Princess 26 interior pictures?

[Melissa Goudeseune]

Sweet! She looks great!

[Howard]

Now that I have the P26 plans and poured over Wayne's build, this is what I'm thinking for a layout:

This is more or less a reversed version of something similar I had planned for a 28 footer. I was able to fit almost all my requirements into the 26, albeit scaled back some. Scaling back probably being a good thing. As it is, a 26 footer is still a pretty big boat, at least compared to what I'm used to (my existing 17 footer).

As with the 17 footer, the most valuable internal space is under the companionway, so I tried to cluster as many things as possible around that space. My existing boat also is sensitive to weight distribution and I would think even a 26 footer would be as well, so I tried to keep the weight out of the ends as much as possible. I also wanted the weight low, so almost all things that have any weight to them are as close to the bottom as possible.

Similar to Wayne's layout, I also revised the stock plans to eliminate one cabin berth in favor of a full sized galley and moved the galley to starboard to gain access to all the storage below. Other than that, it is pretty much as shown in the plans. It might get a full sized range with oven, but other than that, pretty much as shown. The 14 gallon tank up front is supplemental to the main tank of only 9 gallons below the sink. Probably two smaller propane tanks in the aft locker vs. the two 20 pounders shown.

In almost every way I can think of, except headroom, I have concluded this is plenty of boat for me. As I have spent over a week at a time on my existing 17 footer, which lacks 6 inches of having 5 foot of headroom, and really not even sitting headroom, I have finally convinced myself I can adapt to it and do fine.

[Brent]

If the companion way is shifted to starboard a bit there is room to place a slide out expansion making the pilot berth into a cozy double. This might be a preferred bunk space on a summer night. The cockpit can also be made into a very nice sleeping space for those that don't mind the dew.

I am curious if the composting head works for occasional use. I am sure it will be fine in regular daily use, but I wonder if it may need to be fed if the boat sits unused for a few weeks. Any experience with this?

[Howard]

I think the "cozy double" is up front, and the only reason to have a bunk of that type on a boat of this size. I'd make the floor board wedge up front loose, so it could be moved up to make it a filler and have a loose filler cushion to match. With the side ports and fore hatch open, I'd think comfortable enough in most conditions.** The port berth cushion could be moved to the cockpit as well.

For those who have never used them backpacking, a Therm-a-Rest self inflating mattress is a really nice thing to use for something like the cockpit. Especially under an awning or bimini to keep the dew off. Go with the thicker Camp Rest if you want luxury. It would roll up and stow away nicely in the morning. Could also be used on the cabin sole in a blow.

I don't think occasional use is an issue with a dry composting toilet. The only thing I think it might have trouble keeping up with is a pack of college lineman (over whelmed). Liquid disposal is a bigger issue than solids......... unless you don't object to pouring that overboard.

Unless there was a structural reason not to, I'd likely have two discrete PVC drains emptying in to the aft end of the CB trunk, just above the waterline. One from the galley and one originating from the head area through the port pilot berth and to the port side of the CB trunk.

** - On a recent overnight trip, instead of anchoring out, the group of larger boats I normally sail with stayed tied to the dock for the night. It started out a "warm evening" and all the larger boats.......28 to 37 feet.......had AC running. They all closed up their boats and fired up AC in one form or the other. I had none, so started the night simply laying on a sleeping bag on my berth and quit comfortable. Sometime around midnight, I noticed how cool it had gotten. By 2 AM, I was cold and searching for covers. I ended up snagging a large beach towel and huddling under that. Point being that on a boat of this size, they cool down pretty fast once the sun goes down. I've never had AC on my existing boat and never even thought it an issue.

[Gordy Hill]

Your layout looks great.

One thing you might consider would be to place the ice box as far aft as possible and extending it below the bridge deck. A hatch on the bridge deck would allow you to put the ice in from the cockpit and give you access to cold drinks from the cockpit.

[Howard]

Gordy:

My first layout option did show the ice box as an ice hold, running from the bridge deck into the galley. In the big picture, however, it seemed like the galley sink and/or stove for cooking would be the best options for the space under the open companionway. Day in and day out, they will get more action than the ice box will. Beyond that, the ice box shown is a super insulated one, with 6 inch sides, with the intent of being able to hold a full charge of ice for up to two weeks. Best way to do that is with one super insulated lid that you do not open all the time. Two lids, with one in the cockpit would defeat that plan. But then the question remains what to do with that space under the starboard side bridge deck? It may be possible to include a smaller, less insulated cockpit type ice box that could do double duty as dry storage. Bottom level of that would go to about the cockpit sole, and open, dry storage beneath that, accessed from under the bridge deck inside the cabin. Storage for things like paper products, larger cooking pots, etc.

What is not evident in most sketches is that bulkhead #3 at the aft end of the cabin does not extend all the way to the bottom. It is cut from a 4' horizontal sheet of plywood that bottoms out about 6 inches or so beneath the level of the bridge deck. There appears to be some room to customize in that area, although the stock plans have bunks in both areas, so there was likely some expectation of bunk faces, tops, and perhaps smaller dividing bulkheads on those spaces to provide substantial support. My galley plan would do something similar, even under the bridge deck.

[Howard]

On the topic of composting toilets, there appear to be three popular options:

The Air Head:

http://www.airheadtoilet.com/

Nature's Head

http://www.natureshead.net/

and the C-Head

http://www.c-head.com/C-Head.html

All seem to work on the same principle and by most accounts, all work fairly well. C-Head is about half the price of the other two.

Certainly not trouble free, but given a choice of that or a regular head with a holding tank, I think I'd go with the composter.

Then there is the modern day, souped up version of the oak bucket:

http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/05/articles/toilet/index.cfm

Have actually thought about something similar for my current boat, my disdain for even a porta-potti being that great.

[Docpal]

There's always the " Luggable Loo" which saves you the trouble of retrofitting a standard seat. Here's the ad from Cabela's but a lot of people sell it for the " Doomsday prepper" crowd...

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Luggable-Loo-Toilet-Seat-and-Bucket/714054.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3DLuggable%2Bloo%26x%3D11%26y%3D11%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=Luggable+loo&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products