Designing a small head

[Saltiguy]

I'm building a small trawler-type boat with an enclosed head. The space available is 24" x 48" with the door at the 24" end. The pottie will have to be at the other end, facing the door. I'm wondering how to fit a usable sink into the space. Anyone have knowledge or pictures of fold-up or swing-away sinks?
Any ideas most appreciated.
Thanks.

[ben2go]

You could off set the potti along the 48" wall,or in the corner, and you could put the sink in the other corner.If you can't find a small corner sink,you could use a small plastic or stainless steel bowl mounted in a 3/4 inch MDF corner board and cover with a hardwood veneer.You could use a small single handle water saver faucet.Take a 5 gallon pail and sit on it in various positions in the potti room until you find the most user friendly place.

Here is a faucet like I am speaking of. http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|51|26723|305299&id=590302

If you are looking for cheap quality fixtures for a boat,check out mobile home supply stores and discount RV supply houses.

[paladin]

Someone had a working Pullman sink somewhere a while back...wanted to get a close look at it to see if it could be replicated...but to no avail....

[Terrence Gilhuly]

In such a small space a foot pump for the sink would be a great idea.
Being able to rinse both hands at once is a plus.

[Woxbox]

Sounds a bit too fussy to me. I'd have a simple hinged shelf that would fold down from the bulkhead behind the head, on which I'd put a plastic basin to be filled with a jug of water. That way the back end of the head can accomodate both toilet and basin. The folding part could actually be the front 3/4 or so of a deeper shelf, giving place to securely keep a few things in the back when the shelf is folded up.

[Soundman67]

what about a shelf on drawer slides above the head with your basin in it. Flexible pipe for drain and pressure water isnt too difficult.
that way your sink plumbing is hidden away when its not being used.


Doug

[Peerie Maa]

Cribbed this from Classic Boat magazine:http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp164/peerie_maa/Sink.jpg

[Tom Robb]

I don't suppose that you could put the door inthe middle of the 48" side? That'd make it too easy wouldn't it.

[Gary E]

Cribbed this from Classic Boat

more likley from Cramped boat
I see NOTHING about that install that would make it "classic"
Unless thats the way you think you should live... all cramped up

[kc8pql]

Here's what I did.

From above in progress.

http://i43.tinypic.com/iqlmr7.jpg

Finished, sink open.

http://i43.tinypic.com/19y3io.jpg

Sink closed.

http://i43.tinypic.com/f9jmzs.jpg

Mirrors on the opposing side walls make the space feel much wider than it is.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

30" x 48"

Sink slides under cupboard. Tap on bulkhead not sink to reduce clearance under cupboard. Mirror is on camera side bulkhead. What you are not seeing is the fold out seat on the bulkhead under the mirror.

http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee352/acraigbennett/CopyofDSCF0937.jpg?t=1244066358

[Tom Lathrop]

Some good answers there guys:)

[Simon R]

Awaiting restoration, another folding sink:

http://www.ceze.net/aaa/sink01.jpg

As the sink folds away it tips into an outlet pipe:

http://www.ceze.net/aaa/sink02.jpg

A simple idea that could be adapted. Here's someone else's that has been restored:

http://www.ceze.net/aaa/sink03.jpg

Simon

[Saltiguy]

Here's what I did.

From above in progress.

http://i43.tinypic.com/iqlmr7.jpg

Finished, sink open.

http://i43.tinypic.com/19y3io.jpg

Sink closed.

http://i43.tinypic.com/f9jmzs.jpg

Mirrors on the opposing side walls make the space feel much wider than it is.

Thanks to everyone for your responses.
Kc8pql did exactly what I would like to do on my boat. A perfect solution! In my boat, it will be easier because I don't have the trunk cabin limitations to work around.
Is this Formica over plywood?
Are those individual drawers?
What type of toilet did you use?
The beadboard looks great. It it ply material? Hardwood?
Thanks!

[kc8pql]

Is this Formica over plywood?
Are those individual drawers?
What type of toilet did you use?
The beadboard looks great. It it ply material? Hardwood?
Thanks!

Yes, Formica over ply. It makes sense in the head, even on a wooden boat, for obvious reasons.

Yes, individual drawers. Medicine cabinets are problematic on a boat. All the small things you keep in one tend to slide against the door when the boat heels and then fall out when you open the door.

It's a Lavac. I highly recommend them.

The beadboard is stock 1/2" doug. fir T&G ceiling from my local lumber yard, planed down to about half thickness to give a lap joint.

Don't forget about using mirrors on opposite walls. Combined with light colors, they open up what is really a very small space.

[seo]

I think that the masters of small heads are the Schaur people of the Amazon basin, but the practice is frowned upon now that civilization is upon the world.

[seo]

But seriously...
A very minimalist sink can be contrived with a piece of 3/8" plywood hinged to a bulkhead, cut out to accomodate a stainless steel (aluminum for high performance vessels where weight is critical) mixing bowl. Water can come from a plastic jug, or from a flipper pump. Water can go into the head, from where it gets pumped out. Simplest is to take the bowl and pour it out. Then there's the trough arrangement, which can drain overboard or into the head.
A head compartment cannot be narrower than the width of the shoulders of the largest person likely to use it.

[kc8pql]

But seriously...
A very minimalist sink can be contrived with a piece of 3/8" plywood hinged to a bulkhead...
Of course. In fact, you don't really need a sink in the head at all, or even a head for that matter. One can get along quite well with a bucket in the cockpit. It's all a matter of what the individual sees as desirable aesthetically.