Little Harbor 38 Buyer's Guide
Shopping for a used Little Harbor 38 means chasing a scarce commodity: approximately 29 hulls were built from 1982, and the boat's reputation as a rare, premium cruiser keeps demand quiet but steady among bluewater-minded buyers. Ted Hood's centerboard design defines the ownership experience, and any example afloat today will reflect decades of individual cruising history rather than a uniform production standard.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 38-foot hull carries a traditional interior with four to six berths, a forward V-berth, saloon settees, a galley, and an enclosed head. The centerboard trunk runs through the accommodation space, so buyers should note how each individual boat's owner has arranged seating and storage around it. Headroom runs about six feet. The 11.83-foot beam gives a roomy saloon for the length, and the shoal 4.5-foot raised-draft mode is a genuine asset for coastal moorings.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Well-found examples commonly carry teak decks, an inverter, bow thruster, electric winches, hot water, bimini, dodger, dinghy davits, radar, autopilot, and a life raft. Often-seen additions include heating, a furling main, cockpit shower, AIS, and chartplotter. For a buyer, the electric winches and bow thruster cluster speaks to manageable short handed docking despite the 20,600-pound displacement, while the inverter and hot water signal a boat wired for liveaboard comfort. Radar and autopilot are the offshore-relevant items to verify first.
What to Inspect
Solid fiberglass hulls were typically built in Taiwan under Hood's oversight anchor. Because the centerboard trunk penetrates the hull and the keel/centerboard configuration exposes moving gear to seawater, the board pivot, trunk seals, and centerboard cable or linkage deserve close inspection for wear and water ingress. Verify the rudder attachment given the skeg-hung or spade configuration, and confirm the teak decks common on these boats are not hiding core issues at fastenings.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical market availability is in the United States. For a buyer, the checklist is short but specific:
- Confirm centerboard operation and trunk sealing
- Check rudder and steering linkage integrity
- Verify electric winches, bow thruster, and autopilot function
- Inspect teak deck fastenings for core exposure
- Validate autopilot and radar as offshore-critical gear
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Little Harbor 38. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 3 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25 | 2 | $139,500 | — |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $64,500 | -53.8% |
| Sep 26 | 2 | $66,750 | +3.5% |
Where they're listed
Little Harbor 38 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 4.
Country view
4 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $64,500 | 4 | 2 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hallberg-Rassy 38 | 37.96' | $ 94,257 | 29 | 6 |
| Caliber 38 | 38' | $ 79,000 | 19 | 6 |
| Wauquiez Hood 38 | 38.06' | $ 57,171 | 15 | 7 |
| Kadey-Krogen 38 | 38.16' | $ 74,900 | 9 | 0 |
| Morgan 38 | 37.67' | $ 69,000 | 5 | 1 |
| Little Harbor 38You are here | — | $ 64,500 | 4 | 2 |
| Cape George 38 | 38' | $ 137,207 | 4 | 2 |