Little Harbor 53 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Hull type

Monohull · centerboard

Rig

Cutter

LOA

52.67' · 16.05 m

Displ.

43,200 lbs · 19,595 kg

First year

1984

The Little Harbor 53 represents a pinnacle of the "American semicustom" cruising era, embodying Ted Hood’s philosophy of heavydisplacement, shoaldraft performance. Built primarily at the Ted Hoodowned yard in Taiwan, the 53 was designed as a robust bluewater voyager capable of crossing oceans while maintaining a draft shallow enough to navigate the Bahamas or the U.S. East Coast’s Intracoastal Waterway. This model is an evolution within the Little Harbor range, often sharing design DNA with the Little Harbor 52 and the later 54, which utilized similar hull volumes but offered variations in transom style and interior arrangements. As a "heavyweight" in its class, the 53 is characterized by its massive hull volume, meticulously crafted teak joinery, and a sophisticated centerboard system that bridges the gap between a stable cruising keel and a deepdraft racing foil.