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Old 14-02-2008, 15:16   #1
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Cabin Headroom for 6'8" Sailor

I am new to the forums and this is my first post. I got the sailing bug recently and of course I am looking to purchase a new 42' to 50' sailboat. My main criteria is having enough head room in the cabin and the stateroom to stand up. I am 6'8" and I am looking for some suggestions as to the roomiest brands of boats on the market. I am looking for a cruiser if I buy a monohull. Any suggestions would be helpfull. I will also post this in the catamaran forums to see what they have to offer.
thanks
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Old 14-02-2008, 18:32   #2
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I knew there was a benefit being a mere 5'8". Too bad it took me decades to figure it out. My Stevens 47 has about 6'6" in the middle of the main cabin. Stand vertical when the boat is heeling (a lot) and you’ll be fine. Good luck.
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Old 18-02-2008, 10:18   #3
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The unfortunate reality is that boats are specifically made for people of average height. I'm 6'3 and I was very fortunate to find the Catalina 350 happens to have a lot of spare headroom (the 380 / 385 is similar). I've yet to find any other boat with as much full length headroom. Even the larger 40-50' boats still have headroom only for those of average height. I was amazed to find that the new deck salon models have a raised floor in the center, so even though they look like they have a ton of headroom on the outside they're still very tight inside.

The obvious reason for this is that the lower you can set the cabintop the more sporty/elegant/natural the boat looks. The less obvious but more significant reason is that if the cabintop is too high, people of average height simply wont be able to see through the windows! As is illustrated by my boat, anyone under 6' can't see the horizon unless they go on deck.

Some suggestions;
  • Try out a ton of boats - especially customs.
  • Rip out the cabin sole and rebuild it flush with the stringers.
  • Rip out the cabin sole and use the hull as the sole, stepping between the stringers. - alla Open 40 / Class 40 race boats.
  • Get a boat that's so small or so racy that no-one is expected to be able to stand and so the boat is configured thusly, galley is seat accessible, etc.
  • Get used to bending a bit.
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Old 20-02-2008, 02:56   #4
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Diesels:
Good Luck. I am 6'11" so I share your pain. Literally.
Boats of the length you are looking at are out of my price range so I have not done any research there.
30-35' the best I have seen so far is around 6'6". Most measurement that are published are at the deepest spot in the cabin or under a hatch with the rest of the cabin being shorter.
Just do what I do....Get used to the lumps on your head during sailing season and remember that the fetal position is "natural" for sleeping.
CK
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Old 14-02-2011, 18:11   #5
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For sure, you should check out the Island Packet line... their CEO is 6'5" and most of their boats have really good head room. The IPs have "other issues" but headroom is not one of them.
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Old 14-02-2011, 18:14   #6
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used to hate being so short (5'6") till i decided i wanted to live on a boat, sorry guys, hell of a problem to have
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Old 14-02-2011, 18:35   #7
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Diesels,
I'm just shy of 6'6" and can (mostly) stand up straight on my Pearson 424. Pretty much all the open areas (galley, main walkway) i'm good, but very close. In the head or shower I'm out of luck.

I'm guessing it's going to be a compromise on where you want to be able to stand up straight, and i'm guessing you're going to have to go closer to 50 than 42' if you're looking for 6'8" or more unless it's a custom boat.

Make sure you decide where you care and where you don't. I don't find having to lean a bit in the head a big deal- i sit down anyway, and tend to just walk out and brush my teeth using the galley in the morning.

Good luck!
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Old 14-02-2011, 19:03   #8
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I can sympathize with you,I'm 6'6" myself.I am looking also.
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Old 14-02-2011, 19:09   #9
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Check out the boats designed by Ted Hood. Understand he is a pituitary freak and needs lots of wasted airspace. Know the Bristol 40 seemed to have way too tall a cabin though it is not an ugly boat which most boats with excessive headroom are.

Always to build a custom 40 footer with 5'8" headroom. It would be a beautiful looking boat not having to have a high house for headroom.
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Old 05-05-2011, 16:07   #10
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Re: Cabin Headroom for 6'8" Sailor

Not new, but you might check out a Coronado 32. They seem to me to have gobs of head room. There is a Coronado in our marina and I was looking at her today and then checked online... she has high sides and looks very room inside. And they made a 45 as well which is closer to your size range, though still a classic plastic.

1973 Coronado Aft cabin Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

http://www.sailingtexas.com/scoronado45100.html
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Old 05-05-2011, 16:19   #11
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Re: Cabin Headroom for 6'8" Sailor

You could look into the flush decks. Most have quite a bit of head room.
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Old 05-05-2011, 16:38   #12
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Re: Cabin Headroom for 6'8" Sailor

My roberts has headroom to satisfy your height, should check out custom boats
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Old 05-05-2011, 16:44   #13
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Re: Cabin Headroom for 6'8" Sailor

Not a new boat, the Cascade 42 had an extra height option. I was on one once and it was really tall inside. I am 6'4 and had plenty of head room. I don't remember if they had 6'8 headroom though
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Old 05-05-2011, 20:00   #14
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Re: Cabin Headroom for 6'8" Sailor

They are hard to find, but our boat has 6'10" in the salon and galley, about 6'8" elsewhere.
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Old 05-05-2011, 20:21   #15
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Island Packets have the headroom, the designer is 6.8
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