Removing the head for more space . . . thoughts

[SURV69]

I haven't used my marine head in 5 years now.

I've only been in the head(?), a few times to clean it(originally), to put a new latch on the doorway and to sand the bulkhead for re-varnishing.

ALSO what "exactly", is a "head" anyway? Is it the toilet apparatus that one sits on or is it the "room", that one sits in . . . or is it both?

BUT, to continue . . . I've never used the head.

So . . . I've got a 4' by 3' "room", that has sat for 5 years being nothing more than a empty, totally unused space.

In a 28' sailboat, this extra 4' x 3' space could really be a nice addition to the "usable" part of he sailboat.

Then, if I want, I can make some more a much simpler, well built(no thru-hull), porta-potti available for use.

Has anyone else considered this or has anyone else actually done this?

I'm curious about results and misgivings.

[goboatingnow]

Sure why not, put a curtain round the port-potti.

[Tellie]

Better yet a composting head.
But I have to admit not having some sort of head on a boat would make me a bit uneasy.

[Cheechako]

If you dont use it, then for you I suppose removing it works. But if you ever plan to sell it, dont remove it! Are you just living aboard at the dock and using the marina facilities then? or just daysailing..?

[mcarling]

Is the presence of the head in the 4' x 3' room preventing you from using the space, as presently configured? How do you envision using the space after the removal?

[SURV69]

mcarling . . .

I haven't put much thought to this, but "if", I can find a very worthwhile use of this space . . . such as using it to actually put a "real" bed in the boat . . . I'd like to consider it.

Plus, since the head hasn't been used in about 14 years(it was on the hard for about 11-12 years), I don't even know if I trust to use it anyway.

Maybe doing away with a 14 year old(actually 30 year old) thru-hull would be a smart way to go anyway.

[mcarling]

Can you put a "real bed" in a 4' x 3' room??? Or do you plan to remove a bulkhead???

[SURV69]

No, but . . .

with the forward bulkhead removed(not the main bulkhead with the compression post), I could.

It's just that the only use I've had with the "head"-room(?), has been for my cat to sometimes have his little "quiet" space.

I'm just getting antsy about doing something once-and-for-all.

[mcarling]

I would be extremely reluctant to remove any bulkhead without a professional engineering analysis, despite being fairly good at engineering calculations myself. The combination of hydrostatic, hydrodynamic, and torsional (from the mast) forces on the hull are too complicated to work out numerically and require the insight of someone with lots of professional experience.

[SURV69]

You're probably right.

If I could only figure out a good use of a 3' by 4' room in a sailboat . . . other than for a head?

I could turn it into a "sitting" room, but then I might as well leave the "head", in the room . . . besides, the idea of a sitting room doesn't seem too appealing to me.

[cfarrar]

A head makes a great hanging locker. Just install a removable closet pole (or stainless rod) across the space.

[stevensc]

If one day you have guests on board they may apreciate having a head available, I agree with the previous post on reasale value.
Steve W

[thinwater]

Maybe I'm just thick.

If you are cruising you need a head. You can use a portable, but I've been there and it ain't great. But since you say you have not used it, you aren't cruising or even day sailing with female guests.

If you are only day-sailing--if you have not used it in 5 years that is certainly the case--what do you need the space for? Storing stuff only makes the boat heavier and you're not spending the night. Removing it might make the cabin bigger, just make certain you don't remove an important bulkhead; most are.

Yes, you could take it out and save some weight. And loose some resale value.

[mcarling]

Originally Posted by stevensc

If one day you have guests on board they may apreciate having a head available.

Originally Posted by thinwater

If you are cruising you need a head. You can use a portable, but I've been there and it ain't great. But since you say you have not used it, you aren't cruising or even day sailing with female guests.

Most females older than about 35 seem averse to "direct deposit" over the rail.

[Stu Jackson]

Captain Fatty Goodlander used his head for an office. Got a laptop?