Head Closet Walls

[Desert Cruiser]

Hello! New to me Mac 26S I'm working on getting ready for lake camping with the family. Anyone know if the walls of the head provide structural support to the 26S? Planning on leaving the vertical posts in the center of the cabin the head walls bolt to but I'd like to open up the cabin and expand the V berth bed on the starboard side. Thanks in advance!

[JamesToBoot]

Great question Desert,

I have recently been delving into the structural supports in this area on the 26S.

I am unsure about the forward most bathroom wall... But the aft most bathroom wall (same wall as the sink backsplash) appears to be very structural. It is heavily bolted into both the deck liner and the hull liner, and is in the load line from the mast down to the hull. It also supports a thick trim piece that appears to act as a mast support down the centerline of the boat as well, going from the deck liner to the hull liner.

Tonight I'll try and take a look at the forward wall. I have not spent as much time looking into it.

[JamesToBoot]

The question: Does the forward head wall provide any structural support? It appears it may provide some support.

There are two bolts at the top of the wall and a thick trim piece / post that is screwed into the wall with four screws. The bottom of that thick trim piece / post is bolted to the hull liner.

How much support it is giving the deck 3ft in front of the mast is debatable.

Conclusion:
With as many stress cracks I have in my deck liner in this area, I would be reluctant to remove for forward head wall either.

Perhaps you are a wiz in fiberglass construction and can figure something out. I am not nor do I wish to take on any more projects than I have to get my boat fit for floating and sailing.

Picture of the forward head wall looking forward into the head:

[Desert Cruiser]

JamestoBoot Thanks for the reply! I'll throw that idea on the back burner then!

[JamesToBoot]

I think its a cool idea. I've had so many 'ooh, what if I did that' moments because I'm so excited about the new-to-me boat.

But the research tells me again and again, the boat is designed really well, better than anything I could do. That, and my imagination tries to cash checks that my time and my skills don't have.

If you change your mind, shoot us some pictures. It will be a cool mod and exciting to see how it turns out.

[Ixneigh]

I have the M and I recently-ish removed the forward wall of the bathroom compartment to extend one side of the v berth into it. Even though it’s only a few feet away from the compression “post” (the dagger board trunk) that wall was bolted top and bottom, and with a nice landing for the edges. I concluded it was a structural element, and replaced it with two smaller panels, one on each side. I glassed those into the boat.
My advice: inspect the element and if there’s bolts, heavy screws, a lot of fiberglass or anything that looks a little “over built” leave it alone or be ready to do some aircraft type re- engineering.


Ix

[Be Free]

I have the M and I recently-ish removed the forward wall of the bathroom compartment to extend one side of the v berth into it. Even though it’s only a few feet away from the compression “post” (the dagger board trunk) that wall was bolted top and bottom, and with a nice landing for the edges. I concluded it was a structural element, and replaced it with two smaller panels, one on each side. I glassed those into the boat.
My advice: inspect the element and if there’s bolts, heavy screws, a lot of fiberglass or anything that looks a little “over built” leave it alone or be ready to do some aircraft type re- engineering.


Ix

That is a very good observation! I

• If it's held on by a small sheet metal screw in the fiberglass do with it as you will.

• If it has a bolt or rivet, it might be important.

• If it has a bolt with a washer and nut it's structural and is best left alone.

[Ixneigh]

Hahaha yea, the washer is a good telltale. If they sprung for a washer, you know it’s important!

Ix

[JamesToBoot]

Hahaha yea, the washer is a good telltale. If they sprung for a washer, you know it’s important!

Ix

Dying laughing

That seems consistent in what I'm seeing on the 26S