Overlay head with storage.

[In Training]

Years ago I remember seeing pictures where someone changed a sailboat head to storage. Left sink and toilet in tact, overlaid with removable storage shelving. We now have our 49 ft bavaria sailboat. 3 heads and a separate shower room. Just hubby and I, do not use 3 heads and would like to convert the one bathroom to storage without wrecking what is there. Of course, now I cannot find the old post showing someone doing just that. Probably was 5 or 6 years ago. Anyone else ever heard of anyone doing this?

[nuku34]

Converting an unused head (not "bathroom") to storage is done all the time.
Just design your storage components (shelves, lockers, etc) to fit the space and figure out how you will attach them to the existing structure in such a way that they can be removed in the event you want to use that space as a head again.
The components can be made to any degree of quality you want, from funky unpainted cheap "house quality" plywood to very nicely painted marine ply with solid wood trim, or use ready made plastic components used in house storage spaces.

[JPA Cate]

One approach i've seen is to use canvas for the shelves, with bolt ropes sewn on the fore and aft edges. Then you install the bolt rope track, and slide the "shelves" in. The one I saw was used for towels, linens, and out of season clothing and bedding.

You'd need something stronger, if you wanted to turn it into a pantry, because the edible goods are heavy, and actually better off stored lower in the boat. One could do that, with starboard shelves and timber cleats, and install the shelves with s/s screws. You'd want a tall fiddle on the inboard edge, perhaps of clear perspex, so you could see in, easily. If you want to have the shelves slide, you'll need to pin them so they can not come all the way out until you remove the pin (as for cleaning).

If you view it as stowage for light weight objects, you can't go far wrong. Think toilet paper, paper towels (if you use them), and linens. You probably carry a set of sheets for each stateroom, each could have a shelf to itself, if you carry a spare set for the bunk while you wash the other. The bottom would be a decent place for sewing machine, or tool boxes. Heaviest stuff goes as far down as possible so as to avoid affecting your boat's ability to come back up from a knockdown.



Ann