How do people deal with no headroom?

I had a boat (Hurley 19) which only had enough room to sit up under the coachrooof, but that entailed sitting unsupported - if you wanted to lean back on something, then there was not enough head room under the side deck, so there was nowhere at all comfortable to sit. Wouldn't reccommend it.

For me at 6'2, a boat would have to be a bit boxy, or very long for me to be able to stand up comfortably aong the entire length, and have nothing to bang my head on.
 
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Headroom never crossed my mind until recently when most of my sailing started to take place in winter-including many nights on board. Now, after 30 years of owning bgoats less than 22 feet, I have headroom and a heater.
 
4 KTSB?

Ubergeekian said:
Just like this, then?

5600f647d64e9fe87403588b62cd3097_m.jpg
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As the OP mentioned he was considering a GK24 I'd assumed he had discounted the various family cruisers such as the Leisure 23, various Westerlies, etc. A while back I read about a Hunter Ranger 245 which had ordered in 'racing spec' and was being actively raced so maybe that would be the way forward?
 
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I was in the same position settled for a GK in the end, but others I considered was the Eyghtene 24, similar performance to the GK but with more of a cabin.
 
If you have a boat this short you're not going to have a great deal of floor (oh alright, cabin sole) to pace around in anyway. Mine is fully carpeted simply by laying a doormat on it. Even if you added a foot to my headroom all over, I still couldn't stand up much further forward than I can now, because I'd have to step up onto the bunk moulding.

I have slightly more headroom than most here, since I can stand under the hatch even with it closed. That area of standing space is valuable to me, but I guess most of the time head-out into a sprayhood and cockpit tent would be just as good.

You can't stand up in a tent either, but plenty of people go camping.

Pete
 
I would not want a boat for serious cruising that I couldn't stand up in.

To be stuck in some remote anchorage for several days with continuous rain and being unable to stand up seems a pretty horrendous prospect to me. And it isn't just standing up to stretch your legs that matters, what about cooking or having a wash? Much easier to do these things when standing up.

Unless looks are unimportant to you I can't see how you would get standing headroom in a boat of less than around 27 feet loa.
 
parsifal said:
To be stuck in some remote anchorage for several days with continuous rain and being unable to stand up seems a pretty horrendous prospect to me.
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Sprayhood and cockpit tent. In this size of boat most of the floor area will be under the sliding hatch anyway.

parsifal said:
Unless looks are unimportant to you I can't see how you would get standing headroom in a boat of less than around 27 feet loa.
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KS was bought almost entirely on the basis of looks, and is 24' with a counter stern and aft deck that make her seem even smaller for accommodation purposes. The coachroof slopes down slightly as it goes forwards; I'm 5'10" and can stand up in the aftermost 3 feet or so. Forward of that is all berths / seats, so you'd want to be sitting anyway.

Now I come to think of it, the coachroof shape is quite clever. A PBO review described it as "multi-chined", as it has an angled section between the vertical sides and the flat top which gives height without looking slab-sided. It's also quite narrow (wide side decks) and the top is narrower still due to the angled bits. So there's only full headroom in the middle 2 feet, but that's also the only place you could stand anyway. The coachroof is also short, stopping about a foot aft of the mast.

I also think my hull is deeper than many, as there's no separate keel as such. So you stand lower in the water than something with a flattish bottom and fin or bilge keels.

Pete
 
About time I put in a plug for the Westerly Tiger; a fast cruiser@ 25ft and headroom throughout like the Pageant (and the Centaur and most of the Westerly range). The Tiger has a fin keel however with 1.3mtr draught ;good underwater shapes to hull and keel.
She will outsail many boats of longer waterline and is a stable platform for a family crew. Add a cruising chute or spinnaker and you can have your downwind sailing performance enhanced.
A 150% genny doesn't help pointing, better the 120 or a blade type foresail. Comfortable bunks below for four and plenty of stowage,8'-9" beam she's
built strongly, everywhere.
A good handicapper for racing, and one I know of crossed the Atlantic singlehanded.
Not racy looking but a wolf in caravan guise!
There are several advertised and most around the £6-8K so affordable too.

ianat182
 
I'm with Parsifal on this but it depends what sort of sailing you want to do.

Day sails either solo or 2 up with occasional overnight stops headroom is not an issue. A few weeks away even on your own can be claustrophobic.

I would second the idea of a sprayhood over the hatch and a cockpit canopy. The full 'tent' on my 25 footer almost doubled the accommodation.

Those of us who are vertically challenged have less of a problem!
 
I manage just fine in the Seawolf. I'm 5ft9 and the boat is probably just under 5ft 8 and she's 26ft long. Our galley is just under the mast base on the port side and the mast base is supported by a wooden post so i just wedge myself between the two. Perfect when it's a little wobbly!
 
VicS said:
You learn to do most things sitting (or kneeling) down, or standing with your head out of the hatch.
Getting trousers on is difficult if you cannot stand.
Peeing when unable to stand is a very unsatisfactory experience but the alfresco loo is always available.
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VicS describes my experience to a T.. how often do you need to actually stand up while down below? I spend a lot of time sitting, and when I feel the need I leave the hatch open and stand there (and with the washboards in that takes care of the peeing issue as I use a bucket and chuckit "sanitary system"!)
 
parsifal said:
I would not want a boat for serious cruising that I couldn't stand up in.

To be stuck in some remote anchorage for several days with continuous rain and being unable to stand up seems a pretty horrendous prospect to me. And it isn't just standing up to stretch your legs that matters, what about cooking or having a wash? Much easier to do these things when standing up.

Unless looks are unimportant to you I can't see how you would get standing headroom in a boat of less than around 27 feet loa.
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I agree.
As / Nathan it is probably an age related problem for many of us and even stooping for a long time can be uncomfortable for me.
In most 27'+ yachts you will begin to get some height but even so there are some 32footers that can be a problem.
In the heads with full kit on in a rolling sea can be problematic for tall large people, yet others may see this as a safety blessing where you'r not going to get thrown around in a chop if you are a tight fit.
If you really do need the space then bigger than 23' may be the only way to go.
Have you considered a Twister or are funds a bit too tight?



http://sailingscotty.wordpress.com/
 
An Eygthene 24 sails very well indeed and is amazingly spacious down below (I would say that wouldn't I). Standing in the companionway makes dressing, washing, food prep., washing up, peeing in the bucket etc., all quite comfortable. At 5'9" I do need to bow my head to go forward.

We have cruised along the south coast of Devon and Cornwall, across to Channel Isles and Brittany and spend a couple of weeks most summers in the Isles of Scilly. Backache does become a problem after a while and at 72 we have now moved up to a 30ft Jeanneau for more space and comfort.
 
I do all my sailing in the cock pit, where I can stand :) but I did live for almost a year on my Contessa 26, I was able to stand right by the door, but that was it. I did my cooking and washing up sitting, and my sleeping lying down. The biggest problem is pulling my trousers up, in the heads or the saloon.
If being in a boat that you cant stand up in, also means being able to get out sailing, then hey, its worth it!
 
Thanks for all the replies - loads of good useful information. Funds are about £10k, give or take if the right boat comes along. The Evolution 25 looks very good - I'll have to find out a little more about lifting keels. Lots of other boats on the thread for me think about!
 
With a 10k budget you can definately look a bit bigger than 23ft if you so wish.

As always, remember not to get stuck on a particular make or model. This isn't like buying a car. Be honest about your requirements and take note of what sorts of boats other people in your area are using. Don't buy a 'project' thinking it will save you money either!
 
Itchen Ferry 22 has 6' headroom. I have the 25' which is basically the same layout with a bigger cockpit. Dont expect sparkling performance on the wind (full keel) but as someone said it's all a compromise.
As far as looking like a shed..I think she's very pretty as sheds go :)
 
I am a short-ass at 5'8''.

We have a Trapper TS240 which is a compact 24 foot trailable lift keeler.

Headroom is adequate after initial learning curve and bumps....

Much more comfortable at pull out galley when spray hood up and hatch open.

Plenty of room with cockpit tent extension in place.

We have a sea toilet but I defy anyone to use it standing up succesfully!

Good compromise and sparkling performer as based on the successfull 1/4 tonner design Starflash.

Some now on the market well within your budget. Also Trapper 250 which was a fixed keeled version though very rare.
 
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