Composting head in the vbirth

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emergpa1

emergpa1

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Oct 2, 2008
1,424
Island Packet 31 Brunswick, Ga
I have decided to convert my useless vbith into a head, work space and storage area. I am putting a composting head facing aft in the little notch where the cushion lifts out of the vbith. To port and starboard of the toilet, under those little shelves, ( which I have removed) will be open cubbies for toiletries, cleaning supplies, etc. Then on the starboard side amidships of the hanging locker I will put a cabinet for tools covered by a cubby, just opposite of the vanity sink. Then the vbith itself will be used for sails, storage, whisker pole, grenade launcher,etc. I envision even devising a portable workbench with small vice.. it might not be as attractive, but should prove much more practical. I could even install an electic cooler up there. Any thoughts on that?
My wife and I always sleep in the saloon anyway.
I have recently completed changing my toerails, hatchslides, and grab rails to trex. I put grab rails on the inside, opposing the deck grab rails, by using barrel nuts. This allowed me to bolt the interior rails through the deck to the exterior rails ( sorry, pix will be taken and uploaded this weekend). And have installed instruments on the starboard side of the cabin. I am beginning to see the light at he end of the tunnel, again!
 
RichBone

RichBone

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Sep 25, 2008
992
Oday 25 Gibraltar
Sounds like you've been busy. Some good ideas. I like having the grab rail on the inside.
 
Joe11688

Joe11688

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Jan 24, 2005
4,881
Oday 222 Dighton, Ma.
It sounds like a plan to me keith. I'd like to see some pics of the Trex on your boat when you get a chance. I'd like to do that myself.
 
emergpa1

emergpa1

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Oct 2, 2008
1,424
Island Packet 31 Brunswick, Ga
Trinkka said:
It sounds like a plan to me keith. I'd like to see some pics of the Trex on your boat when you get a chance. I'd like to do that myself.
Click to expand
Ok, but I'm a little embarrassed . I am leaving the screw/ bolt heads exposed, not gonna fool with the bungs. I think moisture getting int the screw holes will not rot out to the trex, as would be a problem with real wood. It will also make fixing leaks a little easier as I will not have too foll with the bung removal step, which I have not found to be easy.
 
emergpa1

emergpa1

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Oct 2, 2008
1,424
Island Packet 31 Brunswick, Ga
emergpa1 said:
Ok, but I'm a little embarrassed . I am leaving the screw/ bolt heads exposed, not gonna fool with the bungs. I think moisture getting int the screw holes will not rot out to the trex, as would be a problem with real wood. It will also make fixing leaks a little easier as I will not have too foll with the bung removal step, which I have not found to be easy.
Click to expand
Also, I drilled through the inside of the overhead liner, ran my screws into the hatch slides from inside the cabin. I thought that would reduce leaking also. And mak leaks easier to detect. I will cover that ugliness with a piece of plastic trim and run an led light strip along that from a truck supply shop. Lord I can't wait to sail again. I might have a buyer for my renken 18', which just does not sail well with the current sail plan. I will use the money from that for some new canvas and sail covers.
 
emergpa1

emergpa1

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Oct 2, 2008
1,424
Island Packet 31 Brunswick, Ga
Here are some pictures of the modifications. As you can see it still a work in progress. I have three quarters of my wiring completed. Gages, a few extra lights for the salon and the cockpit. if you look forward of the cockpit on the deck you can see where I mounted the solar exhaust fan for the composting head.
 

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emergpa1

emergpa1

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Oct 2, 2008
1,424
Island Packet 31 Brunswick, Ga
Also, as you can see, I milled my own grab rails. The idea was to reduce the complexity of the grab rails by eliminating the little plastic bases. I've never had any gauges on my girl except a really cheap little tiny LED depth sounder. I am very excited about the new gauges.
 
emergpa1

emergpa1

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Oct 2, 2008
1,424
Island Packet 31 Brunswick, Ga
The composting head does look somewhat awkward there but in use it is very practical. And as you can imagine the new configuration opens up a tremendous amount of storage space. It makes great use of an otherwise fairly useless part of the boat.
 
D

doc2949

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Nov 8, 2006
8
Oday O'Day 26 Pensacola, FL
I really like the trex idea. You've given me some ideas of how I can spend the winter. My toe rails are showing their age, one has already cracked and I wasn't sure of where I could find replacement material. Where did you purchase the Trex, and did you also fabricate the toe rails and cabin hatch slides yourself?
 
emergpa1

emergpa1

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Oct 2, 2008
1,424
Island Packet 31 Brunswick, Ga
doc2949 said:
I really like the trex idea. You've given me some ideas of how I can spend the winter. My toe rails are showing their age, one has already cracked and I wasn't sure of where I could find replacement material. Where did you purchase the Trex, and did you also fabricate the toe rails and cabin hatch slides yourself?
Click to expand
I bought the trex from lowes, just down the road. I cut them from one inch by eight inch decking plank. I cut the strips on my portable table saw, and rounded off the edges with a router. I cut the grooves for the sliding hatch by taking several passes with my table saw. It seems to hold wood screws well, if you drill the appropriate size pilot holes My table saw will not take a datto blade.
I sold my Renken today, so now I can focus my spare time and money on my O'day 26. Owning and maintaining Two sailboats is not for me.
 
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