Internal Headroom

[CanJim]

I'm looking to buy my first (hopefully) only boat and I need something I can stand up in, so headroom of 6' 2" minimum. I'm thinking of a 27' boat, I've tried the C&C and a Mirage but they're a little low by a couple of inches. I don't mind a little longer if that's the only way to gain the height but a 27 seems like an optimal length.

I wondering if anyone knows of a suitable boat(s) for me or alternatively the best way to find the internal dimensions of sailboats.

[olson34]

Being 6'2" myself, this was quite a problem whenever we shopped for a boat.
Very generally, the sailing brochure ad industry likes to describe 6' as "standing headroom" in all print media (and nowadays web media...). Next, this is measured from cabin sole to headliner. If you normally and regularly go below wearing shoes or boots, subtract for sole thickness.

I enjoyed a truly great sailing Niagara 26 for ten years, but got tired of stooping on the inside. I recall it being about 5'10" under the hatch. About 5'8" forward a ways. It was so perfect in every other way that I could forgive it.

For the past 15 years we have an Olson 34 that does actually have (just barely) 6'2" headroom with my shoes on.

When you find a design and model that you like, log in here or at an owner site and ask for a real-world measurement.

You may find that a lot of boats in the 30-ish range that have enough headroom for you sail poorly, including some very popular boats.

It's an interesting and sometimes frustrating contest of compromises.

Keep us posted on what you see and like.

FWIW, one of the few really excellent sailing thirty footers with about 6'2" headroom is the Yamaha 30, but they are rare even on the West coast where most were sold in early 80's.

Happy Shopping!

L

[sailingdog]

Unfortunately, headroom isn't a specification that is given with most older boats. Many newer ones mention it, but finding that kind of information on older ones is tougher.

Most of the <28' LOA boats are not going to be suitable, given your requirements. I'd recommend looking at 30' boats, many of which should suit you well.

If you plan on cruising on the boat, I would say that more important than having sufficient headroom, since you're often sitting when down below, is having a berth that is long enough to allow you to stretch out and sleep in comfort. Even the most enjoyable cruise is easily ruined if you can't get a good night's sleep.

[ccollins0601]

I'm 6'4" and can almost fully stand up in the cabin of my O'Day 27; I'd say it's 6'2 or 6'3. Of course that's just in the very center of the cabin, it's an inch or two shorter everywhere else. I haven't been aboard many other 27-footers but if you look at the O'Day from the exterior compared to say a Catalina 27 you can see that the cabin trunk extrudes higher. This may not mean anything due to differing hull shapes/depths, but it's one possible indicator that can help you when browsing. The O'Day also has a pretty good reputation for performance for a coastal cruiser of its era (see Sailing Magazine | O’Day 27).

SD is right about the importance of berth length and interior volume, I've slept in the v-berth but it feels cramped (or maybe just claustrophobic?); however the converted salon extends to a port quarterberth and is far more comfortable. I've never stayed over with more than one other person but it would get crowded very quickly.

If you plan extended cruising, even solo, look at 30+ feet or you'll end up with the oft-cited three-foot-itis pretty soon. If just daysailing and weekends 27 is a great size - small enough to keep simple & inexpensive but big enough to handle a chop without too much discomfort.

[deniseO30]

My 6'2" son did ok in my Oday 30 main saloon.

[tomwatt]

The couple of Hunter 30's I've been on/in had a lot of space interior, and plenty of headroom. I'm 5'11" so I can't swear it would suit for you... but I had plenty of clearance.

[SEMIJim]

Our Pearson P30 has reasonable headroom, but I don't think it's 6'4". I'm 6'4" and can almost stand up straight in the middle of the cabin. More importantly, to me, is that I can sleep full-length on either the port main salon berth or in the v-berth.

ISTR the Sabre 28s we looked at as having reasonable headroom.

Jim

[DwayneSpeer]

Bunk space; an absolute minimum requirement. Head room; a requirement, in my opinion, at the galley and nav station but not further forward. I have to start stooping as I go forward at about the mast and by the time I get to the vee berth I've grown about three inches shorter. I've gotten used to it so it's not a problem. I did, however bang my head numerous times on the doorway leading into the vee berth when we first bought the boat.

[eMKay]

I'm 5'11. I can stand up in my Hunter 27, an O'day 27 (barely), Ericson 27, Catalina 27, Catalina 28, Precision 27/28, Pearson 27,28. I cannot stand up in US Yachts 27, C&C 27. None of those boats can someone 6'2" stand up in unless they are standing in the bilge. something 30' or larger should have enough headroom.

The roomiest boat I listed is a Catalina 28 followed by my Hunter 27, the Ericson is also quite roomy while the O'day and Catalina 27 are cramped in comparison. The Precisions and Pearsons are a different design, aft heads, kinda cramped.

[swiftibis]

I'm 6'1" and I can stand almost everywhere in my 1984 Hunter 31 except for the compression post ribs which I always hit my head on.