Anyone removed the sit tub and replaced with a shower pan?
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psneeld
Guru
Did it last month.
The bulkhead behind it under the window was rotten so it got done as one project.
Also replumbed toilet for better flushing and fixed a minor leak. The new shower drain shared the space so it was also a natural add on.
Total cost for pan, walls, new shower pan, shower sump, glues, plexiglass cabinet doors, etc...etc was about $1000. Shower/tub fixture remained the same.
Nice thing is it gave me another 4 inches headroom in the shower and about 10 more inches of elbow room to the curtain...bad news is the headroom came from a floor flush shower pan that to drain well needed the new shower sump low in the bilge but fortunately an an easy space in the engineroom.
The bulkhead behind it under the window was rotten so it got done as one project.
Also replumbed toilet for better flushing and fixed a minor leak. The new shower drain shared the space so it was also a natural add on.
Total cost for pan, walls, new shower pan, shower sump, glues, plexiglass cabinet doors, etc...etc was about $1000. Shower/tub fixture remained the same.
Nice thing is it gave me another 4 inches headroom in the shower and about 10 more inches of elbow room to the curtain...bad news is the headroom came from a floor flush shower pan that to drain well needed the new shower sump low in the bilge but fortunately an an easy space in the engineroom.
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Last edited:
psneeld
Guru
The white formic on the walls were trash anyway so I was planning demolition from the word go.
My tub had no flanges on the upper rim...worthless design...every time the caulk around the teak trim was compromised for 28 years, water just streamed down around the tub.
What were the chuckleheads that built these boats thinking?
Anyway, the front of the tub was just screwed into pieces of wood framing the front bottom and sides of the tub. Nothing in the back, just wedged in.
I did need to cut the front of the tub enough to rotate it vetically 90 degrees to get it out of the head. But that could be different for different head layouts.
All in all, getting the tub out was easy...less than an hour if you don't care about the trim around it.
The drain was the biggest change...the tub drained under it and into a hole in the engineroom. The shower pan needed a drain through the subfloor and a new drain concept into the engineroom.
My tub had no flanges on the upper rim...worthless design...every time the caulk around the teak trim was compromised for 28 years, water just streamed down around the tub.
What were the chuckleheads that built these boats thinking?
Anyway, the front of the tub was just screwed into pieces of wood framing the front bottom and sides of the tub. Nothing in the back, just wedged in.
I did need to cut the front of the tub enough to rotate it vetically 90 degrees to get it out of the head. But that could be different for different head layouts.
All in all, getting the tub out was easy...less than an hour if you don't care about the trim around it.
The drain was the biggest change...the tub drained under it and into a hole in the engineroom. The shower pan needed a drain through the subfloor and a new drain concept into the engineroom.
Sorry for the duplicate post. I am new to posting.... I hit the button twice...
MYMT
Veteran Member
Just finished mine. Couldn't find a shower pan to fit so I fabricated a new shower stall from plywood and fiberglass and gel coated to finish it. Here's a few photos of the work. Didn't turn out half bad for my first fiberglass/ Gelcoat job. 
psneeld
Guru
I got my shower pan through PPL motorhomes online.
They have quite a few sizes and shapes and are well made.
Pricey though...mine probably came to $180 shipped.
I gave decent glassing skills, but time was the factor being a liveaboard.
Islanddreamer
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2016
- Messages
- 287
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Harmony
- Vessel Make
- Pacemaker 1990 37' Convertible
Nice work guys. Wish I had that much room in my 78' Albin 36. Mine came with two aft bunks rather than the corner head with tub that you normally see. Only shower is in the fore head. Fore head would be like trying to shower on a Southwest flight... haven't tried it yet.
Wifey B: How many people even use a bathtub on a boat if they have one? I expect a tub to have a jacuzzi, otherwise what's the point of it? And a tub without a separate shower is a lousy place to shower and for hubby impossible unless he just wants to shower from waist down. On one boat we built we deleted the tub and got a humongous shower and the builder said that would really hurt in resell and we said, we don't think so and we don't care anyway, we want it. I mean a nice bubble bath occasionally is nice, but then the tub really needs to be for two. Down with regular tubs and up with showers. 
Still love Simi 60's Spa, bathtub, jacuzzi or how you want to call it.
I forgot about kids.
DHeckrotte
Guru
My admirable admiral likes the silly little tub. It's got some entertainment value; while our Northeast 38 sailboat has a fireplace with a Delft tile surround, cocktail braggadocio about a bathtub on the trawler receives raised eyebrows, too.
Like the rest of the interior of the boat, the tub and surround are in good condition, so there's little necessity to change it. Nice to see that there are great alternatives, though!
It's certainly too small for me to shower in w/o sitting, and the headroom is exactly my height. The one time I tried it (this trawlering stuff is new to us this season), I had to sit to shower but then could not stand back up.
So, I've made a folding Teak seat that will raise the moulded-in seat to a useful height for sitting and showering (my AA says she will not use it). An unsolved detail is that the moulded-in seat slopes so much that the new seat won't stay put.
(The blocks in the background will be used shortly to bend and epoxy Ash lamina for the kayak davit - to lift the AA's kayak up to the flybridge.)
Like the rest of the interior of the boat, the tub and surround are in good condition, so there's little necessity to change it. Nice to see that there are great alternatives, though!
It's certainly too small for me to shower in w/o sitting, and the headroom is exactly my height. The one time I tried it (this trawlering stuff is new to us this season), I had to sit to shower but then could not stand back up.
So, I've made a folding Teak seat that will raise the moulded-in seat to a useful height for sitting and showering (my AA says she will not use it). An unsolved detail is that the moulded-in seat slopes so much that the new seat won't stay put.
(The blocks in the background will be used shortly to bend and epoxy Ash lamina for the kayak davit - to lift the AA's kayak up to the flybridge.)
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Wifey B: Is she short?
DHeckrotte
Guru
Wifey B, my admirable admiral is 5'-6 1/2"
Wifey B: So a little above average. Perhaps she's about the limit on a regular bath tub.
This will sound kind of funny, but one of the reasons we bought Traveler was she came with a decent-sized bath tub! But it wasn't for us (even though it's in the aft master head). Our then 2-year old LOVED taking baths. It's 4-feet long. Perfect for our daughter, but my wife and I can soak either our the upper or lower half of our body in hot water if needed. Like the time I pulled a back muscle taking out our old 8Ds.
The tub is cast iron. No idea how much it weighs, but we joke they must have built the boat around it...
The tub is cast iron. No idea how much it weighs, but we joke they must have built the boat around it...
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motteatoj
Veteran Member
many boat owners have replaced their sit tubs with shower pans. You’ll first want to remove the existing tub to assess the structure underneath, as conditions can vary. Once you’ve evaluated the area, choose a shower pan that fits well and allows for proper drainage. Be prepared to reinforce the structure if necessary. It’s also a good idea to ensure proper sealing to prevent leaks. You can find photos and experiences from others who have completed similar projects on boating forums or social media groups.
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