Custom Mayflower 50

MARTHA PRIMROSE is a modern classic in the truest sense: conceived from the working craft of the British Isles, built with traditional materials, and proven by serious cruising. She is handsome without affection, powerful without excess, and deeply practical for a family or short-handed crew.

Designed and built by Ashley Butler in Dartmouth, MARTHA PRIMROSE features carvel Iroko planking over sawn oak frames, a long keel, and a powerful gaff yawl rig. She has completed extended passages, including cruises to the Mediterranean and return, demonstrating the comfort, safety, and competence that define the Mayflower 50 design.

On deck, the boat is simple and purposeful. Bronze fittings, ash and bronze blocks, and Douglas fir spars speak to durability and tradition rather than fashion. The cockpit is generous and secure, with well-placed controls, a proper tiller, and excellent visibility forward. A doghouse provides shelter underway while preserving an open connection to the deck.

Below, MARTHA PRIMROSE is warm, practical, and inviting. Accommodation is arranged for seven across three distinct cabin areas. The owner’s cabin aft is private and substantial, with its own head compartment opposite. The saloon is open and comfortable, centered around a solid fuel cabin stove that gives the interior its heart. Forward, the foc’sle cabin provides twin berths and ample stowage, well suited to guests or crew.

The galley is arranged for real use at sea, with a Belfast sink, gas range and oven, refrigeration, and generous work surfaces. Throughout the interior, joinery is honest and well executed, favoring strength and longevity over ornament.

Rigged as a gaff yawl, MARTHA PRIMROSE is easily handled and thoughtfully laid out for single-handed or short-handed sailing. The rig was designed by an experienced long-distance sailor, with ergonomics and safe working loads clearly prioritized. Auxiliary power is provided by a 50 HP Beta diesel, offering ample range and reliability.

MARTHA PRIMROSE will appeal to sailors drawn to tradition, but unwilling to give up comfort, performance, or seaworthiness. She is equally at home on coastal passages, extended cruising, or simply lying quietly at anchor—proof that a serious boat can also be a beautiful one.

MARTHA PRIMROSE is currently out of the water in Rockport, Maine.  She had a new mast built in 2025.  There is a 2022 survey available upon request. 

Builder: Butler & Co., Dartmouth, UK
Designer: Ashley Butler
Year: 2012
Model: Mayflower 50
Type: Gaff Yawl
 

CONSTRUCTION

• Carvel planked Iroko hull
• Sawn oak frames with steamed oak ribs
• Long external lead ballast keel
• Douglas fir deck planking
• Iroko bulwarks and capping rails
• Copper keel bands and stem fittings
• Bronze and copper fastenings throughout

DECK & COCKPIT

• Straight-laid Douglas fir deck
• Iroko deckhouse with butterfly skylights
• Varnished cockpit coamings
• Self-draining cockpit with bronze drains
• Raised helm seat with lazarette access
• Sliding companionway hatch with double saloon doors
• Doghouse with seating and deep stowage
• Iroko pin rails at mast base and shrouds
• Chimney for solid fuel cabin stove

DECK HARDWARE & FITTINGS

• All bronze deck hardware throughout
• Bronze stemhead fitting with bow roller
• Traditional manual anchor windlass with oak capstan
• Bronze fairleads at bow and stern
• Bronze mooring cleats at bow and mizzen
• Bronze mainsheet horse abaft tiller
• Bronze stanchions with wire lifelines
• Brass compass binnacle
• Colin Frake ash and bronze blocks throughout
• Lewmar bronze winches:
  • (4) Lewmar 45 self-tailing sheet winches
  • (2) Lewmar 30 halyard winches at mast

RIG & SPARS

• Gaff yawl rig
• Douglas fir masts and spars
• Galvanized standing rigging (hand-spliced)
• Leathered mast hoops and jaws
• Bronze Wykeham roller reefing gear (aboard, not rigged)
• Mast stepped through deck to keel
• Bowsprit with galvanized cranse iron and jib traveler
• No running backstays fitted

SAILS (Ratsey & Lapthorn – 2012)

• Mainsail
• Roller furling jib
• Staysail
• Main topsail
• Mizzen sail
• Large asymmetric nylon sail
• All sails lightly used and serviceable

ACCOMMODATION

• Sleeps up to seven in three cabin areas
• Owner’s cabin aft with double berth
• Forward foc’sle cabin with twin berths
• Pilot berths in saloon
• Doghouse with navigation station
• Solid cherry joinery with painted paneling
• Varnished interior surfaces throughout

GALLEY

• Belfast sink with brass freshwater tap
• Bronze saltwater hand pump
• Force 10 three-burner gas stove with oven
• VitriFrigo CL42 refrigerator/freezer
• Generous work surfaces and stowage
• Plate racks and shelving
• Foot-pumped freshwater supply

HEADS

• Manual Lavac marine toilet
• Stainless steel holding tank
• Deck pump-out fitting
• Diverter valve
• Marine-grade plumbing with anti-syphon loops

MECHANICAL

• Beta Marine 50 HP diesel engine (2012)
• Approx. 801 engine hours (as of Dec 2022)
• Bronze Kobelt single-lever engine controls
• Stainless steel propeller shaft
• 18” three-blade bronze propeller
• R&D flexible shaft coupling
• Tides Marine water-cooled shaft seal
• Vetus exhaust system with waterlock
• Racor twin fuel filtration system
• Stainless steel fuel tanks (approx. 250 L total)

ELECTRICAL

• 12V DC system
• Battery banks:
  • (2) 135Ah house batteries
  • (1) 95Ah engine start battery
• Battery isolator switches
• Emergency parallel switch
• Engine alternator charging
• Hella Marine LED navigation lights
• Interior LED cabin lighting
• Switch panels at nav station and companionway

STEERING & NAVIGATION

• Tiller steering with ash tiller
• Bronze tiller head fitting
• Trim-tab self-steering on rudder
• Raymarine ST2000 tiller pilot (portable)
• White Star bulkhead-mounted compass
• Handheld GPS (not permanently installed)
• Handheld VHF (not permanently installed)

PLUMBING & TANKAGE

• Stainless steel freshwater tanks (approx. 400 L)
• Stainless steel fuel tanks
• Foot-pumped freshwater system
• Saltwater galley supply
• Blakes seacocks throughout
• Manual Henderson MK5 bilge pump

HEATING

• Morso “Squirrel” solid fuel cabin stove
• Insulated flue through deck

GROUND TACKLE & MOORING

• Fisherman main anchor – approx. 100 lb
• Fisherman secondary / kedge anchor – approx. 60 lb
• Galvanized chain and warps (various)
• Samson post and bitts
• Bronze fairleads and cleats

SAFETY & INVENTORY (aboard at time of survey)

• Fire extinguishers (require service/replacement)
• Lifebuoy / life rings
• EPIRB
• Flares
• Manual bilge pump
• Deck-mounted compass