Head placement

[Rustic Charm]

Hi everyone,
I'm planning on renovating my head compartment and put a shower in it. I have a 36 foot Biorec Ketch, and I've discovered I've got the opportunity of making the head compartment a little bigger. The head currently sits on the wall facing starboard.. My question is, what is the best position for it to be in. Is it best facing Bow to Stern, or port to starboard (acrossways)?

Ted

[Sailor Robius]

ted, i would think, based on physics, that the best position would be paralel to the centerline on the center line. this way is least affected by heel. the second, but not least, criteria would be comfort and usability. i'm currently replacing a head as well and wish it was not so far to port as this is quite a challenge when heeled in either direction. though, if a head is mounted far off center then it's best mounted perpendicular to the centerline to give the user the ability to self balance when seated. it's easier to lean forward or backward than left to right. good luck with it.

[Hydra]

IME, one is less prone to seasickness when facing forward or aft, than athwartship. And if the head is placed athwartship, one risks to fall off when the yacht rolls suddenly.

On my yacht, the head is placed between 2 longitudinal bulkheads. So, when heeled underway, I can sit on the head and lean comfortably on the lee bulkhead, without risking to fall off.

Alain

[Sailor Robius]

hydra,

i tend to agree. longitudinally would be best. as a side note, earplugs can help with seasickness as they lessen the disagreement between your eyes and ears.

[Rustic Charm]

Thanks everyone.. I'll consider and have a look around at a few boats

[daddle]

Ha. I've had boats both ways. Fore aft is way better on a monohull. But the downside is that modern cheap-ass plastic seats can easily fail with sideways force. And the walls or whatever should be close to the head so one does not fall off. More confined more the better.

(pretty much the same goes for multihulls sailing in real world conditions.)

[Tony B]

I have often been accused of placing my head up my a$$.

Aside from that, I have had boats, some with the heads placed fore/aft and others with them athwartship - facing across. I done have a preference as long as it is a relatively tight area so you are 'locked in' and cant be thrown off balance whether standing or sitting.
Personally, I think that most manufacturers just throw them in anyway they can with the criteria being more of 'where can it fit' rather than functionality.

[Auzzee]

Fore and aft or athwart is one to think about. Of equal importance is having the sea water inlet and waste outlet on opposite sides of the keel....or if they are on the same side of the keel, make sure the inlet is forward of the outlet