Head design-- X or M

[Highlander]

Jon Bill

So what you are telling us is. That their's alot of floating logs off the S/E Texas coast !
that could be a fishy mess !
J

[J.Teixeira]

Funny but interesting subject

One of the first mods we did to our X was to rotate the PP 90 degrees. Makes it much simpler.

ron

Do you have a picture of that ?

did anyone tried to remove that stupid sink and turn and raise the PP 180º ?

I am seriously thinking on doing it...

JT

PS: I know a lot of larger boats and believe me our 26 as a generous space for the invoicing department...

[DaveB]

Pat, I couldn't agree more! Iam 5-11-1/2 and weigh 225 and girlfriend 5-7 at 165pds and tho she likes the sink I am about to take it out for more leg room.
Than all I need is a lift and grab rail to get me on and off the 5 gal. porta potty.
I also need a automatic butt wiper to save the bumps on my head and a lower door to get out.
I would never atempt getting in their with pants and underware on.
I heard Rodger was 5-7 but he is skinny and must still give him problems.
They also need to lower floor just in front of Porta Potty to give leg depth.
I have never done #1 in the head as I can't sit down because of bowl size and can't neel or stand because of headroom and knee room.
I think a Midgit may be very happy but in a time of need..anything works.
Dave

Well, I'm just the opposite, I have an X, and I find the X head to be very cramped. That stupid sink you refer to is the real problem as far as I'm concerned. I never use it and it is a major inconvenience. I'm rather short (5'7") and I find the head to be very cramped. My wife is considerably shorter and she also doesn't like the amount of available space. BTW, neither of us would be considered over weight either. If they just had left out the sink, I think the X head would have been a major selling point for that boat.

I have looked a various ways to try and improve the head area, but short of a major re-work, I don't see how to make the head work. When I first looked at the boat I thought the head area might be a little small, but in real use it's WAY too small. Maybe it's just that at my age I don't like to make comprises in my comfort.

We originally looked at an M, but my wife was not impressed with the head design, and all i could think of was how to redesign it to make it acceptable. Rather than make a lot of mods to a new M, I decided to look at used X's. That is how we ended up with our present X.

Russ, if you don't like the M head, I sincerely doubt that the X head will be an improvement. I just wish Roger was over 6' tall, then maybe he would have designed the head to be a usable area.

Just my .02 worth.

Pat

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

Anyplace that there is a plastic plug in the overhead (ceiling), there is a threaded stud above it.
Remove one of the plugs under the port side forward stanchion base. Screw on an eye-nut. Run a bungy cord with a hook on it from where the head door is to the eye-nut, and put a curtain on it. You don't have to close the door and you have plenty of leg-room.
Another way is, if you're shy, like me, close one eye and no one can see you.

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Another way is, if you're shy, like me, close one eye and no one can see you.

Using one eye always messes with a good aim , no matter how well you point...

[School House Steve]

One of my first choices for a trailer sailer was a San Juan 21, until I actually got inside one and found out there was no head at all! Even Roger's first boat the Venture 21 had no head. The Venture 22, 23, 25 and its sister ship the Mac 25 all had heads forward of the dinette, the same as the current floor plan of the M26 but without as much head room. While the X and M may still seem limited, we should count our selves lucky to have so much room. After all, how much room of the boat should be devoted to an area that a healthy person spends 3 minutes a day in.

SS

[rockman]

When we started looking for a trailer sailer, the girls had one "Must have" - a proper toilet.

Our 26M satisfied them, but with the door closed they found it very confined. So I modified the hinges and the shape of the door so that it openned all the way out - and created a very large toilet/changing area (search the mod pages for this one).

I would recommend this to and M owner, it only takes an hour or two (depending on how neat you want to be).

We always try to encourage everybody to go before getting on board. The boys use the bucket for #1.

I also installed a larger PP - 20 litre capacity, the only problem, it raises you up another 3", at 6'3", I only just fit - but the wife says I should just spend less time in there

[Paul S]

Having the M head confined can be a good thing, especially in bad weather 'when nature calls' you know you wont get tossed off the head across the width of the boat into the hull. It will keep you where you need to be Putting a small 'lifting handle' above the hinge side of the head door assists in steading yourself as well.

I have seen somewhere here that someone added a 3rd door segment, enlarging the door area a bit..which could be a worthwhile mod...

Being a bit large, I have no issue with the M head. Then again, I don't plan on spending lots of time there. Get in..do what you need to do..get out. It is not a place to lounge!

[JonBill]

We always try to encourage everybody to go before getting on board. The boys use the bucket for #1.

Likewise it is agreed that encouraging everybody to go before getting onboard is mandatory procedure.

However as far as the bucket routine, please permit me to add two necessary procedures as rules of engagement.

1.) don't spill contents of bucket onboard side of the gunnel.

2.) always first spit overboard in the direction intended to discard contents of bucket in order to determine exact wind direction before heaving contents of bucket overboard (this eliminates any possible error brought about by the affects of true vs. apparent wind direction - which may otherwise result in very unsatisfactory results).

Also in case of extreme emergencies the bucket will actually hold more than the contents of going number 1. Should that unlike event occur then following the above two procedures becomes even more important.

Kind Regards,
JonBill

[Compromise]

Having had an X and now the owner of an M, I agree with some of the posts.
The sink in the X head was an unecessary add-on. Nice, but not necessary.
The M does indeed have less headroom. So between the two as far as head room in the 'Head' the X wins out, however, I prefer the location of the M 'Head'.
Thankfully the novelty of the head itself has pretty much worn off for our kids (boys) and it's really only used by the admirarl if no other options are available.

[kmclemore]

Different stroke for different folks. I like the X head because it's closer to the hatch and thus better ventilated. No way do I want to be sleeping next to the head (we use the V-berth)... stray smells would really annoy me. The X head is also somewhat larger, and at 6' and 185 I may not be the biggest guy, but I sure appreciate the extra room. As for the head sink, it was a 'must' for the Admiral, so it stays. In fact, I just added a pressurized faucet in there last year, so all the sinks now have pressure water.

[rockman]

2.) always first spit overboard in the direction intended to discard contents of bucket in order to determine exact wind direction before heaving contents of bucket overboard (this eliminates any possible error brought about by the affects of true vs. apparent wind direction - which may otherwise result in very unsatisfactory results).

Also in case of extreme emergencies the bucket will actually hold more than the contents of going number 1. Should that unlike event occur then following the above two procedures becomes even more important

1. Never been an issue with which side to throw it - its usually the side the is closest to the water.

2. I am concerned about the bucket and/or bladder sizes in the US. Our buckets are 9litres (about 2 gallons). If somebody fills the bucket with one pee - well I don't know what to say!

I have seen a long piece of pipe (closed at one end) used instead of a bucket. It has a lower spillage risk factor.

[bscott]

Maybe a watering can in stead of a bucket? We use a Little Jon, it's small has a twist cap and handle and has a Lady Jon adaptor. We can dump it when ever we have spare time and it doesn't take hardly any room away from the head.

bscott

[Highlander]

Decissions decissions To "P" or not to "P"