Legroom in X head

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ALX357
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Legroom in X head

Post by ALX357 »

Image

I copied this photo, the only one I could find relevant, (thank you original posting member) of a MacX head with the sink removed completely, obviously to increase legroom/usable space in the head.

Are there any other owners that have removed the sink, or part of it, and have good photos of the mod.
:?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?:

My idea is to leave the head's sink itself, and the surround, intact - but remove the "cabinet" below, including the door and the wall, to increase footroom in there, so I can stand up from the seat and pull up trousers.( which is nearly impossible for a 6' human to do with one hand. The other hand has to hold the handle I installed next to the sink.

I need to keep the privacy feature of the door, for guests of the female persuasion, and want to keep the sink as well.
I haven't yet begun to cut the fiberglass liner --- still looking for inspiration on how to "heal" the chopped out liner section, and restore a flat floor and liner wall under the sink. I would leave the sink hollow to the hull beneath the surround, for the drain, hose and thru-hull access, but turn the liner floor up at a right angle onto the starboard wall of the head's liner, up as far as can still leave access to the thru-hull.

'Sure would like some ideas on how to support and build back the liner fiberglass, without attaching directly to the hull, maybe using the kind of material shown in the photo above. Using a pre-fabbed slab of gel-coated fiberglass would make things somewhat easier, if it could be accurately shaped outside of the boat and then sistered onto the remaining parts of the existing wall in there.
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vkmaynard
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Re: Legroom in X head

Post by vkmaynard »

Wow!

What an improvement.

We added a shower in our head that is due to be completed this week. I've always wanted to remove the useless (to us) sink.

Now I'm motivated.

Victor
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ALX357
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Re: Legroom in X head

Post by ALX357 »

I guess a hand sanitizer pump bottle would suffice, if carefully used instead of hands' soap-and-water washing in the head sink, but there has got to be some provision that keeps the food preparation & dish washing faucet separate from the WC operations re. head-pot usage and cleaning, as well as hand-washing. :? If you entertain guests, 'seems advisable. :o Psychologically at least in a MacM, there is the distance of a few paces between those stations, but in the X, its out the lavatory door right into the kitchen sink, :P
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mike uk
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Re: Legroom in X head

Post by mike uk »

My preferred method is to step out from the seated position with the right leg. Then the pulling up process and the stepping out fully with the left leg are both executed simultaneously all in one simple sweeping movement whilst pushing the door first with the right shoulder and then with the left shoulder. Blink and you'd miss it (Now there's a cue for a few wisecracks). :)

Anyway, the point is, the door screens the outside world and if there are any strangers in the cabin then I'd want to know what the heck they're doing on my boat :?
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ALX357
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Re: Legroom in X head

Post by ALX357 »

I know its a small boat, but I don't think its too much to expect to be able to go into the head and close the door, do business, and then when finished, open the door and exit, just like real people, not having to undress outside next to the galley, and then step back out nekkid and pull up my pants in the companionway, :P nor any combination of gyrations and dressing approximate to that.
I too have worked out how to deal with the cramping in some unsatisfactory ways, but am working for a way to just make the space INSIDE the head ( the room, that is ) - properly functional.
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mike uk
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Re: Legroom in X head

Post by mike uk »

Oh yes, I agree it's a great idea to improve the cramped space. I was just making fun of my own slapstick routine for getting out of the heads - English approach to humour, I think. :D

Before we ever discovered the Mac, we looked at some Polish trailer sailors. One had the toilet under the v berth ("excuse me dear, would you mind rolling over to one side...") and the other had a slide out unit under the companionway steps (I suspect that was designed by a bloke.)

Anyway, when we did discover the Mac website and saw the pictures with a separate heads, it was an instant success with my wife and we've not looked back since :)
Cheers
Mike
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Russ
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Re: Legroom in X head

Post by Russ »

ALX357 wrote:I know its a small boat, but I don't think its too much to expect to be able to go into the head and close the door, do business, and then when finished, open the door and exit, just like real people, not having to undress outside next to the galley, and then step back out nekkid and pull up my pants in the companionway, :P nor any combination of gyrations and dressing approximate to that.
LOL
We have an M but basically feel the same way. This boat is way too small for a real adult to use the head with the door closed. I often wondered if the X had more room. Apparently, not necessarily.
We've gone to installing a curtain between the head and the main cabin. It's still small, but at least females can use the head without getting undressed in front of the other occupants.

--Russ
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kmclemore
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Re: Legroom in X head

Post by kmclemore »

mike uk wrote:Anyway, when we did discover the Mac website and saw the pictures with a separate heads, it was an instant success with my wife and we've not looked back since :)
That was the deal clincher on my boat, too, Mike. The Admiral is squeamish enough about her privacy as it is, but we have two sons, so anything less than a separate head would be a full stop.

The X has plenty of room for us... it's a wee bit tight for me (6' / 185 lbs [13 stone, 3 pounds]), but not a real problem. We do have pressurised water in the head now, which does make the sink somewhat more useful... it does other jobs like soaking small laundry items, etc..
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Scott
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Re: Legroom in X head

Post by Scott »

I am 5'7" (A real adult) and though tight, was able to use the head. My wife at 5'5" and 60# less used it NP.

Anything that would stop females from undressing in front of me lands in the suspect at best file.
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Re: Legroom in X head

Post by bscott »

I raised the Porta Potty 4" which gives more sitting foot room. Seems to work OK for the ladies. We use a Little John for the boys by opening the door and standing in the cabin behind the door. Hand sanitizer and a squirt bottle down the drain.

Modesty is tough on a boat (yacht) :wink:

Bob
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Re: Legroom in X head

Post by Kelly Hanson East »

Im 6'1" and carry a little more luggage than Kevin and use the :macx: head without a problem. I couldnt imagine spending any mod time in the head, where I spend as little time as possible.

We use ours as a wet locker and storage for the garbage (sealable kitty litter container) - to use the head we bring those items out, then put them right back.

I have it plumbed to both a pumpout and a macerator for use on/offshore accordingly
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ALX357
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Re: Legroom in X head

Post by ALX357 »

Perhaps the porta-pot I bought back when I got the boat is larger than most others' and takes up more floor space. It takes up all the side space under it, and the only place I can plant my feet is in the slightly lower offset triangular floor to the side of the corner cabinet in there, in front of the porta-pot. I am unable to stand up and remain standing without holding on to the sink or a handle, because I cannot get my feet under me enough to balance. It puzzles me that anyone else my height or more could stand unassisted in the head. Much less be able to deal with the functions.
I suspect those that have no problems are partially undressing before entering, or using a much smaller pot than I have.
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Re: Legroom in X head

Post by kmclemore »

No, we can't stand up, but hey, you just kind of slide in there, up to a crouch, expose the operating bits, and sit to do the business. No big deal... hey, it's a small boat!
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Re: Legroom in X head

Post by Hamin' X »

It's always good practice for gentlemen to sit for all functions on a marine head. No accidents when there is a sudden change in the attitude of the boat.

~Rich
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ALX357
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Re: Legroom in X head

Post by ALX357 »

Yup, agreed.
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