There is one significant feature that separates the Little Harbor 51 Pilothouse from all other yachts of this size: a full, live-in pilothouse. This design satisfies two primary needs. First, the pilothouse incorporates the entire navigation - chart area with built-in space for instrumentation and a comfortable forward-facing seat to starboard. The navigator can now operate with greater visibility and communicate to the helmsman - a big plus when sailing singlehanded or shorthanded. In poor weather, the boat can be controlled safely and comfortably from this inside station with 360-degree visibility. And while sailing at night, one can sleep inside the pilothouse on a full-length berth. Second, the pilothouse is designed with an L-shaped settee to port and a permanent table off centerline. There is ample room for up to six to lounge or dine comfortably under cover (at sea or at anchor) with a unique feeling of being outside. There is exceptional natural light and ventilation for warmer climes, and the area can be heated with rear curtains down for use in colder climates. Also, there is full headroom throughout - even while stepping down from the aft cockpit. In general, this pilothouse incorporates features not found in yachts under 65 feet in length. There is a generous cockpit aft of the pilothouse to seat six comfortably under sail or at rest. A fold-up teak cocktail - dining table is provided, along with adequate foot braces. The helmsman can see forward around the pilothouse when sitting on the outboard aft cockpit seat within easy reach of the steering wheel. The cockpit sole is also raised aft to allow even a relatively short helmsman to see comfortably over the top of the low-profile pilothouse while standing. All sail controls are lead aft below deck to winches easily accessible to the helmsman, another rare feature for aft-cockpit yachts and a plus for shorthanded sailing. Belowdecks, the interior accommodations are both straightforward and spacious. The owner's stateroom forward includes a large U-berth (as opposed to the typically narrow V-berth) with two 36-inch wide berths that can be converted, with a filler piece, into a king-size double. There is a large hanging locker and numerous drawers and storage lockers. A private owner's head is located to port, offset by a private shower stall and additional sink to starboard. Overall, we consider this area to be a true liveaboard stateroom. The main salon includes a circular seating area to starboard for up to seven people. A separate centerline settee provides great comfort and flexibility in the seating arrangements. To port, there is a full settee with convertible pilot berth outboard, both ideal sea berths. In addition to the abundance of opening hatches and portholes throughout, there is the option of two solid topside windows on each side of the main salon to provide more natural light and visibility. The galley is located to starboard of the companionway for accessibility to both the pilothouse and main salon. It features a large front-opening refrigerator (14 cubic feet) and top-opening deep freeze (9 cubic feet), as well as numerous drawers and lockers for storing more provisions than any other boat of this type. To port is a guest stateroom with two generous upper and lower berths that are ideally located for use as sea berths when sailing offshore. A second head - shower compartment can be entered privately from the guest stateroom or from the companionway area for easy access from deck. The hull of the Little Harbor 51 Pilothouse features a relatively heavy-displacement, low wetted surface hull that is designed without regard to limitations imposed by rating rules. Relatively long overhangs at bow and stern increase the effective sailing waterline length and provide more deck area, as well as accentuate the attractive sheer line. In further disregard of rating rules, the hull is driven by an exceptionally high-aspect sail plan to provide superior light air performance as indicated by the relatively high sail area - wetted surface ratio of 2.30. With this tall, more efficient sail plan, an owner may then choose to use a smaller overlapping headsail that is easier to tack and provides better visibility. As with most designs from this firm, the Little Harbor 51 Pilothouse is based on a keel - centerboard configuration with a moderate shoal draft of only 6 feet. The short keel has been refined from previous designs to have finer sections as it fairs into the hull in order to provide greater lift and less turbulent water flow around this transition area. The keel is also designed with greater volume at the bottom to lower the internal ballast and achieve greater stability. A deep (5-foot 9-inch) centerboard extends below the keel and is designed to maximize lift for exceptional upwind performance. Further aft, the deep rudder is fully balanced and situated as far aft as possible for easy steering maneuverability. We recognize the desire of many cruising sailors to gunkhole and explore remote, shallow harbors that are inaccessible to most. We also recognize the draft limitations many owners face with private docks and preferred mooring areas. The Little Harbor 51 Pilothouse is designed to help overcome these restrictions and is available with an optional shoal draft of only 5 feet. This configuration is a refinement of the successful Little Harbor 52 and Seguin 49 designs, featuring the proven, high performance 'delta form' concept with a retractable rudder designed to preserve adequate steering without risk of damage from grounding. The hull and deck are constructed of molded fiberglass using a Vinylester hybrid resin and foam core to drawings approved by the American Bureau of Shipping. The hull lamination is further reinforced with a Kevlar hybrid to increase collision strength and add stiffness. All water and fuel tanks are fiberglass. Structural bulkheads are fiberglass with balsa core bonded to hull and deck. On deck, a high level of quality has been achieved while eliminating the maintenance of teak decks and excessive varnished teak trim. All deck blocks, handrails, and hardware are polished stainless steel. The deck - hull joint features a unique molded toerail - bulwark with optional teak cap that can be varnished or oiled. A molded rub-rail with stainless striker is provided and all non-skid on deck is molded in. The pilothouse is molded fiberglass with a smooth inside finish and includes tinted Lexan windows. The interior construction features solid American cherry trim, fiddles, and hull ceilings. The overhead panels are covered with fabric and are completely removable. Main bulkhead surfaces are Formica, and drawers and locker doors are solid cherry or Formica with cherry trim. Doors and drawers feature Kroon flush positive-lock latches and roller bearing drawer slides. Cabin soles are varnished teak and holly.. The generator and nearly all other mechanical and electrical systems are located in a central soundproofed compartment aft of the companionway. A door through the aft head leads to a small tool-storage - work bench area with direct and easy access to the main engine. The various pumps and compressors are located to starboard under the pilothouse and are made accessible by a lift-up hatch in the pilothouse. The main companionway steps are also removable for emergency removal of the engine.