Head Room Over 6'5" within a 30' Sailboat

[Cyber1]

I am in the market for a sail boat with at least 6'5 heaad room. I need to keep the sail boat under 31 ft. Any suggestions?

[Butler]

Cyber1...

A number of Bill Tripp boats have excellent headroom for us tree-toppers. He put together a number of designs that offered plenty of headroom and (lest we forget) long-enough berths.
31ft. or under will be a challenge though I think that the Tripp designed Columbia 30 might work for you... a bit too "clorox bottle" for some but they are decent sailors with plenty of headroom and very good interior space. He did some high freeboard mid-thirty and forty bubble top designs as well for Columbia that have a lot of headroom.

Good luck!

[Rhapsody-NS27]

I'm 6'5" too. I went into a Catalina 30 one time just to check and found I was very tall for it. Later on, I decided that it wouldn't be so bad because if I'm going to be IN the boat, I'll likely be sitting or laying down most of the time. The only standing would be to move from one place to another. Maybe this could be another way to look at interior space?

[Cyber1]

Thanks!

[GordMay]

Anyone who feels the need to stand upright on a sailboat, can go on deck.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Anyone who feels the need to stand upright on a sailboat, can go on deck.

Sounds like Uffa Fox, who may also have said:

"Standing headroom is only useful if you are holding a dance."

"Weight is only useful in a steamroller."

While it is nice to stretch out, it is a lot for a tall person to expect standing headroom throughout in a smaller boat. My boat would pass your test in some places, but not others.

Good luck.

[Cyber1]

OK

What size boat would make the fit?

[bangkaboat]

Tough situation, Cyber1. I'm 6' 2.5" and have enough of a tough time. I'd suggest that you should look at pilothouse versions, as they often have more headroom. I haven't come across any production boats that have the head-room you need, even if you add 10 feet to the length you've mentioned. Perhaps, if you found a metal boat that was close, you might be able to lower your interior deck a bit, and/or add a bit to the coachhouse roof. I've been aboard a few boats that gave me an inch or two clearance, but ended up ducking all the time, anyways. Too close for comfort. Best of luck in your search!

[hummingway]

I've a pilothouse - Cooper 416. It does have a lot of headroom. Same with the Cooper 353. I can still find lots of things to bang my head on though.

[Eleven]

Consider a fighter aircraft blister cockpit, like the Catalina had at each side. On the cabin roof they give a warm dry watch keeping point.
I'm 6ft 3 in a 6ft 1 boat. Cooking is the worsdt chore, gets the back quite soon. Otherwise it's SIT DOWN.
Boom hasn't been a problem except on the rear deck, it's eyebrow height there but it's not a place I go at sea.

[MarkJ]

Next to the Nav station I have 6' 9", more in the galley, going a bit less forward.

So maybe a boat between 30 and 39... but you need air draft above your scone beofre bashing, so maybe you bo need bigger than 35...

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Sounds like Uffa Fox, who may also have said:

"Standing headroom is only useful if you are holding a dance." ...

I think I was quoting, or paraphrasing, Captain Nat’s son, L. Francis Herreshoff.

[SurfnRide]

6'7 here and I'll be moving up to a 30-35 and then a 40-45 for the big voyage.

If you find anything comfy for us big boys please let me know. My forehead is starting to get a cro-magnon slant to hit from smashing my head into things all the time

[David_Old_Jersey]

Some of the heights mention may be a challenge

But thought I would mention that on some boats possible to pinch an inch (or so) from either dropping (or simply removing) the saloon floorboards and / or by redesigning (removing? ) the headlining.

Obviously not without downsides, but could help bridge the difference between tolerable and constant PITA. So, if something is close might be worth investigating a bit further underfoot / overhead.

I mention it mainly because I have the floorboards up and the headlinings down - as a shortarse (in this company ) at around 5' 11" I have an inch to spare most places already (apart from where I don't ) so won't be modifying anything - but the thought occurred to me as possible..........main price being a smaller saloon footprint. and cosmetically above. Probably an older build (me 1970) more amenable to modification.

[dlauginiger]

I have a a Watkins 32/33 which gives me 6'6" of headroom . I am 6'5" it has "no slouching" headroom throughout ... well except in the berths (obviously). This boat is sturdy but it can leak with standing water on deck (like with melting snow). The boat looks like a "Big 32" and is great for one person. The biggest drawback that I can see is a lack of storage (the container store provides my clothing storage).