Design and Construction
The Little Harbor 44 was produced from 1983 to 1987, with the hulls built by Alexander Marine in Taiwan. The hull and deck were molded as one-piece fiberglass structures with gelcoat finishes. The hull had an Airex foam core, while the deck used Divinycell foam. This cored construction was intended to improve sound and thermal insulation rather than reduce weight—a deliberate departure from the usual reason for using cores.
Internal lead ballast was cast in place and covered with fiberglass. The fiberglass fuel and water tanks were molded integrally into the hull. The overlapping deck-to-hull joint was bolted together and sealed with epoxy, while stainless steel chainplates were bolted to built-in fiberglass knees. Structural and divisional bulkheads were made from marine-grade waterproof plywood.
The centerboard trunk was molded into the hull beneath the cabin sole. The centerboard itself was a two-part unit with a bronze shoe on its leading edge.
Rig, Steering, and Handling
The Little Harbor 44 carries a masthead, double-spreader sloop rig. Its extruded aluminum mast and boom were painted with Imron, and the standing rigging is wire. The running rigging includes internal main and genoa halyards, two genoa sheets, a mainsheet, boom outhaul and topping lift, a four-part boom vang and preventer, and flag halyards. A halyard sheave box was also provided for a staysail.
Barient winches were fitted, including Barient 32 self-tailing primaries and a Barient 23 self-tailing mainsheet winch. The stainless steel mast step is adjustable.
The fixed fin keel carries a retractable centerboard, providing a versatile draft range for coastal and offshore use. The rudder is a two-part molded unit with a stainless steel stock and internal framework. An Edson steering system operates through a custom stainless steel radial-drive quadrant.
The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 110.
Accommodations
Four layouts were available, and no two of the first ten hulls shared the same arrangement, underscoring the semi-custom nature of the early boats. Aft-cockpit models came in Plan A, with two heads, or Plan B, with one. Center-cockpit boats offered either Plan A, with a split aft berth comprising a double and a single, or Plan B, with a centerline queen.
Hull number 1 was one of six center-cockpit versions. Named Robin Too, it served as Ted Hood’s personal boat and was built to the center-cockpit Plan A layout.
Solid teak joinery runs throughout the interior. Details include a teak-and-holly cabin sole, laminated teak overhead deck beams set against off-white Formica, and teak hull liners on all exposed surfaces. Hanging lockers are lined with camphor wood. The head compartments use off-white Formica with solid teak trim, and fine-quality leatherette upholstery is fitted throughout.
Stowage includes three drawers and eleven separate lockers. The galley has Formica cabinetry and countertops, a deluxe stainless steel three-burner stove with oven and broiler, an insulated divided icebox, and a double stainless steel sink.
Equipment and Onboard Systems
The Little Harbor 44 was delivered with an unusually complete equipment list for a cruiser of its era. Standard machinery equipment included a solid bronze propeller, a wet exhaust with lift to a transom discharge, and engine controls mounted on a molded steering pedestal.
Two engine alternators supplied more than 100 amps of charging. They were backed by four heavy-duty marine batteries and a 12-volt, 40-amp charger. The custom electrical panel carried 12- and 120-volt circuit breakers, and the boat came with a 50-amp shore-power cable.
All through-hull fittings used bronze seacocks. The watertight centerboard-hoist system was operated by a winch on deck. Bilge management comprised two manual pumps and one automatic electric bilge pump.
The sanitation system used manual/electric heads with a Lectra San Type III MSD. Domestic systems included a stainless steel 17-gallon water heater, pressurized water, and automatic shower pumps in each head.
Verdict
The Little Harbor 44 is a low-production design that distills Ted Hood’s centerboard-cruiser approach into a 44-foot boat with extensive built-in equipment and considerable interior variety. Its foam-cored hull was designed for insulation rather than weight reduction. Its standard inventory—from Barient winches and integral tanks to bronze seacocks—reflects a builder fitting boats for cruising without requiring immediate owner upgrades.
With only fifteen hulls built, each example also carries its own distinct layout history.
Pros
- Retractable centerboard and fixed fin keel provide a versatile draft range
- Foam-cored hull and deck designed for insulation rather than weight savings
- Extensive standard cruising equipment, including bronze seacocks and integral tanks
- Semi-custom layouts, with Ted Hood’s own Robin Too as the lead center-cockpit boat
Cons
- Only fifteen were built, limiting spares and familiarity in the comparable-boat market
- A PHRF average handicap of 110 indicates modest racing performance for the displacement
- The early hulls varied so widely that no two of the first ten shared a layout
