Little Harbor 51 Sailboats for Sale

One distinction worth noting before you begin your search: the hull was offered with either a reverse transom (producing the 51-foot LOA) or a traditionally raked transom (which stretches the boat to just over 52 feet). The difference is cosmetic in terms of sailing performance, but it affects how the stern reads at anchor and alongside a dock, and buyers who prefer a more classic sheer should ask specifically which transom configuration they are viewing.

Layouts on the Used Market

The Little Harbor 51 was built to Hood's long-standing philosophy of customization — owners famously could sketch a preferred interior arrangement and have the yard translate it into a working drawing. As a result, used examples exhibit genuine layout variation, and there is no single dominant floor plan the way there might be with a production builder. That said, most examples that reach the brokerage market are configured as aft-cockpit boats with a conventional saloon-forward-cabin arrangement, and the deep, centerboard hull translates into interior volume that is genuinely spacious despite the traditional appearance. Berth count varies, but comfortable double cabins fore and aft are common, and the saloon seating and nav station areas tend to be generously proportioned given the displacement.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Brokerage examples of the Little Harbor 51 are, as a group, exceptionally well-equipped. Owners of these boats have typically committed to serious offshore use, and the fit-out reflects that. Shorthanded sailing setups are commonly fitted, reflecting the boat's appeal to couples and small crews making extended passages — this typically means a well-organized sail-handling system, often with a furling main as a later upgrade, and electric winches that have frequently been added or replaced along the way. Autopilots are essentially universal across the used fleet.

Navigation electronics are consistently well-appointed. Chartplotters, radar, and AIS are found across nearly all examples, and the navigation station tends to be the beneficiary of incremental investment over a boat's life. Wind generators are commonly fitted, and solar panels are often seen as well, frequently in combination, reflecting the offshore energy demands of extended passages. Lithium battery banks represent a frequently seen owner upgrade, usually replacing older AGM or flooded-lead systems in boats that have undergone more recent refit work. Air conditioning is commonly fitted, particularly in boats configured for warmer-climate passages, and inverters to support AC loads are a near-constant feature.

Comfort systems are well developed across the fleet. Hot water is commonly aboard, and bow thrusters, cockpit showers, and dedicated freezer capacity are often seen. Heating systems also appear with regularity, consistent with boats that have been sailed at higher latitudes. Biminis are often seen, and teak decks appear on some examples as an owner upgrade, though prospective buyers should weigh the maintenance implications carefully on any boat approaching these ages.

Spinnaker and asymmetric spinnaker gear is sometimes found, indicating owners who have pushed the boat's light-air performance, though this is a less consistent fitting than the heavy-weather and passagemaking systems that dominate the equipment lists.

What to Inspect

The centerboard trunk deserves careful attention on any Little Harbor 51. Ted Hood's characteristic whale-belly hull shape with deep garboards and exaggerated rocker places the board trunk at the lowest point of the vessel, and the mechanism — including the pennant, the lifting arrangement, and the trunk seals — requires vigilance in an older boat. Inspect the trunk interior for delamination or water intrusion, and verify that the board deploys and retracts smoothly without binding.

The telescoping spade rudder, another Hood design signature, is a distinctive feature that deserves hands-on inspection. Verify the locking mechanism functions correctly and that there is no play or corrosion in the extension mechanism. The rudder bearings and post should be checked for wear commensurate with the boat's age.

Because these hulls were built to a high standard in Taiwan but are now carrying several decades of use, rigging replacement history matters considerably. The rig geometry features aft and centerline lowers augmented by both babystay and midstay, a configuration that distributes loads carefully but adds complexity — all standing rigging attachment points, chainplates, and the midstay hardware deserve close inspection for corrosion and fatigue, particularly where hardware passes through deck or chainplates and deck fittings. Given the relatively modest SA/D ratio, the rig is not particularly stressed in absolute terms, but any boat that has done extensive bluewater miles should be treated as if inspection is overdue until proven otherwise.

Engine installation on the original spec called for a diesel auxiliary of around 100 horsepower — verify the current engine, its hours, and service history, as some boats will have seen replacements. Fuel and water tankage is generous by design, but inspect all tanks for scale, corrosion at fittings, and hose condition. Electrical systems on boats that have undergone piecemeal upgrading over decades — particularly those with lithium retrofit installations — should be traced carefully for correct fusing, breaker sizing, and integration quality.

Teak deck condition, where present, deserves thorough inspection. Seam compound failure and fastener-driven core moisture intrusion are common in older teak installations, and the cost of proper repair or replacement is substantial on a boat of this length.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Little Harbor 51 is a relatively low-production bluewater design, and examples surface primarily in the United States market, particularly on the East and Gulf Coasts. The boat's offshore pedigree makes it an appealing candidate for buyers preparing for Caribbean or transatlantic passages, and used examples sometimes appear after circumnavigations or extended bluewater campaigns, complete with the accumulated upgrades those voyages require. Buyers willing to search broadly should expect to find a small but consistent selection on the market.

For a buyer conducting due diligence, the following checklist covers the highest-priority items:

• Centerboard trunk: inspect for cracks, delamination, seam integrity, and proper board operation
• Telescoping rudder: verify locking mechanism, check for play, inspect post and bearings
• Midstay and babystay hardware: inspect chainplates, deck penetrations, and all attachment fittings
• Standing rigging: confirm replacement history and inspect for corrosion, particularly at swage fittings
• Engine: verify identity, hours, service records, and current condition
• Fuel and water tanks: inspect fittings, hoses, and interior condition
• Electrical system: trace any lithium or significant upgrade work for correct integration
• Teak decks (if present): probe for core moisture intrusion beneath the planking
• Bilge and hull interior: check for moisture in the deep garboard sections and around the keel sump