Contessa 32 headroom?

[Vara]

Well I was sailing the things in the 70s and my average height hasn't changed. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[AntarcticPilot]

In the 60s, it was quite unusual for a cruising yacht to have more than about 5'6" headroom. I am OK at 5'6", but even my Dad at 5'8" usually couldn't stand except under the skylight or in the companionway. Full standing headroom was the exception rather than the rule. Smaller yachts usually didn't even pretend to have standing headroom; the boat we had before the Halcyon 27 (a Trotter by Marine Plastics of Grimsby, about 21') only had sitting headroom.

 

[Evadne]

In the 60's boats were built to sail according to certain spec. and the accommodation was fitted into the resulting hull. More modern boats have the accommodation higher up in the reckoning, which is why they have higher freeboard and are uglier. I don't doubt they sail nearly as well. Just an opinion, feel free to disagree. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jonjo]

My comments were based on a brief 6 months ownership of a Nicholson 38 a few years ago. Even in this large hull there was no standing headroom for a 6 footer or a comfortable long berth. Hence my comment about boats designed for different sized people of the era.

And what was the 1970's obsession with stand-alone wash hand basins in cabins, or seating your whole extended family around the saloon table and cocktail cabinets? One day I expect to chance upon a 1971 copy of yachting Monthly with an advert showing a beehive quaffered sea wife pushing a hostess trolley between the galley and saloon table, with 15 seated beaming faces looking on.

 

[NDG]

I've got a 1972 one and the headroom is a bit limited (I am about 5'10''). You get used to it - 2 of us lived on her cruising for 7 months so it cant be that bad. Never gonna get rid of her....

 

[Slow_boat]

As I've been telling swmbo, all yachts are a compromise of accomodation, speed, seaworthyness and price. Seaworthyness used to to be number one, now accomodation is.

You can't have all four!

 

[Boots]

I'm 6' 2", and I've not had my Contessa for very long, and I've got used to it. Admittedly I have to stoop a little as I go forward, and the heads & forecabin are a bit of a tight squeeze, but I've had boats with larger forecabins, spacious aft cabins etc., and they were great when my sons came out with me with their mates etc.

However, times change, and I wanted a boat that really sailed, and did not keep rounding up when starting to blow.

I just love her!