Little Harbor 59
Ted Hood-Designed Bluewater Elegance, Sourced Through the Obsidian Helm Network
| Builder | Little Harbor Yachts |
|---|---|
| Model year | 2001 (representative build era, c. 1996–2006) |
| Price guide | $1.65M – $2.25M USD (refit and equipment dependent) |
| Loa Ft | 59'0" overall w/ bowsprit (58' hull length) |
| Beam Ft | 16'0" |
| Draft Ft | 6'6" board up / 11'6" board down (shoal centerboard configuration) |
| Engines | Single diesel, 150–165 hp (Yanmar or Perkins depending on build year) |
| Range Nm | ≈ 900 nm under power at cruise rpm |
| Cabins | 3 staterooms + crew/utility cabin, typical 2–3 head layouts |
The Little Harbor 59 carries the name of one of American yachting's most respected design-and-build houses. Founded by Ted Hood — America's Cup sailor, sailmaker, and one of the most prolific yacht designers of the 20th century — Little Harbor Yachts operated out of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, building semi-custom offshore cruising sailboats prized for their seakeeping, shoal-draft centerboard versatility, and furniture-grade interior joinery. The 58/59-foot range sat at the heart of the marque's flagship offering: a passage-capable sloop built to cross oceans in comfort rather than simply coastal-hop in style.
What distinguishes a Little Harbor of this size is the balance Hood struck between performance and livability. Hulls were built to take real weather — solid fiberglass laminate below the waterline, deep structural grids, and rigging systems engineered by Hood's own spar and sail loft — while below decks the boats were finished with teak joinery, opening ports, and walk-through engine rooms more commonly associated with builders twice the price. The centerboard configuration, a Hood signature, let owners tuck into skinny anchorages other 59-footers simply cannot reach, then drop the board and point like a raceboat once offshore.
Little Harbors of this size trade hands infrequently and rarely through open listing sites — most changed owners through direct broker relationships and word of mouth, which is precisely the channel the Obsidian Helm Network exists to replicate. Availability, configuration, and refit history vary by hull; the specification below reflects a representative, typically-equipped example of the model as it is generally sourced through our network, not a specific vessel currently on the water.
Highlights
- Ted Hood design pedigree — America's Cup-caliber naval architecture applied to bluewater cruising
- Shoal-draft centerboard system for anchorage flexibility most 59-footers can't match
- Solid fiberglass hull construction with deep structural grid, built for offshore passages
- Furniture-grade teak interior joinery, walk-through engine room, and semi-custom layouts
- In-house Hood spar and sail loft rigging engineering
- Sourced and vetted through the Obsidian Helm Network rather than open brokerage listings
Inquire Through Obsidian Helm
This is a representative build specification sourced through the Obsidian Helm broker network, not a single fixed hull — tell us your brief and we source, verify and negotiate the right vessel.
Start an Inquiry Read the Little Harbor Yachts Buying Guide →