), white sheer strake and boot-top, red bottom.
• Cedar strip hull planking, bronze edge-nailed fasteners and glued with resorcinol glue.
• White oak keel; varnished mahogany exterior.
• Micron bottom paint; bottom was soda blasted 2018.
• Oak plywood framing on bulkheads.
• Light gray fiberglass over plywood cabin tops; painted light gray Medium Density overlay over plywood side decks in excellent condition.
• 2004 bronze stanchions and double lifelines.
• Bronze stern rail (no bow rail).
• Self-bailing bow, stern, and center cockpits.
• Custom made mahogany cockpit table.
• Edson worm gear wheel steering.
• 2022/2023 Removed and replaced cockpit drain hoses and thru hull fittings.
• 2018 rebuilt binnacle.
• 2018 restored transom deck area.
• 2018 rebuilt forward cockpit-anchor well.
• 2013 rebuilt aft cabin, deck and cockpit seat.

TANKAGE:

Fuel: 30 gallons in S/S tank.

Water: 50 gallons in two tanks (40 gallons in bow; 10 gallons in stern); 2023 forward water tank was removed and checked for leaks.

Holding: 2015 nine gallon tank.

ENGINE & MECHANICAL:

• 2006 Yanmar 3YM30 diesel, 30 hp, 3 cylinder, FWC.
• KM2P transmission.
• 2023 new raw water pump.
• 2014 new starter.
• 2020 3 blade Bronze prop. 
• 7 knots @ 3000 RPM @ .85 gph.

ELECTRICAL:

• 1” S/S shaft.
• 12V DC system.
• Two 2018 12V Group 24 marine batteries.
• Circuit breaker panel.
• Electric 12V bilge pump; manual bilge pump.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

• Accommodations for 7 in a bright attractive Herreshoff interior.
• Fold-out port double berth and starboard single berth forward.
• 2 single quarter berths midship and 2 single berths in private stern cabin.
• Enclosed head with manual pump head and sink.
• Natural teak cabin sole.

GALLEY:

• Single S/S sink; S/S countertop.
• Origo 3000 2 burner alcohol stove.
• Large icebox, fiberglassed on inside.
• Manual water pump.
• 3 lockers; dish racks; silverware rack.

ELECTRONICS:

• Wilfred O’ White compass, installed in binnacle.
• Horizon depthsounder.
• 2023 Garmin GMR18HD radar.
• 2023 Garmin 943XS GPS Chartplotter - integrates with new radar.
• VHF radio.

SAILS & RIGGING:

• 520 sq. ft. sail area.
• 2020 Mainsail, by Bohndell.
• 2020 Genoa, by Bohndell.
• 2021 Mizzen, by Bohndell.
• 2010 Staysail, by Bohndell.
• Original Hood spinnaker; spinnaker pole and gear.
• Jiffy reefing.
• 2022 stripped/varnished mizzen and added track spacer; same for main mast. 
• Spruce hollow mast and wood boom; refinished 2021 and wood boom.
• S/S standing rigging.
• S/S running rigging.
• 2012 roller furler genoa system.
• 4 winches – bronze halyard winches; 2004 2 Lewmar # 44 S.T. 2 speed winches.
• Boom vang.
• Whisker pole.

EQUIPMENT:         

• 2014 new blue Sunbrella cockpit cushions.
• 2019 Rocna anchor with 5/8” 300’ rode and 10’ chain.
• 2022 new hand bilge pump and 2023 new electric bilge pump.
• Life ring.
• Portable searchlight.
• Fenders; docklines.
• Handheld horn.
• Boat hook; bell.
• Ensign.
• Barometer.
• Flares.
• Swim ladder.
• Awning.

COMMENTS: The following comments were written by an associate editor of Wooden Boat Magazine: “The Controversy 36 is the largest example of the Controversy concept developed by Mount Desert Yacht Yard. The original vessel, Constellation, was launched in 1953 for the owner of the yard, Mr. E. Farnham Butler. He conceived the interior as designed around "the velocity of children". Economy, comfort and ease of handling were prime objectives. She so suited Mr. Butler that he still owns her today and he has always made sure she was one of the best cared for yachts in the world. Mr. Butler intended that even with her genoa set she could be reasonably single handed. He felt that she could be handled by a 10 year old in reasonable conditions. In this he was correct, by the standards of his own family and your present author's daughter. Perhaps some of today’s more passive television oriented youngsters might have some problems.

Those of us with a deep affection for this design are fond of pointing out that this vessel is actually over 37' long. This has made a number of the friends of this design say that you've got to love a yard which sells a 37'3" boat as a 36 footer!

Her light displacement reduces the need for large engines, large sail plans or heavy equipment. One of these vessels with a modified deck plan made a circumnavigation and your present author believes he remembers a second later did it as well.

She accommodates up to seven people and would be an excellent liveaboard for a family. The port berth forward pulls out to make a double berth. Center cockpits and aft cabins were a very new idea when this boat was designed. Very few boats as well have ever had an aft cockpit to go with the aft cabin. Even rarer is the forward cockpit for anchor handling and watching the bow wave.

The Controversy series were among the very first post war boats to be built in modern wood construction. At the time, their strip planked construction over bulkheads and frames with everything glued to everything else was very innovative. Yet ultimately their construction has proven extraordinarily successful. While we have grown accustomed to regarding fiberglass boats more than a very few years old as old boats, these strip planked boats have gone on quietly demonstrating the durability of modern wood construction for decades. To this day they seem to need as little work and fuss to maintain as just about anything you can find in any material of any age.

The design is highly enough regarded that the prestigious Wooden Boat Magazine has chosen to sell the plans to a new generation who will undoubtedly come to treasure them as much as previous generations have.”                                                

Potential purchasers should assume that items on the vessel at the time of viewing, but not specifically listed on this specification sheet, are not included with the sale of the yacht. These specifications are believed to be correct but cannot be guaranteed. Specifications are provided for information purposes. Data was obtained from sources believed reliable but is not guaranteed by owner or brokers. Buyer assumes responsibility to verify all speeds, consumptions, capacities and other measurements contained herein and otherwise provided, and agrees to instruct his surveyor to confirm such details prior to purchase. Vessel subject to sale, price and inventory changes, and withdrawal from market without notice.

Mechanical Disclaimer: Engine and generator hours are as of the date of the original listing and are a representation of what the listing broker is told by the owner and/or actual reading of the engine hour meter. The broker cannot guarantee the true hours. It is the responsibility of the purchaser and/or his agent to verify engine hours, warranties implied or otherwise, and major overhauls as well as ALL other representations noted on the listing.

Disclaimer

The company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change or withdrawal without notice.