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Little Harbor 46
Designer: Ted Hood  ·  Builder: Little Harbor  ·  First built: 1986
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About the Little Harbor 46

Ted Hood's Little Harbor 46 represents a sophisticated approach to bluewater cruising, combining the legendary designer's racing pedigree with serious offshore capability. Built between 1986 and 1992, this exclusive yacht saw only 21 hulls constructed, making it a rare find in today's market. The design showcases Hood's expertise through its purposeful proportions and thoughtful details. With a substantial displacement of 32,500 pounds and deep 10.16-foot draft, the boat tracks beautifully and maintains composure in challenging conditions. The cutter rig configuration provides excellent sail handling options for short-handed cruising, while the 966 square feet of sail area delivers respectable performance across wind ranges. Built with fiberglass construction and featuring a keel/centerboard configuration with spade rudder, the Little Harbor 46 offers the unique advantage of shoal-water exploration while maintaining the directional stability crucial for ocean passages. The boat's comfort ratio of 39.01 indicates a motion that's comfortable for extended cruising, while the capsize screening value of 1.73 demonstrates excellent stability for offshore work. This yacht appeals to discerning sailors seeking a capable, well-built cruiser that can handle everything from coastal exploration to transoceanic passages with equal competence.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 45.67 ft / 13.92 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 36.50 ft / 11.13 m
Beam 13.75 ft / 4.19 m
Max Draft 10.16 ft / 3.10 m
Min Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 32,500.00 lb / 14,742 kg
Ballast 13,800.00 lb / 6,260 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 966.00 ft² / 89.74 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/CB & spade rudder
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer Ted Hood
Builder Little Harbor
First Built 1986
Last Built 1992
Number Built 21
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 108
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 15.24
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 42.46
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 298.37
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 39.01
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.73
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 8.10 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 1.62
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,793.25 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 15.25
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 57.00 ft / 17.37 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 18.50 ft / 5.64 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 48.80 ft / 14.87 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
SA Fore 527.25 ft² / 48.98 m²
SA Main 439.20 ft² / 40.80 m²
SA Total (100%) 966.45 ft² / 89.79 m²
Est. Forestay Length 59.93 ft / 18.27 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Westerbeke
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 70
Fuel Capacity 100 gals / 379 L
Water Capacity 200 gals / 757 L
Find a Little Harbor 46 For Sale
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