Sleeping berth length

[skinsail]

Hello!
I am in the market for a cruising sailboat, between 20-30 ft LOA. Having crewed for many freinds over the years, I am aware that most of the sleeping berths do not accomodate someone who is my height (6'3"). Can anyone give me some guidance on where to find dimensions of the berth lengths of the vessels I might conside buying? Or recommend vessels that I might find suitable?

Many thanks!

[freshsail]

I don't know what it is with sailboat designers, but the vast majority of them were not over 6'...........

I'm 6'5" and when searching for boats I had not had the opportunity to visit, I resorted to posting inquiries on the maker's forums. Often an owner would know or would even go take a measurement for me. There's several maker's out there but finding one with your particular set of size and sailing requirements can be a challenge.

[sailingdog]

Part of the issue is that people have been getting taller on average, and on older boats, when the average height was less, the berths and headroom are much shorter.

Not many specifications post the length of the berths, but IMHO, having a berth you can sleep in comfortably is more important than having standing headroom.

[degreeoff]

Well My Catalina 30 has 6'3".....

[DwayneSpeer]

I agree with the Dog. My boat has a very roomy master berth and I can only stand up straight below decks as far forward as mid cabin. After that I'm bending over a bit and until I got used to it I hit my head many times on the passage way frame forward of the main cabin and just prior to the head and the vee berth. But I wouldn't trade her for anything cause she is beautiful and I sleep well.

[sailingdog]

Dwayne's just afraid to admit he's a knuckle dragger aboard his own boat.

I hope you wear a hat Dwayne, since that will help pad any impacts to the noggin.

Originally Posted by DwayneSpeer

I agree with the Dog. My boat has a very roomy master berth and I can only stand up straight below decks as far forward as mid cabin. After that I'm bending over a bit and until I got used to it I hit my head many times on the passage way frame forward of the main cabin and just prior to the head and the vee berth. But I wouldn't trade her for anything cause she is beautiful and I sleep well.

[tager]

The key is to get really seasick and curl up in a ball on the floor just above the bilge. This is the best position for really big people.

[meuritt]

We are both 6' and over and gave up on smaller boats. With a boat 37', we can stand up everywhere, but still have to sleep separate berths.

In the book from the old Rudder magazine, "A Treasury of Rudder" the author of one article tells home builders to always make berths 6'6" so accommodate the crew member and their gear. He also said it would improve the boat's resale value. I wish more builders took that advice.

[celenoglu]

Make sure you add the length of your foot to your height, because when you are lying down your feet are not vertical to your body. Although the feet will lie with some degrees to your body, you will need the difference to be comfortable not touching both ends of the berth.