Sailboats with a Forward Head Layout

[OldManMirage]

Hello All,

Not new to sailing, not too new to the Forum, but I think this is my first Thread.

I'm looking to buy a sailboat soon ( I won't tell you how many I've had, but it's too many ). I like a forward head layout such as found in Cape Dory 25D's, Bayfield 29's, and certain Cape Dory 30 models. Also found out that a Prairie Cutter 32 has one.

Does anyone know of similar sized boats, say 25-35 feet, that also have a forward head layout ?

Thank you for your time !

Also, if this Thread should go somewhere else, please let me know.

Lee

[Steadman Uhlich]

You mentioned a few I knew…

As I recall…
There was a layout for a Hans Christian 36/38 ? that had a forward head (in the forepeak area), with a pullman berth aft of that.

Good luck on your boat hunt.

[Cheechako]

I liked the forward head in my Passport. But I disliked the location the berth was forced to (Pullman). Hot, as hard as a V berth to get in and out. Given the choice I would opt for a V berth on a smaller boat. I love the breeze and ability to pop the head out and see what's going on.
Everything's a compromise though, you likely have thought thru that. Just thought I would offer it up.

[Flyingriki]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

But I disliked the location the berth was forced to (Pullman). Hot, as hard as a V berth to get in and out.

Could you elaborate? I dislike V-berths and nice rear staterooms are rare in my budget range. I thought the Pullman seemed way nicer. Easy to do a lee cloth, easy to roll in and out. Of course with two that ease would only be good for one....!

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Flyingriki

Could you elaborate? I dislike V-berths and nice rear staterooms are rare in my budget range. I thought the Pullman seemed way nicer. Easy to do a lee cloth, easy to roll in and out. Of course with two that ease would only be good for one....!

Yes , a bit:
- For a couple , the outboard person in the Pullman has the deck just overhead. Don't raise up with a start! I have however, seen some charter beneteau's (?) with a low Pullman. That would be better.
-Mine was a Hans Christian with drawers under the Pullman and an oval-ish opening. While it looked amazing in brochures, it was hard to get in and out of.
-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.
-Ours had a small hatch , maybe 12 x 12 overhead. It seemed to collect almost no breeze. for some reason, unlike the big V berth hatch.
-I think I would like a Pullman much better (other than ventilation issues) if the boat was beamy enough for the Pullman to be very low (like maybe 12-16" off the floor) and no longitudinal bulkhead, just an open berth like a settee.
-I like to be able to pop my head out of the hatch on a V berth if I hear a boat motoring nearby, or hear the chain dragging across coral etc, or to see if the wind shifted etc.

[Livia]

Hans Christian 33 - pullman and forward head.

Example: http://svbellastar.blogspot.com/

[JPA Cate]

Everybody's different, right? I personally would not like to try to use a forward toilet when hard on the wind. You'd have to ask the skipper to heave to, or pinch up and slow the boat way down.

Ann

[Cheechako]

Yes Ann, in the size of boat he is mentioning, that's another point, there wont be a head aft somewhere also.

[sandy stone]

Islander Freeport 36 (Bob Perry design)

[belizesailor]

Hunter 37 Cutter.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Everybody's different, right? I personally would not like to try to use a forward toilet when hard on the wind. You'd have to ask the skipper to heave to, or pinch up and slow the boat way down.

Ann

Ha, I joked once about creating a specialty class for "Heavy Weather Head Use"...quite a challenge in a forward head in full offshore foul weather gear!

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by sandy stone

Islander Freeport 36 (Bob Perry design)

Good choice! I coveted having one for a long time...
Here's a plan B for sale: 1980 ISLANDER FREEPORT 36 Freeport 36 Plan B Sail Boat For Sale

[Lost Horizons]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Everybody's different, right? I personally would not like to try to use a forward toilet when hard on the wind. You'd have to ask the skipper to heave to, or pinch up and slow the boat way down.

Ann

Do you know why a head is named that way?

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Lost Horizons

Do you know why a head is named that way?

There have been whole books written about that.

Short answer: on sailing ships, which sailed mostly downwind, you did your business hanging out over the bow (the head) of the ship, maybe on a board with holes in it, a "seat of ease". If you needed to go to the toilet, you "went to the heads"; i. e., you went forward.

So this terminology stuck even after ships got plumbing, and so we still say "go to the heads".

In traditional usage, "The heads" is the compartment, not the fixture. The fixture is just a toilet.

[Lost Horizons]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

If you needed to go to the toilet, you "went to the heads"; i. e., you went forward.

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