Sailboats with a Forward Head Layout

[Yellowtulip]

Originally Posted by Lost Horizons

Exactly. I doubt they were asking a skipper to heave to while doing it.

A natural place for a toilet on a boat.

On a large sailing boat going downwind, perhaps, but on a small yacht plunging into head seas? Not so obvious.

[nhschneider]

When I was a kid I coveted the Islander Freeport 36 and bought one when my children were young (A plan, with a vee berth). We only had the boat for a couple of years and despite the fact that my ex-brother-in-law (of whom I am very fond and respect his knowledge of boat building) was president of Islander Yachts for many years, the boat was poorly made. While underway, we could see the hull flexing in the vee berth. The hull-deck seam leaked badly as it was put together with 5200 and self-tapping screws. I could go on.

Our current boat has a forward head and it makes a lot of sense to me. Granted, using it in rough conditions is a challenge but, typically, you're only in the head for a few minutes at a time. Sleeping in a vee berth in rough weather can almost be impossible.

Fair winds and calm seas.

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by Lost Horizons

Exactly. I doubt they were asking a skipper to heave to while doing it.
A natural place for a toilet on a boat.

I don't agree. Crew weren't treated like people when ships were wood and men were iron.

The place for a single head on a boat is at the base of the companionway. THE place. It's a place for bodily functions that is near the center of motion. It's a place to drop wet foulies without dragging water and salt through the boat. The watch can use the head or brush their teeth or clean eyewear without waking the boat.

A forward head is an easy and convenient design choice but not a good arrangement for cruising.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by Lost Horizons

Exactly. I doubt they were asking a skipper to heave to while doing it.
A natural place for a toilet on a boat.

Not the best place when you are going to windward.

Ann wrote "when hard on the wind."

The implication is that when beating against seas (pitching) you will not be sitting so easily if you try to sit on or stand before a toilet in the forepeak. Your bum, feet and body are likely to get airborne.

Sailors that sail in the open ocean (I.e. Not on relatively flat waters) would understand that.

I hope that helps you see her valid point.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by Auspicious

I don't agree. Crew weren't treated like people when ships were wood and men were iron.

The place for a single head on a boat is at the base of the companionway. THE place. It's a place for bodily functions that is near the center of motion. It's a place to drop wet foulies without dragging water and salt through the boat. The watch can use the head or brush their teeth or clean eyewear without waking the boat.

A forward head is an easy and convenient design choice but not a good arrangement for cruising.

[markwesti]

We like the layout , I always flatten the boat out when Ms.westie goes down below (for anything)
WESTSAIL 28 sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com

[Scrimshaw4]

Before you commit to a forward head I'd suggest you go out on a boat with one in 12 -15kts of breeze and lumpy seas going to weather and try and use the head. JMHO

[drakes]

I really like the idea of a forward head but in practical sense on a small boat it is tough. My Bristol 24 has the head under the v berth. There is a hinged panel that lifts up it is under there about 1/2 way into the vberth area. Tank underneath. I havent figured out yet how i would possibly access the hoses or tank if i need to without ripping up the floor of the vberth

I have lived on the boat for about 6 months now and it means clearing out the v berth of at least people while using it. I live by myself and converted the port side dinette to a full size twin berth which is where i sleep. The v berth has turned into a head / closet / bulk storage area and while on the mooring ball or in a slip it works pretty good for one person
.anytime i sail or move the boat i move a lot of stuff to secure it, distribute weight and the motion of the boat scrambles the stuff i dont take care of first.

But if i was living with anyone else ... Hopefully not to sound too sexist, but especially my girlfriend or most other women i find it hard to believe that they would deal with that arrangement too often of getting out of the vberth to use the head. Especially at night....Although i realized rather quickly that at least for me 24 feet is a small boat to live on and it works good for me but i dont think i could do it with anyone else.

[drakes]

I really like the idea of a forward head but in practical sense on a small boat it is tough. My Bristol 24 has the head under the v berth. There is a hinged panel that lifts up it is under there about 1/2 way into the vberth area. Tank underneath. I havent figured out yet how i would possibly access the hoses or tank if i need to without ripping up the floor of the vberth. I took the head out, capped all the hoses and put a composter in

I have lived on the boat for about 6 months now and it means clearing out the v berth of at least people while using it. I live by myself and converted the port side dinette to a full size twin berth which is where i sleep. The v berth has turned into a head / closet / bulk storage area and while on the mooring ball or in a slip it works pretty good for one person
.anytime i sail or move the boat i move a lot of stuff to secure it, distribute weight and the motion of the boat scrambles the stuff i dont take care of first.

But if i was living with anyone else ... Hopefully not to sound too sexist, but especially my girlfriend or most other women i find it hard to believe that they would deal with that arrangement too often of getting out of the vberth to use the head. Especially at night....Although i realized rather quickly that at least for me 24 feet is a small boat to live on and it works good for me but i dont think i could do it with anyone else.

[Mutt]

Beneteau first R10 has a forward head

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Auspicious

I don't agree. Crew weren't treated like people when ships were wood and men were iron.

The place for a single head on a boat is at the base of the companionway. THE place. It's a place for bodily functions that is near the center of motion. It's a place to drop wet foulies without dragging water and salt through the boat. The watch can use the head or brush their teeth or clean eyewear without waking the boat.

A forward head is an easy and convenient design choice but not a good arrangement for cruising.

A voice of reason and sanity.

Our boat has a huge V berth and an aft head.

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by Mutt

Beneteau first R10 has a forward head

What's your point? A forward head is a bad thing. On that boat you disrupt anyone at the dinette to use the head. In a sea it's at least uncomfortable and maybe messy. You'll wake anyone trying to nap on the settees.

It's an okay day boat or buoy racer. That doesn't make forward heads a good idea for a cruiser.

[basssears]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

The outboard person has no way to get over the other person, A lot of legs and knees were mashed in the process. A V berth is not easy but you can exit without crawling over the other person.

Not always true, especially in the lower end of the size range. Our Gulf 32 the starboard side person in the v-berth can't get out without crawling over the port side person or having the port side person sit up and out of the way.

-- Bass

[buzzstar]

If memory serves (I've not earned one) the Dreadnought 32 may have one, depending upon who built out the hull.

[Yellowtulip]

Originally Posted by Auspicious

I don't agree. Crew weren't treated like people when ships were wood and men were iron.

The place for a single head on a boat is at the base of the companionway. THE place. It's a place for bodily functions that is near the center of motion. It's a place to drop wet foulies without dragging water and salt through the boat. The watch can use the head or brush their teeth or clean eyewear without waking the boat.

A forward head is an easy and convenient design choice but not a good arrangement for cruising.

I agree.
I also agree that a bee-berth does not make a good passage berth.