Sailing SweetHaven: Heads of all kinds.

During our many hours of contemplating living aboard our boat, we've had to anticipate a lot of changes, naturally, and also try to figure out different ways to do certain things which are normally simple living on land. For instance, we are currently involved in the head renovations and we have to try to figure out how to squeeze all the normal amenities of a bathroom into a odd shaped, five foot square area with curved walls and a low ceiling.

It was very difficult and as such certain concessions had to be made. Because our bilge space is so limited we decided on a composting toilet,which are much larger than a normal boat toilet as it is completely contained in one unit, but a sacrifice in size has eliminated the need of a black water tank and all the necessary plumbing involved with that.

Next we were trying to figure out how to fit a shower into that space when the floor space was mostly taken up by the toilet and it is such a low ceiling, anyone over 5'9 would need to stoop in there. We worked up plans for a sitting shower, an enclosed shower and also making the whole head a shower as is very common on boats. But because a trip through the head is the only way to enter our cabin in the v berth we decided it would be too much of a hassle with a soaking wet head to sop up after every shower. Eventually we decided to not have a shower at all.

Strange conclusion to come to but there are many pros to this decision.

1. We save floor space in the head

2. The added available space has allowed us to build a hanging locker in its stead.

3. Much less plumbing to worry about doing.

4. The less moisture entering the boat the better.

We figure we will be in a marina for quite a bit of our time, and will avail ourselves of their facilities and such times as we are not in a marina we are installing a cockpit shower. Much less maintenance and hassle installing and keeps all that yucky steam and mildew inducing moisture out of our interior.

So that is our "head", we have to do without a shower on our boat. Now on to the dogs "head". I

thought this issue through when we first brought home the little fluff ball that is Penelope, three years ago. Initially when we house broke her we did so on a piece of Astro turf on top of a plastic door mat on our deck. We thought since someday she would be living on a boat she would need to be used to

going to the bathroom in this way and she did well, took to this little 2 foot patch like a pro. However after a few weeks of constantly having to dump dog pee five times a day and the constant lingering smell from this patch we got rid of it and just let the dog do her business in the great outdoors.

But now three years later we have to face this issue again. Where does the dog make on the boat? This wasn't a problem on the top of my list of course but now that Mark has moved onto the boat while we are in Florida and is living there with the dog the problem has graduated, maybe not to a pressing problem, but certainly to an inconvenice. It's a long walk from our slip to the park up front in the marina and Penelope, being the pampered pooch she is, has not taken this change to her routine very gracefully. I've been getting reports of her not doing her business while at the park but stubbornly waiting until the walk back to the boat where she very inappropriatly leaves her present on the dock. And now, as it seems her acts of rebellion have gone unheeded, she is leaving her mess on Marks bed.

Of course this will not do and we new this would be a difficult transition for the dog too, poor thing, so while we are not anywhere near ready to live on our boat, I don't want Penelope to have such a hard time, nor do I want Mark to have to deal with her... issues. It just so happens that on our long flight across country to Orlando, in place of a TV in the seat in front of me there was a sky mall magazine (because why wouldn't a magazine keep us all occupied during a seven hour flight.) But regardless of my vexation I leafed through the magazine and came across the Porch Potty.

At $300 it certainly is a step up from that patch of useless turf we had years ago. metal frames, weather resistant wicker, artificial grass, a scented hydrant, a hose that drains the urine and the premium model even comes with two pop up sprinklers that washes the whole patch down after each use.

After hearing Marks complaints about Penelope's accident today, here I am researching the most elaborate "litter box" in the world.

Before I invest in this though I really do need to get some more answers, I've been here before with a potty patch of such, sure it wasn't as big and fancy as this one but when it comes down to brass tax, it's still dog urine on a plastic mat.

The drainage hose is what might make all the difference, I won't

have to empty a bucket of pee half a dozen times a day. With the urine leaving the patch right away

rather than sitting in a bucket for some extended period of time would the smell be as bad? Is the sprinkler system really an asset or is it just a gimmick? What do other full timers do who have dogs? I assume it has to be something similar or maybe they take that long trek to the park and back. But whatever, we need to find what will work for our Penelope.

So do we take the plunge and buy the creme d la creme of potty patches? Do we get the small 2x2 foot one...

...or the large 2x4 foot one? The one with the sprinkler? Unfortunately with these things you have to buy it to try it and once tried, can't be returned.

I know it seems incredible that a dogs business can be such a conundrum but I guess that is the way

with things on a boat. Large things become simple. Simple things become large, I'll never take for

granted the act of simply opening the back door and letting the dog out again.

On to a much cuter "head", today Aislinn got a haircut. The twice daily swimming sessions here in Florida was making a disaster of her hair. Somehow it got all dry and brittle and would clump together is hard, straw-like deadlocks. After shampooing and conditioning and de tangling and many tears I decided it was time to get it all cut off.