Design and Construction
The 53 displaces 43,200 pounds on a 42-foot-2-inch waterline. Her displacement-to-length ratio is 256, which the design review credited with providing plenty of interior volume. A beam of 15 feet 1 inch and 18,000 pounds of lead ballast provide the stability expected of a serious cruiser.
The hull uses Airex-cored fiberglass construction, while the deck is cored with Divinycell foam. The internal lead ballast is cast in place around the centerboard trunk anchor.
A low, raised wedge on the foredeck adds to the design’s subdued excitement. A teak handrail-coaming extension keeps the profile low and handsome for a center-cockpit yacht. Seven Dorades forward of the mast provide ventilation.
Rig and Handling
The sail plan centers on a Stoway spar with two babystays and the spinnaker pole stowed on the mast. The Stoway main is paired with a roller-furling jib and staysail. The reviewing designer noted that this arrangement reduces the big sloop to a pussycat under short-handed control. Other notable rig details include a hydraulic vang and an inboard standing backstay.
Sail area is 1,278 square feet in the sloop-cutter configuration and 1,371 square feet with the larger rig. The centerboard allows draft to vary from 5 feet 1 inch to 11 feet 4 inches, giving the owner the choice between shallow-water gunkholing and deeper, more weatherly performance.
Accommodations and Systems
Below, the center-cockpit layout takes advantage of the boat’s volume. One quirk flagged by the design review is that the rudderstock intrudes upon the head of the berth. This results from the spade rudder and internal ballast-trunk geometry, and it’s a compromise a buyer should inspect in person.
Storage is generous, including a large lazarette aft for cruising gear. Tankage is substantial for extended passages: 175 gallons of water and 310 gallons of fuel support the 100-horsepower Westerbeke diesel auxiliary.
The Verdict
The Little Harbor 53 is a thoughtfully engineered Hood cruiser that trades spectacle for composure. Her centerboard hull, furling rig, and substantial tankage mark her as a serious passagemaker, although the rudderstock’s intrusion into the berth is a genuine compromise in the sleeping arrangement.
Pros
- Versatile centerboard draft of 5 feet 1 inch to 11 feet 4 inches for coastal and offshore use
- Airex-cored hull with internal lead ballast around the centerboard trunk
- Stoway and roller-furling rig simplifies handling of a large sloop
- Substantial capacities of 175 gallons of water and 310 gallons of fuel
Cons
- Rudderstock intrudes into the head of the berth
