TRUE NORTH - 1990 53' 6" LITTLE HARBOR 54
Marblehead Massachusetts United States
$330,000 USD

As the only aft-cockpit Little Harbor 54 built, TRUE NORTH is a rare offering in today’s brokerage market. In addition to an extensive list of standard Little Harbor amenities, this luxurious bluewater cruiser offers electric sail handling, bow thruster, generator, inverter, air conditioning and Espar heat. True to the Hood design philosophy, moderate displacement, a low-wetted-surface-to-sail ratio and a tall rig provide impressive light air speeds and momentum, as well as powerful and comfortable heavy air performance.  

On deck, TRUE NORTH features a huge cockpit with a fixed drop-leaf table for six, standing headroom below a large dodger and easy access to below via hinged raised-panel doors. All sail-handling controls, sheets and winches are within easy reach of the helmsman. Built-in lockers for storage of rope tails are located in the cockpit combing. 

The interior is finished in the Herreshoff style, which accentuates the feeling of openness in a cleverly-arranged open-plan salon, galley and navigation area. The master stateroom features a centerline queen-sized berth, a desk/vanity and an en-suite head with separate stall shower. The guest stateroom also has a queen-sized berth and en-suite head and shower, plus wet hanging locker. 

TRUE NORTH has seen seasonal use in New England for the last two decades and been stored at top yards with continual care and maintenance. She has benefited from significant upgrades in the past 2-3 years including new sails, new running rigging, new electronics, major overhauls of the plumbing system, and more. 

The hull is molded in GRP from female molds with 3/4" Airex foam core for added strength and sound/thermal insulation. Vinylester resin is used on the exterior skins for the highest possible resistance to osmosis, plus epoxy bottom coating with Interlux 2000 system. Airex core material is eliminated in areas of sheerline, centerline, ballast, rudderpost, hull ports and through-hulls, with solid GRP lay-up in these areas. There is a painted teak rub rail with stainless steel striker for topside protection in docking situations. 

The deck is hand-laid teak over GRP, with Divinycell H-80 foam core for strength and stiffness. In areas where deck equipment is installed, core is replaced with Divinycell H-200 high-density foam. Outer skin is built to 1/4" thickness, inner skin to 3/16". Cockpit sides and coaming are solid fiberglass. Deck flange is solid glass to approximately 3/8" thickness. The deck is bonded with epoxy putty to the inboard angled hull flange and bolted with 5/16" bolts on 8" centers. Additional fastenings are provided with a teak toe rail through-bolted on 8" centers. All deck hatch landings are molded in GRP. There is a flush lazarette hatch with molded drain channels. The propane locker is molded separately into the cockpit combing and ventilated with direct drain overboard. 

The rudder blade is molded around a stainless-steel frame welded to the rudderstock and supported by upper and lower bearings. A bronze stuffing box is provided with Teflon impregnated packing. The weighted centerboard is molded GRP with bronze shoe. 

Centerboard configuration offers minimum draft of 6' with board up and a maximum draft of 12' with board down. 

All cabins are finished in the Herreshoff style with white painted bulkheads and cabin trunk, and exquisitely milled teak trim, rails, doors and drawers. There is a teak wainscot throughout, which is a key element in ensuring a perfect atmosphere of light and warmth. Exposed hull surfaces are lined with a teak 2” strip planked ceiling. All seating is upholstered in forest green Ultrasuede. 

The head and shower floors are molded GRP covered with varnished teak grates. Ample shelving, bookshelves and teak handholds are provided throughout. Full-length mirrors are provided in each stateroom. All water and fuel tanks are located below cabin sole level, providing extensive storage area under seats and furniture throughout the interior. 

All countertops in the heads and galley are white Corian. All vertical surfaces in the heads are finished in white Formica with teak stiles and rails. A teak cherry drip rail runs continuously below all portholes and also serves as a convenient handrail. 

Variable speed circulation fans are located in the main salon and at each berth. A 5,000 BTU reverse-cycle air conditioning unit is centrally located in the main salon. Additionally, Espar diesel heat can take the chill off quickly and efficiently. The deck hatches, portholes and dorade vents are of polished stainless steel and manufactured by Hood Yacht Systems. Built-in hatch screens and blinds conveniently slide away into concealed compartments within the headliner when not in use. The cabin sole is made up of a completely removable system of teak and holly floorboards (insulated around the main engine) with flush chrome lock downs. The overhead is finished in white Formica panels and beautiful teak and holly laminated deck beams. All hanging lockers are lined with cedar. Interior teak and painted surfaces have a satin finish except for the cabin sole which is high gloss. All interior locksets, hinges, light fixtures and assorted hardware are finished in polished stainless steel and chrome completing the crisp, clean overall look of understated luxury.  

Starting forward, a large forepeak locker accessed via a deck hatch accommodates anchor rodes, sails and assorted deck hardware. A solid bulkhead separates this area from the master stateroom which is next aft. This oversized cabin offers a queen size centerline berth, a settee with vanity to port and a full-size head and separate shower stall opposite. Two deck prisms, three opening hatches and two opening portholes contribute to this cabin’s bright, open feel. 

Next aft, the main salon is flooded with light from six Lexan hull-side fixed ports, eight opening ports in the deckhouse and four overhead hatches. A 3/4 round settee/dinette to starboard includes a center-line settee which encloses the main engine below and provides unequaled engine access when hinged up and out of the way. A combination TV/VCR is hidden in a locker above the settee. There is a full navigation station to port containing a chart table, numerous lockers and drawers and the main power distribution panel. A pilot berth is located outboard of the nav area. A built-in drinks fridge is conveniently located just aft of the settee, yet out of the way of the chef. 

The aft head to port is accessible from the main salon via a pocket door as well from the guest stateroom. The guest stateroom contains two large singles berths which easily convert to a queen size berth. There are numerous lockers and drawers including a cedar lined hanging locker. 

The galley is next aft to starboard and features a comfortable u-shaped configuration, exceptional storage, a built-in, tilt-out trash bin, a double stainless-steel sink and white Corian counter tops. 

Galley Equipment:  

The yacht's DC electrical supply is 12 Volt, supplied by three independent battery systems, all of which are new 2018/2019:  

A 130 amp engine alternator charges the house batteries and a second 55 amp alternator charges engine batteries. Alternatively, all batteries may be charged by a 110 Volt AC Xantrex 2500-watt battery charger (new 2024) run off the generator or shore power. Battery condition is monitored via a Link 2000. GFIC waterproof 12 Volt outlets are located at the steering pedestal and nav. station. 

The yacht's AC electrical system is 110 Volt/60 cycle. AC power is supplied by a 50 amp shore power inlet. A 5 kW Westerbeke diesel generator (2,265 hours) and a Xantrex 2500-watt inverter also supply AC. AC functions include: Water heater, refrigeration, electrical outlets, microwave oven, air conditioning, A/C outlets and GFIC waterproof AC outlets in heads and galley. 

All ship’s wiring is tinned copper wire and is run in a PVC conduit system from bow to stern. Access for service or additional wiring installation is easily made at load center stations concealed by watertight covers. Wires are color coded and numbered for easy identification. 

The main switch panel is located in the vicinity of the nav. station and includes: DC and AC branch circuit breakers with backlighting, battery test meters, reverse polarity indicators, DC and AC voltage and load current meters, DC and AC voltage and amp meters, bilge alarms, inverter controls, and heating and air conditioning controls. 

Engine, rudderpost, mast step, cabin plates and seacocks are grounded to a 6" copper strap, glassed to hull running from bow to stern on both sides of hull. A copper screen is glassed into the hull for radio antenna grounding. A separate grounding bar is installed for electronics. 

Rigging 

Sails 

Winches 

The owner’s personal effects are excluded from the sale.