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Little Harbor 51
Designer: Ted Hood  ·  Builder: Little Harbor  ·  First built: 1990
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About the Little Harbor 51

Designed by Ted Hood and built by Little Harbor Custom Yachts, this distinguished 51-footer represents the pinnacle of American yacht craftsmanship from the 1970s and 1980s. Little Harbor earned its reputation by creating semi-custom sailing yachts that seamlessly blended performance with luxury, and this model exemplifies that philosophy perfectly. Built for serious offshore cruising, the Little Harbor 51 features the robust construction and thoughtful design details that made the brand legendary among discerning sailors. Hood's design emphasizes seaworthiness and comfort, with generous accommodations that don't compromise sailing performance. The yacht's moderate displacement and well-balanced sail plan make it equally capable of spirited coastal sailing and extended ocean passages. These yachts were hand-built in Rhode Island using premium materials and traditional construction methods, resulting in vessels known for their longevity and refinement. The cockpit layout prioritizes both safety and comfort, while the interior showcases the exceptional joinery work that became Little Harbor's signature. Today, well-maintained examples remain highly sought after by experienced sailors who appreciate the combination of Ted Hood's proven design principles and Little Harbor's uncompromising build quality.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 50.58 ft / 15.42 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 41.00 ft / 12.50 m
Beam 15.25 ft / 4.65 m
Max Draft 11.75 ft / 3.58 m
Min Draft 4.58 ft / 1.40 m
Displacement 45,750.00 lb / 20,752 kg
Ballast 18,000.00 lb / 8,165 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 1,219.00 ft² / 113.25 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Ted Hood
Builder Little Harbor
First Built 1990
Related Sailboats Little Harbor 50 · Valiant 50 · Shannon 50 · Alden 50 · Tatoosh 51
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
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
15.31
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
42.81
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
1.71
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. 8.58
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. 2.0
How It Compares

vs. Alden 50, Little Harbor 50, Shannon 50, Tatoosh 51, Valiant 50

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Little Harbor 51 ★
50.6 ft
Alden 50
50.3 ft
Little Harbor 50
50.8 ft
Shannon 50
50.9 ft
Tatoosh 51
50.6 ft
Valiant 50
50.7 ft
LWL
Little Harbor 51 ★
41.0 ft
Alden 50
37.1 ft
Little Harbor 50
42.2 ft
Shannon 50
42.8 ft
Tatoosh 51
42.1 ft
Valiant 50
40.3 ft
Beam
Little Harbor 51 ★
15.3 ft
Alden 50
13.5 ft
Little Harbor 50
15.1 ft
Shannon 50
14.3 ft
Tatoosh 51
15.4 ft
Valiant 50
13.8 ft
Displacement
Little Harbor 51 ★
45 lbs
Alden 50
38 lbs
Little Harbor 50
43 lbs
Shannon 50
39 lbs
Tatoosh 51
44 lbs
Valiant 50
35 lbs
Ballast
Little Harbor 51 ★
18 lbs
Alden 50
16 lbs
Little Harbor 50
18 lbs
Shannon 50
15 lbs
Tatoosh 51
14 lbs
Valiant 50
11 lbs
Sail Area
Little Harbor 51 ★
1 sq ft
Alden 50
Little Harbor 50
1 sq ft
Shannon 50
1 sq ft
Tatoosh 51
1 sq ft
Valiant 50
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Little Harbor 51 ★
Alden 50
102 s/nm
Little Harbor 50
69 s/nm
Shannon 50
117 s/nm
Tatoosh 51
120 s/nm
Valiant 50
102 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Little Harbor 51 ★
15.3
Alden 50
Little Harbor 50
16.3
Shannon 50
17.1
Tatoosh 51
15.7
Valiant 50
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Little Harbor 51 ★
Alden 50
42.9 %
Little Harbor 50
Shannon 50
39.7 %
Tatoosh 51
Valiant 50
31.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Little Harbor 51 ★
42.8
Alden 50
Little Harbor 50
40.2
Shannon 50
38.8
Tatoosh 51
39.9
Valiant 50
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Little Harbor 51 ★
1.71
Alden 50
Little Harbor 50
1.72
Shannon 50
1.68
Tatoosh 51
1.75
Valiant 50
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Little Harbor 51 ★
Alden 50
332
Little Harbor 50
Shannon 50
222
Tatoosh 51
Valiant 50
243
Hull Speed
Little Harbor 51 ★
8.6 kts
Alden 50
Little Harbor 50
8.7 kts
Shannon 50
8.8 kts
Tatoosh 51
8.7 kts
Valiant 50
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Little Harbor 51 ★
Alden 50
Little Harbor 50
2.0
Shannon 50
2.2
Tatoosh 51
Valiant 50
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