Craig Martin Little was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1948. He was raised in Orlando, Florida, where he resided until January of 2002. As a young teenager, Craig dreamed of build a sailboat for himself. In the summer of 1971 Craig moved from Orlando to Tarpon Springs, Florida, where he started working in a boatyard called “Tarpon Ways”, learning boat construction and repair.

While working in the boatyard he met a boat builder that had been building boats there in Tarpon Springs for over 45 years. With a 19th century gaff rig sailing cutter in mind to build, this gentleman started showing Craig how to design this sailboat on paper and to use the rules of thumb they used back in that time. After all the lines were laid down on paper, Craig had to build a scale model from the drawings and to take notes on the progress in building the model. He made notations about the areas that gave him problems in building, and what was done to meet the challenge in these areas. The model was completed September 1971 and it was test sailed, with minor changes in the sails. By this time Craig had the keel and forms set up in his back yard, building the full-size boat. In the fall of 1973, Craig finished building his sailing cutter and launched it in the water, sailing, under way, making way.

To continuing to learning about boat design and construction, Craig continued building scale model vessels. In July of 1974 Craig got his first commission to build two Greek sponge fishing boat models for the famous “Pappas’s Greek Restaurant”, in Tarpon Springs, Florida. They were building their new restaurant at that time and wanted the model boats to fit in with their decor. He built a replica of their 46 foot Greek sponge diveboat named “Louis Pappas” and a 32 foot Greek hookboat “Prodromos”, which in her day, was considered to be the queen of the hookboat fleet.

Craig has spent most of his life around boats and for the past thirty years he has been on and off the sea making a living. Craig held a Ship Master's License. Through Little Ships of the Maritimes, Craig continues to share his love for boats, ships and the sea with others.

News papers write ups from

"Calais Advertiser" Written Jennifer A. Ralton - Smith
Calais, Maine . . . June 24, 2004

The Quoddy Tides Written By Susan Esposito
Eastport, Maine . . . July 09 2004

Downeast Heritage Museum Model Boat Show
Calais, Maine

You can reach the Captain via e-mail at
Craig@LittleShipsOfTheMaritimes.net

If you only got this page alone

Click here to Little Ships Home Port site