I'm 6'2". I want to live on a yacht that can cross oceans. Am I dreaming?

[TallGuy]

I searched these forums for a while, but I couldn't find a "Boats for Tall People" thread. Am I wrong in assuming that anything with adequate headroom for me is going to require two or more people to sail? Almost all the boats I've been on have been coastal cruising types, so I don't know much about bluewater-capable craft. I know that I could find a boat that I could sail up and down the coast; I see headroom mentioned occasionally in ads, so I know that such boats exist, and I'm not that tall.

If 30 feet is the ideal length for liveaboard solo sailing, then there must be some boats that tall guys can live in, and at least some of those must be robust enough to consider taking across an ocean. Which ones are they? Is it really impossible to sail, say, a 36 footer by yourself? Most of the boats I've read about that mention ample headroom are on the larger side.

So, is there a boat in particular that I should be looking for? Or should I just cultivate a slouch? Perhaps I should try to marry someone who also wants to sail across the Pacific? Advice, please.

[CharlieCobra]

My old boat is 40' LOA and I sail it single handed just fine. I'm also 6-4.

[roline]

Yes you are currently dreaming, but your dreams can be realized.
GO to a couple boat shows and crawl through all the boats, lay down in the berths, check out the heads............. For the very serious, Caliber and Island Packets have nice features but I kinda liked the Morgan Catalina 44, even had washer dryer and work shop. But just like our attraction to the opposite sex, we each have / find a unique attraction to different boats.

[Boatgearguy]

I'm also 6'4" & the best boat I've found for safety at sea, room below deck & value is the Westsail 32, a proven Colin Archer design if you like the traditional style.

[WanderingStar]

I'm 6'5", and I sail. All boats are compromise. My ketch has about 6'4" headroom, at 39' on deck. I singlehand her more often than not. Winches help, a divided rig (smaller sails) helps. Practice and thinking ahead helps most of all. I still need a taller boat, but I doubt that will happen.

[casioqv]

I'm also 6'2, and I have full standing height in a pop-top Catalina 25 fixed keel with the top up. My Catalina 22 swing keel doesn't have full standing height, but I think it will be fairly simple for me to modify the top with telescoping poles so that it does.

You shouldn't use the pop-top when sailing in anything but light air, but I don't find the desire to stand fully upright in the cabin while sailing in rough seas either.

I guess this is sort-of irrelevant in the context of liveaboards that can sail around the world...

[Valiente]

I'm just short of six-one, and the only place I have to watch it in my 33 footer is the head.

Gentlemen sit, anyway!

Our new boat has seven feet of headroom in the saloon...I think my wife wants to put in shelving!

[Volkhard]

Tallguy:
I don't know about 30' being the ideal length for Solo liveaboard but I think that's a personal choice. I can only speak from my experience on my Island Packet 37 who serves me very well. I am 6'2" as well and people were laughing at me, when (on boat shows) after examining the cockpit and deck layout, my first look was in the head. I don't like to shower bend over or sitting down showering and that did eliminate quite some boats for me.

In regard to blue water cruising IMHO up to a certain size bigger is actually better and will give you (everything else the same) a more seaworthy and more sea-kindly boat. When I stepped up from a nice 30ft Hunter (bought strictly for coastal cruising) to my IP 37 I couldn't believe the huge difference. 15 to 20kts winds are now pure fun and have not been before.

I am contemplating to take my IP across oceans in 2 years when I retire, unless I exchange her bevore for a moderate size catamaran I am thinking about as well.

While I would like to sail with crew/companion I am setting everything up to be able to single-hand. I haven't crossed oceans yet but cruising Tampa Bay to Key West direct or being offshore about 150 miles in the Atlantic when I sailed from Florida to the Chesapeake this summer have been pure bliss.

I am sure you will find a good boat that fits you well both in size, style and handling. There are many folks out there single-handling moderate boats (35' to 40') and I have heart about a guy who does it on a 46' boat. I think it's about your personal comfort-zone, your skills and your expectations. I sail my IP 37 almost every weekend, and most the time solo or with non-sailing friends (much harder the singlehanding ).
I have a lot of fun solo on my 37' boat but I guess I would be a bit uncomfortable on something much larger than 40'.

I don't know where you live, but should it be somewhere close to Annapolis, please by any means join me one day and observe on a "singlehanded" day sail.

Good luck!

[DrB]

and I fit easily in my Pearson 10M, although the the brochure as 6' 1-1/2". I can't go much further than mid salon without ducking a little. The v-berth is a little tight, but I fit in all the berths.

I wouldn't take it across the ocean, but it can easily handle some bluewater conditions.

It's easy to singlehand.

DrB

[Omatako]

So you can see, a lot of short folks like you go sailing. I am 6'5"