How critical is 4 inches?

[ScubaNinjaB]

I hope this is the right place to post this question. I am about to buy my new home/liveaboard. The issue is I'm 6'4" tall and found a boat I really could love, but the head room is only 6' below deck. My bunk is 6'3" and could be modified easily enough for an extra couple inches so no worries there. My plan is to be onboard full time and start cruising the Caribbean and eventually Circumnavigate.
I've never lived aboard before, but I'm easy going and usually change to fit my surroundings without a lot of creature comforts now. How important is having comfortable head room below deck? I've searched the forum and found a post about smaller boats that gave me some in sight, but didn't really address this question.
Any opinions out there?

[Sea Dreaming]

I think you are just going th have to get on a few boats and try it out.

When you are in the cabin you are mostly sitting. But, if you are cooking your own meals, can you imagine standing with your head bent for a long time? What about dressing?

My bf is 6 feet, not big, but even he would feel cramped with just 3 extra inches of length in a berth. You say you can add length to the berth, but can you add enough? Dont forget, your body will stretch when lying down and your feel wont be in the same position as when walking.

My feeling is that you might be ok with the head room, but the berth will need at least 8 inches added, you might run into trouble there.

[ScubaNinjaB]

Thanks for the reply, I could add upto 12" to the berth, but would require a little minor renovation. Easy enough that if its a problem I would. Getting dressed wouldn't be an issue, and my girlfriend is the chefso I don't do more than just snacks or a quick breakfast. Btw she's 5' 3" so no worries there.

[Greg H]

I am 6'4" also and am glad I have the headroom in the boat to stand up straight. That includes the salon, galley, cabin, and shower. I don't live aboard but have been on the boat for months at a time. The lack of headroom would have been a deal breaker in the purchase of the boat with the exception of a day cruiser and an occasional overnight stay. My two cents worth.

[Stumble]

As a live aboard I simply wouldn't accept it. Toughing it out while racing or for a weekend sure, but not as a home.

[mynameismud]

The difference between ohh and ahhh.... :briggin: really tho id get boat with headroom where you can stand up in it you would not like being hunched over all the time. And I'm a short guy and I do not want to be hunched over like I was in my Aquarius.

[maxingout]

I would go for stand up headroom in a monohull. It will get very old stooping over, and you don't want to thump you head when offshore.

[Hearts Content]

From someone that got a boat where I could not stand everywhere. I didn't repeat the mistake on my next boat. A short bunk doesn't work either.

At least for me.

[bletso]

Depends on how much of masochist you are. Are you into death by a thousand bumps, contusions and cuts of course all to the head.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, B.

[denverd0n]

I think that 4" too short to stand up straight would be worse than a foot and a half too short. You are going to be constantly hitting your head, and you're going to have a horrible crick in your neck from trying to stand up, almost, but just bending down that little bit.

No way would I ever buy another boat (I had one, once)--other than for daysailing and maybe the occasional weekend--that I could not comfortably stand up straight in. Been there, done that, AIN'T GOIN' BACK!

[jjt5795]

I am 6'3" and have lived on 2 boat, the first wiyh slightly over 6' head room and the other 6'6" +. I mush prefer the second.

[jrbogie]

i live aboard my lancer 36 about half the time and my home on the river the rest. i'm 6'3" and the only place i can stand fully erect in the boat is under one of the deck hatches. assuming it's open that is. going to sell the home and live on the lancer full time for awhile to see if those few inches really matter before moving up to a bigger boat but my guess is it'll do just fine as it is.

[Tortuga's Lie]

There are tons of boats out there with adequate headroom, why compromise?

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by ScubaNinjaB

I hope this is the right place to post this question. I am about to buy my new home/liveaboard. The issue is I'm 6'4" tall and found a boat I really could love, but the head room is only 6' below deck. My bunk is 6'3" and could be modified easily enough for an extra couple inches so no worries there. My plan is to be onboard full time and start cruising the Caribbean and eventually Circumnavigate.
I've never lived aboard before, but I'm easy going and usually change to fit my surroundings without a lot of creature comforts now. How important is having comfortable head room below deck? I've searched the forum and found a post about smaller boats that gave me some in sight, but didn't really address this question.
Any opinions out there?

Find a boat with good head room for you or buy a helmet. You will be very uncomfortable with only 6' of head room. If you were talking a vacation and weekender 6' would be fine not a live aboard. Best of luck.