Design and Construction
Butler’s wooden hull has a fin keel, a skeg-hung rudder, and about 344 square feet of wetted surface. The interior is finished in mahogany, much like those of many contemporary boats.
A length-to-beam ratio of 3.70 and a displacement-length ratio of 190 place the Controversy 36 among what one reference calls “moderate racers”—boats with enough beam and lightness to move, yet enough volume for living aboard. Her 10.08-foot beam is carried over a 30-foot waterline.
The fin keel draws between 5.31 and 5.61 feet, depending on load. That keeps her within the draft limits of most marinas while preserving a recognizable fin-keel turn of foot. Her capsize screening value is 1.78, and her motion comfort ratio is 25.3. These figures describe a vessel steady enough for coastal cruising without suggesting heavy-weather expedition credentials.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Controversy 36 has a yawl rig, splitting the sail plan between a mainsail and a mizzen abaft the helm. The running rigging follows period norms:
- Jib and genoa sheets: 11.3 meters long and 14 mm in diameter
- Mainsheet: 28.4 meters long and 14 mm in diameter
- Spinnaker sheets: 25 meters long
With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.33 and a theoretical displacement-hull speed of 7.3 knots, she is tuned for balanced performance rather than outright pace.
Her immersion rate is about 1,052 pounds per inch, so she sits heavily when loaded. The published draft range is therefore a genuine variable for a surveyor to note, not a fixed figure.
Accommodations
Below, the Controversy 36 follows a familiar mid-century cruising layout. Headroom is described as above average for her type, while the mahogany finish reinforces the traditional character of the cabin.
The proportions—particularly the 10.08-foot beam over a 30-foot waterline—give the accommodation a roomy quality without the wide-body extremes of later designs.
Verdict
The Controversy 36 is a period-correct wooden yawl with credible cruiser-racer numbers and a manageable draft. She suits an owner who values traditional construction and a split rig, but her wooden hull and unspecified production span mean she should be chosen with a clear understanding of the maintenance involved.
Her moderate-racer classification and comfort ratios point to enjoyable coastal sailing rather than heavy-weather expedition use.
Pros
- Traditional wooden construction by a named American yard
- Yawl rig with period-standard running-rig dimensions
- Above-average headroom and a mahogany interior
- Draft under 5.61 feet keeps most marinas accessible
Cons
- Wooden hull requires continuous upkeep
- Load-dependent draft varies by several inches
- Moderate-racer profile limits heavy-weather expedition use
