<div id='ygrps-yiv-1687720055'>A traditional design which uses a lifting cabin top are the Norfolk Broads sailboats in the UK which were/are built for hiring out.Because the Broads and associated river systems are generally shallow and the boats can turn on the proverbial sixpence(dime?)there isn&#39;t much scope for headroom in the cabin when sailing and the pop-top provides this.I was there last year on a 17ft Lysander(bilge keeled trailer sailer) and although a Lysander is pretty nimble it isn&#39;t nearly as agile as the traditional boats.Since the river traffic is clogged up with motorboats as well agility is definitely desireable.The boats are gaff rigged with easily droppable masts to cope with the low bridges,I&#39;m thinking of using the pop top idea for the sleeping quarters on a Dutch barge so that it retains something of it&#39;s traditional working look - since it only draws 20&quot; I&#39;ve only got about 3&#39;6&quot; headroom there.<br>cheers<br>Andy Airey</div>

Re:Cabin designs