Replacing vanity in head

[Bigjim]

My 40 year old baby is getting a new vanity in the head. The boat sat on the hard for at least 12 years and had lots of leaks and water damage. Replaced all the windows and the interior paneling. Now turning my attention to the head.

The old head had a top-loading bin in the vanity next to the sink. Inside the bin was a waterproof plastic box without any drain built in. So, when it leaked water would fill the bin with no place to go. The first thing I did was drill some holes in the bottom to let the water drain into the bilge.

But the thought of a top loading bin next to a sink and below portholes that opened was ludicrous. I really don't know what the designer was thinking back in 1978. I have removed the vanity and used the panels as templates for the new vanity. But I'm changing the design and removing the top-loading bin and adding a front-loading door with shelves within. Reusing the old sink but putting in a new faucet. Have plans for tiling and trim too.

[coopec43]

Pardon my ignorance but what is a "top-loading bin in the vanity" used for?

[Bigjim]

Originally Posted by coopec43

Pardon my ignorance but what is a "top-loading bin in the vanity" used for?

Whatever you want to use it for. It's just a bin. I was using it for towels but every time it rained water would leak in and get my towels wet. The only thing that should be top-loading is your icebox or freezer.

[Bigjim]

Here is the bin that was inside the vanity in the head.

[LittleWing77]

I would guess that a top-loading bin meant that whatever was in it wouldn't go flying when on offshore passage...

LittleWing77

(That new vanitytop looks like it'll be cool!
Please remember to post a picture of your finished project so we get to see how it turned out... )

[Bill O]

That is a huge amount of possible storage where the bin was located.

The side door access appears to be somewhat blocked by the head. What type of door were you going to use to maximize access to that area?

[djousset]

I have the same set up and the bin is for laundry. I have no leaks so it functions well for that.

[SieveSailor]

Just an interesting aside: I've found "replacing vanity in head" to be a bigger problem with some boat owners I've met.

[Bigjim]

Originally Posted by Bill O

That is a huge amount of possible storage where the bin was located.

The side door access appears to be somewhat blocked by the head. What type of door were you going to use to maximize access to that area?

I measured the height of the toilet and the door will be higher and rest on it when open.

[Bigjim]

Making progress on rebuilding the head. Assembled the new vanity after recreating the panels twice!

Using peel and stick tiles for the wall and backsplash.

I screwed up installing the tiles at first. When you get them figure out how you want them to be installed. Identify how the tiles need to overlap and that will determine where you need to start (top left, top right, bottom left or bottom right). I started at the bottom left, but I needed to start at the top left.

While fixing my mess up I also noticed that the tiles have some traits that make them easier to align. In the case of the fish scale tiles shown, the edge of the sheet has one straight corner about an inch long. If you line up this edge on one sheet to the opposite edge of the next sheet of tiles the sheet is much easier to overlap.

Once I figured this out, installation was fast and easy.

[Bigjim]

NOTE: The black trim was also peel and stick, while the tile below it was traditional tile that required a separate glue

[Bigjim]

Inside the vanity, I built two shelves for bathroom supplies. I cut the panels from regular plywood and glued formica to them. I needed doors for the two holes and decided to make them from mahogany, sink the new window trim will also be mahogany. There's a lumberyard nearby that stock all types of hardwood. I bought one 5 foot plank of African mahogany. The doors were made with only a table saw.

[LittleWing77]

LOVE the mahogany doors!!!

Thanks for posting the update pictures.

LittleWing77

[Bigjim]

Got the new peel and stick tiles in the mail this week and slipped out early this morning to finish the head and companionway.

One tip: If you get the ceramic tiles use a diamond blade in your jigsaw. It makes it easy to closely trim the tiles and they don't chip as with the laminate blade I used earlier.