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Too tall for a narrowboat?
Wednesday,25 July, 2012
9:23 pm
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Friday,2 March, 2012
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Hi folks,

Might be an odd question but am I too tall for a narrowboat? I am 6ft 2 and most adverts say the boats have cabin height of 6ft 3, I don't mind ducking to get through doors, but don't want a permanent stoop icon smile Forum Any other tall folks on the forum that can help?

Regards,
Paul

Wednesday,25 July, 2012
10:00 pm
Southam, Warwickshire
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Friday,19 February, 2010
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Hi Paul. Welcome to the forum.

I wouldn't worry about the cabin height too much. You won't end up with a permanent stoop because you don't spend all of your time pacing up and down the boat. I don't know the height of my cabin and I can't find a tape measure at the moment but 6'3" looks about right. I'm 5'10" and the cabin roof looks as though it's five or six inches above my head.

If I were you, my focus would be on the length of the bed rather than the cabin roof. I have a fixed double in the main bedroom. At one end it's hard up against the bulkhead between the bedroom and the engine room. At the other end, half of the bed is hard up to a wardrobe. The side that I sleep on though is clear of the wardrobe so I can hang my feet over the end of the 6' long bed if I want to. At 6'2" tall you're going to have to make sure that the bed on your boat allows you room to lay down comfortably.

Are you thinking about living on a narrowboat? Find out the REAL cost of a life afloat
Saturday,28 July, 2012
8:57 pm
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Thanks for the reply. I thunk the best thing to do is go and have a look at some in my closest marina which sells them and get a feel for myself. Now I have to decide whether to go for a narrowboat or wide beam.

Sunday,29 July, 2012
5:46 am
Southam, Warwickshire
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doconline said
Thanks for the reply. I thunk the best thing to do is go and have a look at some in my closest marina which sells them and get a feel for myself. Now I have to decide whether to go for a narrowboat or wide beam.

Possibly the most important consideration when deciding which to go for is  how much of the canal network you want to cruise. If you buy a wide beam you won't be able to use any of the "narrow" canals (this refers to the width of the locks on the canals rather than the width of the canal itself. A narrow canal will have locks 7' wide which will only allow the passage of a narrowboat). Have a look at Jim Shead's canal map to determine how much of the network you would miss out with a wide beam.

Are you thinking about living on a narrowboat? Find out the REAL cost of a life afloat
Monday,15 October, 2012
9:18 pm
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Friday,11 March, 2011
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Hi Paul,

As luck would have it I'm 6' 2" and live on a narrowboat.  I viewed loads of narrowboats throughout last year before buying and I have to say that very few of them were a problem height-wise, needing no stooping whatsoever.

If you do go for a narrow beam I'd advise against a cross-bed.  Whilst the external measurement may be 6' 10" you've then got to take off the thickness of insulation and cladding, plus you don't want to be constantly banging your head on the gunwale every time you turn over.

Think seriously about the choice of narrow or wide beam.  Are you going to be moving around or fairly static?  I'd love the internal space a wide beam affords but even on some wide canals I don't think I'd fancy handling one around some of the corners that have a bridge across, as so often this is where bridges are placed.  They're a bit limiting through tunnels too in that you need to arrange for nothing else to be oncoming!  I may well have a wide beam or Dutch Barge when I hang up my sailing cap and want to stay permanently in a marina.  Having said that perhaps I'm just a wimp! There are people who move them around all the time.  It depends largely on your experience – try both by hiring.

Best of luck.

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