Do we really need that second heads?

scubaman

scubaman

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I recently got back from an excellent trip to Southampton where we were searching for the next boat to be (old one still to be sold, though /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif ). We saw nine boats ranging from 42 to 50 feet, I'll get back to those on a later post, but those got me playing with the idea of having only one heads/shower -compartment instead of the obligatory two.

Personally, I'd be happy to swap one for extra room below that would be used all the time. The extra space could make for a wardrobe, general storage area or even a mini-office. On a sports cruiser -type of boat that would free up a lot of space to the saloon. On a fly, by ditching the port side heads the galley could be pushed well forwards again giving a lot more space to the saloon. This might open up the possibility of having a full-beam, mid ships owners cabin on a smaller craft than has been possible before.

With more radical thinking, perhaps the basic lay-out that has become a standard on boats this size, could be re-arranged for exciting results. As there seem to be so few alternatives to having two heads, I suppose it's what customers want, but it seems silly to waste precious floor space to a second heads/shower...

I know there a boats in this size category that have an option for a third cabin (like Nord West 390) and there are some unusual American designs, but I'm yet to see a single heads, tri-cabin P42.

I'd be curious to know how important having two heads actually is to you? How would you use the extra space obtained by loosing the other heads/shower? Have a look at the lay-out of the P42 as an example to provoke your imagination.

I'm not planning to go into boat building, I'm just curious. And sorry, if this has been discussed before, I've missed that.
 
It's an interesting issue. Personally I think having two heads is essential on a cruising boat but not perhaps a day boat. In the event of a head malfunction, having the backup of a 2nd doesn't mean the end of a cruising trip. Also at 4am folks sleeping aft or forward don't really want to be woken up by noise from a head right beside their cabin. On the one occaision we lost one of our two heads during a week long cruise it was awkward to say the least for our guests to share one head for the week. Also in terms of selling on a cruiser with only one head, it is likely to be a slow seller. As they say "two heads are better than one" at problem solving /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

PS: Another advantage of aft cabin layouts, master cabin with head at opposite ends of the boat to guest cabin with their head (ie fore and aft), so great noise privacy, especially during the night. Two heads forward opposite each other kind of defeats this (eg P42).
 
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It's an interesting issue. Personally I think having two heads is essential on a cruising boat but not perhaps a day boat. In the event of a head malfunction, having the backup of a 2nd doesn't mean the end of a cruising trip. Also at 4am folks sleeping aft or forward don't really want to be woken up by noise from a head right beside their cabin. On the one occaision we lost one of our two heads during a week long cruise it was awkward to say the least for our guests to share one head for the week. Also in terms of selling on a cruiser with only one head, it is likely to be a slow seller. As they say "two heads are better than one" at problem solving /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

PS: Another advantage of aft cabin layouts, master cabin with head at opposite ends of the boat to guest cabin with their head (ie fore and aft), so great noise privacy, especially during the night. Two heads forward opposite each other kind of defeats this (eg P42).

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Ye gods!! haven't you poshers ever heard of buckit an' chuckit!!............Can't go cruising cos a bog is out of action, what a farce! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
One of my criteria for a new boat was one bog !

The reason is SWMBO says that we rather clean one and have one working well then two to clean and service, And i agree with what SWMBO says although I am in charge.


Tom
 
If the two cabins are being used by you and the kids, then I guess one heads is OK, except as OF points out, if you go cruising and one breaks, you're quite literally in the shlt.

If you're inviting friends and family onto the boat though, you need the second heads. Would you choose to stay in a hotel room that didn't have an en-suite? It just doesn't cut it these days. Personally, as a guest in a hotel, or someone's house or boat, i'd put my own shower and bog above pretty much everything else.

I think most boat designers are trying to work out how to add a heads to tri cabin boats, not remove one.
 
Soap Dodger\'s Boat

If you are a soap dodger then I guess one head and shower is fine. Most of us prefer one head/shower per cabin.
 
Re: Soap Dodger\'s Boat

Having just purchased a new Targa 44, I would agree that we would have preferred two heads and on one ensuite instead of two en suites. It really is a waste of space and cost for two, although very nice, en-suites is unnecessary. The extra space would be more usable for ideas as stated above. Before you comment, the purchase was deal driven and everything else is great.
 
I'm not sure the hotel comparison translates that well into the boat. You'd still have a shower and a bog at your disposal within a step from your cabin. If you think it the other way around, people don't typically have an ensuite toilet at their office, but they share the it with plethora of strangers.

Why not occationally share it with people you know?

Ok, I appreciate that in some cases it is inconcenient, but I'm just thinking that minor inconvenience is outweighted by the benefits.

It depends on your cruising needs and guests, ofcourse.
 
Re: Soap Dodger\'s Boat

Two points really.

A second heads is invaluable if you do have people stay on board even if they are best of friends, no one wants to hear the stomping and moving about at 4.00 am trying to get into the one heads which in most cases will be right next to the master if not actually accessed from the master cabin. The alternative I guess is if you are in a marina is for them to try sneak out and go the marina facilities but then you have doors opening, patio doors sliding open and back in again not to mention a pain for the guests.

Secondly, anything 14m + without a second heads is a tough sale secondhand, you might get a marvellous deal new but you will take a bigger hit later on when it comes to resale. Crazy as it may seem that something such as a second heads makes such a difference to a boats sale-ability but that's just life as it is now, people demand private facilities especially those that are not boaty people and have been invited along for a weekend trip, next time round they may not be so keen when they know they have to share their bathroom habits with everyone else.
 
Yup, I'd agree with the general market and would want ideally an ensuite per cabin, and certianly 2 shower rooms on a 2 or 3 cabin boat. Happy to trade that agianst extra wardrobe space or whatever!
 
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One of my criteria for a new boat was one bog !

The reason is SWMBO says that we rather clean one and have one working well then two to clean and service, And i agree with what SWMBO says although I am in charge.


Tom

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Well having read this thread, I have come to realise that the priorities and requirements of posh Mobo jockies, is very different from impecunious raggies like me.

Sounds more like the specifications for a country cottage than a boat! So basically then does it mean that what the average Mobo driver likes to do is to go like a bat out of hell from one marina, to another, do a bit of posing, eat posh nosh in a restaurant, go to kip in his ensuite floating cottage, then repeat the process all over again the following day? I guess judging by the undergrowth on the asses of a lot of mobos one sees in marinas that a lot actually forego the bat out of hell bit, and just do the scoff and kip bit?

Would I have it about right do you think?? /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
You've missed the bits about cocaine and high jinks with Playboy centrefold models, but you've got the rest just about right. When a moboer announces that he's off for a snort and then going to bed, he doesn't mean a Scotch and shuteye /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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You've missed the bits about cocaine and high jinks with Playboy centrefold models, but you've got the rest just about right. When a moboer announces that he's off for a snort and then going to bed, he doesn't mean a Scotch and shuteye /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

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Well I didn't want to push it too hard.....They can get a bit upset if they perceive that you are taking the piss! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Bang on.

Also the tender is rigged ready for immediate action in any anchorage /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif - just a quick 'click' to activate the crane or paz and she's away.

None of the palava with getting a rolled up thing out of the sail locker and making a commotion blowing it up only to find the seagull will not fire....then rowing ashore.

No plenty of bogs and running gensets on this forum
 
Come to think of it, there can be a long ride in the tender back from the pub some nights - has anyone seen a head suitable to install in a tender? - I initially thought that a porta potti in my old camping toilet tent would do, but it looks a bit naff on the davits.
 
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Bang on.

Also the tender is rigged ready for immediate action in any anchorage /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif - just a quick 'click' to activate the crane or paz and she's away.

None of the palava with getting a rolled up thing out of the sail locker and making a commotion blowing it up only to find the seagull will not fire....then rowing ashore.

No plenty of bogs and running gensets on this forum

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SEAGULLS!!!??????......Eeeeeeek horrible things, wouldn't be doing with one of those 'orrible archaic, piles of scrap!

Usually tow my rubber duck, then it is ready for immediate action when my poor underfunded pile of tiddly RMAB starts taking in water!

Bloody hell, how the poshers do live eh! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif This forum is an eye opener, it really is! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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Come to think of it, there can be a long ride in the tender back from the pub some nights - has anyone seen a head suitable to install in a tender? - I initially thought that a porta potti in my old camping toilet tent would do, but it looks a bit naff on the davits.

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/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
We even eat Raggie Pie in style:

fraybentos.jpg
 
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