On the old site, there was a mod of a "bottom shelf in the head storage cabinet" (that holds the sink).
The comes factory with this cabinet just open to the bilge, rendering this space almost useless . But, someone ingeniously installed a bottom shelf, and gave us dimensions and a template.
I am building a winter job-list and would like to add this. So if anyone can help find this mod I would greatly appreciate it.
A template for something such as this will be difficult, since each boat's dimensions are slightly different from the next - that's the nature of fiberglass and hand-fitted components.
Your best bet is to cut a template yourself out of stiff cardboard, and then use that template to make a suitable shelf out of wood, starboard or fiberglass. To secure it to the hull and head walls I'd probably bond strips of wood to those members with epoxy and then screw the shelf to the wood strips if I wanted something really solid. However, were it for my boat, I'd make a wood shelf with 'door' in it using a piano-hinge, or indeed not secure the shelf at all - just make it a snug fit so it could be pulled out completely. That way I could easily access the area under the shelf if I desired at any time.
kmclemore wrote:However, were it for my boat, I'd make a wood shelf with 'door' in it using a piano-hinge, or indeed not secure the shelf at all - just make it a snug fit so it could be pulled out completely. That way I could easily access the area under the shelf if I desired at any time.
That's a good idea for accesss to the bildge. Thanks! I will add that to my design.
Am I then to assume that yours is just open to the bildge as well and that you do not need that space, or do you have a bucket in there as well?
We cruise for sometimes up to 14 days, so every nook and cranny is important for us.
We do well without mod in the undersink cabinet, storing larger bulky items like flare kit, plastic bottles of cleaning supplies, and first aid kit. For smaller items I found a nice spot for a new storage cabinet. I cut a rectangular hole in the fiberglass panel in the liner, upper right hand corner as you face the sink. This would be the same area, starboard side of the boat, to where the electrical panel is on the port side of our 26X. The exposed cavity is six inches or so deep, and about 8 or 9 inches wide. I installed a pair of stainless hinges and a hasp. The resulting storage space makes for a nice medicine cabinet, perfect for a couple of small plastic tubs with pill bottles and like stuff enclosed . I also built a small triangular shelf in the corner to right of the sink, just inside the door to the head. A 2 inch high wooden strip across the front of the shelf keeps things in place. It's handy for taller items like mosquito spray, sun screen, etc. A sunbrella pocket organizer velcroed to the inside of the hull, between sink and toilet also provides handy storage.
I just posted a mod in response to this thread. We have had this in service on our Mac26X for a couple years. It features a removable base insert for the space under the head lavatory. Pretty simple, effective, and inexpensive. My reference to wire clips etc.supporting the inserted floor, refers to those small plastic retainers that secure a wire or wires to a surface using a screw or bolt. They are shaped like the letter P. Others may think of alternates. Jack
I cut mine to fit using cardboard to make the template and put 2 screws through the face of the cabinet to hold up the front end. the back was held in place by the curvature of the hull
Scott wrote:I cut mine to fit using cardboard to make the template and put 2 screws through the face of the cabinet to hold up the front end. the back was held in place by the curvature of the hull
I did almost the same thing. My shelf is removable because I have a water pump under the shelf. I attached a support with two screws through the front and epoxied the outside support to the hull, the shelf just sits on the supports.
In all honesty, I wish the whole sink/cabinet combination was left out in the first place. That might be the most useless use of space on the whole boat. Every time the admiral goes in there, I hear about how cramped it is. Sorry for the thread hijack, now back to your regularly scheduled program.......
That's why I started the thread ... to make the best use of this space!
Having the extra sink is nice on longer trips (5+days). Just seems wrong to wash my hands in the kitchen sink. But other than that, it looks nice for guests on day-sails ... "oh look honey, there is even a sink in the bathroom"
I am 6-1 and 215+ lbs, so like most big men there is a lot of bangin' and clangin' going on trying to get in and out of that closet, let alone trying to do any serious business in there.
But ... that's the way it was built, so I want to max out the storage space
It makes great storage, sink included. Never used the sink as a sink the entire time I owned the boat.
When I first got my boat, I thought that it would be nice to have running water at all the sinks, so I installed new faucets and pumps at each location......what a waste. The only time I've used the faucet in the head was to wash it out before I put in five bottles of boat cleaning stuff. I figured if they ever leak, at least they will leak where it's easy to clean. The admiral is the only one that uses the head and she uses those pre-moistened Clorox towels thingys, so the sink is just additional storage on my boat too.
Didn't someone on this board remove their sink/cabinet completely? I tried to find it but, I must be searching for the wrong thing.
I did the same mod but I put the floor in the head locker about 4 inches below the opening. It is below the through hull and I can reach/inspect the drain connection. I had it come loose once while sailing in a good breeze. I took on about 20 gallons before I noticed. If the connection had been below the locker floor I would have had a bigger problem. I have subsequently drilled a small hole floor pan so hopefully I will notice before I reach 160lbs of sloshing ballast.
I have subsequently drilled a small hole floor pan so hopefully I will notice before I reach 160lbs of sloshing ballast.
I did the same thing but in the sole of the companionway. Did this after pulling the boat one day and finding about 30 gals that had backwatered through the bilge pump.
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. But, someone ingeniously installed a bottom shelf, and gave us dimensions and a template. 
Jack
