Tall Person's Liveaboard Sailboat?

[ccwoodhead]

Recommendations for cruisable liveaboard sailboat for 6'4", or taller human (not just salon, but most of living area).

Tired of whacking my brain on doorways, handholds, etc. Seems as if we need better than 48'. Looking at used Tayana, Island Packet, Passport, Hylas.

Please no guesses on this thread. Would like to hear from 6'4" folks or better, or shipmates that have observed height challenged liveaboard sailors.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Braindamaged

[ASIMPLELIFE]

I have a Gulfstar 47 Sailmaster. 6.5 throughout

[Cuttyhunk]

We have a 36' EndeavourCat. My 6'8" shipmate touches his head a little in the main salon, but it's padded. Well over 7' in the hulls and a little over 6'8" in the cockpit under the bimini. He does have to duck a little under the arch, but you would not.

The need for adequate headroom drove our decision on this boat. We are really happy with the boat overall after two years. It satisfies my needs in a sailboat (I have lived aboard in the past and am the sailor in this partnership) and his headroom needs. Looking forward to living aboard full time post-retirement.

[Winf]

No sure if you already are living aboard or are searching.

I am pretty new at this live aboard game and this is our first boat. At 6'5", I was initially obsessed with buying a boat with full headroom. When we were looking, it was hard to get anything under 40' to achieve that and boats that size were beyond or would stretch our budget to buy and then more importantly maintain.

I did some reading on this forum and elsewhere and what we ended up with was a 36' Southcoast. But that is not the point.

I don't have full headroom, probably 6"4 at best, but to be honest, this is not really a problem. Most of the time when down below I am sitting. If we are underway I am not usually down below but if I am, I am not standing bolt upright either so that helps. Sure I bump from time to time but that gets less the more attuned I become to the boat.

I suppose what I am saying is that for me now, there are more important factors than just headrom and that was the advice I gleaned from my research. Headroom is a factor sure, but shouldn't in my opinion be the factor in a purchase decision.

Just my 2c worth.

Winf

[meeki007]

I'm over 6 foot 3 inches and I'm happy in the Santana 35.

It's about 6,3 inside where it counts. The head is about 5,10 but with the foward hatch up I get to look around while taking a leek.

I'd say you don't need it taller than your height but rather that you only.need to hunch a bit.

If your having to bend over so much that your starting to do a squat while walking around that's when yo start banging your noggin.

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[avb3]

I'm 6'4.5".

I find my Lippincott 30 works in the areas it has to. They only built about 100, but most are well founded. I would buy it again.

[sugarbird]

Our Hunter 450 Passage has 6'10" headroom throughout but the bulkhead passageways might get ya.

[Cuttyhunk]

Another thing we think is as important is having a good bunk that his feet can hang off of. At 6'8", he's not expecting to find a long enough bunk. He hangs off all beds, really. But bunks that have walls on both ends are very uncomfortable for him. Even a 7' bunk is not really enough; you need some room for the pillow.


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[snort]

Fantasia 35: Boat Review | Cruising World

[Group9]

I'm 6'3" with a Catalina 42. And, I can stand up straight pretty much everywhere there is standing headroom for anybody. I haven't measure it, but I would think the main salon has 6'8" or so of headroom.

[Paul Mazza]

If you're looking for a budget boat, you might consider a Columbia 34 Mk II or Columbia 43. Both are William Tripp Jr. flush deck designs. While not designed as cruising boats both have cruised extensively. Both can usually be found pretty cheap and can be beefed up to cruise. The headroom in the 34 is 7' and the 43 a 6'6". I'm not sure what the headroom is in the 43's head. It might be less than 6'4". Good luck.

[tallboy]

All over standing headroom on a live aboard is essential, you won't crawl at your home either - do you? Look for tall designers, most of their designs have sufficient standing headroom as they have bunks which fit to a tall guy. I am 6'4" too meaning the no of suitable boats is limited. Beside the ones named here already have a look on Cheoy Lee, Formosa, Hardin, Islander, Maple Leaf, Morgan, Nautical Development, Pan Oceanic, Robert Perry, Seafarer, Ta Chiao, Tartan to name only the once built in decent amount. I don't know if you wanna go cruising but these are all great cruising boats.

[TheWingman]

I am 6'3" and we looked at most of the boats at the Annapolis show before buying a new Bavaria Vision 46. The Germans have great headroom, you will be able to stand in all parts of the boat including the shower (most had me crouching). You will also be able to buy a new boat rather than a used version of the ones you are looking at. The boat is a Farr design, it sails great, and has lots of great features for living comfortably aboard. Good luck.

[tallboy]

New boats needs to prove their capabilities first. I agree with Wingman about German designs and would like to add Dutch and Scandinavian boats to the list of suitable boats because all these guys are taller than the average American.

[Madehn]

Gulfstar 47's have great headroom throughout- i have a gulfstar 51 which is a 47 with a 4 foot extension grafted on by the factory-- headroom is outstanding throughout the boat