tall stories in short supply

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by 2020, Aug 2, 2007.

  1. 2020
    Joined: Aug 2006
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    Location: australia

    2020 Junior Member

    A question of height & ergonomic standards. At 195cm (6’5”ish) tall and with many kin around 2metres I ask any taller members here if you might suggest designers familiar with designing boats that suit. All production boats on the market consider 6’4” head room to be a “cathedral ceiling”. That is accepted and the decision to build a custom blue water liveaboard has been taken. I’ve been through a few designers who just don’t ‘get it’. It seems an impossible task for them to understand Bunk length, head room, hatch widths, counter & seat/bench heights all need to integrated into design not just ‘extended’, even the acknowledgement that our feet need to planted wider than little people to attain a manageable centre of gravity seems perplexing to them. The paradigm of a pygmy ergonomic average seems all pervasive.
    Anyone with similar experiences with advice to offer?
     
  2. alan white
    Joined: Mar 2007
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    alan white Senior Member

    What? Preference for job opportunities, longer lives, and better views at parades not good enough for you? Now you top-heavy, lantern-jawed sway-necks want to horn in on the ONE clear advantage we little people have in the world, that is, once shoved so ignominiously off of the very edge of the green Earth by an uncaring height-worshipping people and into the cold sea, where we have over eons adapted our ONE advantage, i.e., the ability to scramble to and fro upon monkey-like, or to otherwise find purchase upon, including convenient hidey-holes within, and generally master, for the lack of a better term, the close and limited quarters thereof, that you should now, in your thirst and greed of even more than that which God has already and to excessive degree seen fit to reward you, covet for your own,
    Well, it's really just too much.


    alan
     
  3. alan white
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    alan white Senior Member

    Sorry---- one coffee for me is like ten for you.
     
  4. 2020
    Joined: Aug 2006
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    2020 Junior Member

    alan, the affectionate yapping I hear from around my knees reminds me of an expression once proffered by a tall skipper and friend, " there's nothing wrong with short people, they make great crew ".
     
  5. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    2020,--Welcome to the forum--Have you considered partial amputation? I appreciate the expense but what with shorter phisique you would have a whole new world opened up to you.

    You would be able to buy off the peg suits, beds, drive little cars, any boat you wanted and if your reall good you would only need to pay half fare on the buses.

    You would not have to have your head covered in elastoplast from low flying aircraft.

    You would benefit on shoes too as you would have little wooden stump things that would'nt wear so quick,--and able to buy golf clubs that touch the ground.

    This relatively small operation that can be done in the doctors surgery these days would be much easier than building a new boat.

    If you do decide to go for this operation dont forget to take a pair of scissors with you, you will look strange walking home with 2 feet of trouser leg rolled up.

    Its worth considering.

    Me? --no! --I have'nt had coffee yet.
     
  6. 2020
    Joined: Aug 2006
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    2020 Junior Member

    deadset Frosty, you might well be on to something. Unfortunately the partial amputation would also cost me the ability to look deeply into the cleavage of ladies who dress looking into the mirror and not ever contemplate what might be seen from above. As I gaze across the balding crowns of the designer community, it seems alas not one head stands above the crowd.
    Cheap shots from short people are, like most short people, quite cute - but still don't solve the problem.
     
  7. longliner45
    Joined: Dec 2005
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    longliner45 Senior Member

    2020 welcome to the forum,,at 5ft8,I can strech out and yawn in my boat,,,,,,life is good,,,,,,longliner
     
  8. 2020
    Joined: Aug 2006
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    2020 Junior Member

    thanks for the welcome guys. I'm off to check out the sydney international boat and tupperware party. I'll check back a little later. cheers
     
  9. alan white
    Joined: Mar 2007
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    alan white Senior Member

    When I climbed up to the computor and read your response, I had to laugh. Of course they make great crew! Ever see tall people sailing alone? Not likely! I went out today with two-foot extensions on my arms and legs and tried to sail. I fell overboard just trying to keep the tiller centered! Then I popped a beer and tried to drink it but all I succeeded in doing was pouring it down my back. After an hour of misery, I finally hailed some regular short sailors and they unbent me and set me down on a box next at my regular station under the tiller.
    My suggestion is you find a new hobby, maybe train-spotting or as a circus freak.
    And by the way, cleavage is nothing compared to what's down here for views, my friend.
     
    1 person likes this.
  10. raw
    Joined: Jul 2006
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    raw Senior Member

    I worked for a company some time ago, where we had a client who was pretty close to 7' tall. I had a lot of dealing with him, and watching him crawl around his newly bought 36 footer it was obvious he was always going to have trouble fitting through the boat.

    I guess that what you need to do is come up with a defined set of min/max dimensions to work to. If you need a 2.1m long bed for example, then specify it. It should be as easy as specifying any of your other requirements.

    It sounds like you are looking for someone to take on a challenge. If this is the case, then pm me for a chat. Also Aus based.
     
  11. timgoz
    Joined: Jul 2006
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    timgoz Senior Member

    2020,

    I'm only 6'3" but had an interesting encounter with a yacht broker about headroom.

    There was a boat in New Orleans I was interested in. The broker said the owner was 6'9" and could stand up below.

    Yeah right! After a close to 1000 mile trip I found he meant with his dam head sticking out the open galley hatch. There was not even 5'10" of headroom. He misrepresented just about everything else also.

    If any of you tall folks are planning to go any distance to check out potentail boats, make it clear to the owner/ broker that it BETTER have the stated headroom.

    Tim
     
  12. Bergalia
    Joined: Aug 2005
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    Bergalia Senior Member

    True but just imagine the view small people have - looking up......:)
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2015
  13. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    It looks as though you have a good grasp on the situation Berg. However if you were looking through the lens and took that you must be about 3 foot 6.

    We are definately seeing eye to eye on the problem. Perhaps you could explain the fly or insect thing on her bottom? or is that what we are looking at? Or thats what she wants us to look at.----it is a she is'nt it?
     
  14. alan white
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    alan white Senior Member

    Also, cleavage-peeping is never forgiven if the looker is tall. But when she leans down real low to say,"How can I help you, little man?", why it's natuarally understood you should bow deeply as well, and mumble some reply.
    "Mmumph-mmm-umph, Ma'am!"
    It's utterly charming, I assure you.
     

  15. Poida
    Joined: Apr 2006
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    Poida Senior Member

    I have looked over a reconstruction from original plans of a sailing ship that was used early in the settlement of Ozz.

    The ship had very little headroom and was obviously built for short people.

    It would appear that traditionally boating is for short people and tall people have absolutely no right being on boats.

    I had a work mate who went to England and viewed the knights armour and he made a comment that they were quite short.

    There is a belief that tall people have come from meat that has been contaminated with growth hormones to grow stock faster.

    Being tall is therefore not natural and tall people don't belong in the natural environment of boating.

    Take up basketball, a sport designed for people like you.

    Poida
     
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