Table Leg Problem

C-Dude · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 12:39 am Post subject: Table Leg Problem

How's it going fellow people with the best choice in boats. I was wondering if any of you have an idea where I may be able to get a replacement table leg for my 2000 22' C-Dory. It is one of the only components on the boat that I am dissapointed in. It is made of what I believe to be is a cheezily coated ordinary steel. Mine is connected to the table with stainless screws (dissimilar metals).

The table leg is rusting out and I want to get it out of the boat ASAP, but I need to find a replacement. I have looked at West Marine and Defender Marine, but they do not appear to carry any table legs of that design. Otherwise, I will buy 1"x1" stainless stock and make my own replacement leg. I would rather get the whole apparatus though, because I could not build the fittings that join the leg to the table out of stainless and they are badly rusting too. Hope the factory is reading this!

Overall, I love the C-Dory, but I think the table could use some improvements. The fastners that join the table to the boat need to be improved as well. If you lean on the edge of the table, the table fitting pops out of the holder and becomes completely unattached, making it potentially dangerous in rough seas. I did install a screw in fastner that fastens the table leg to the floor a little more security.

Just my 2 cents.

colobear · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 1:09 am Post subject:

you might try an RV or trailer dealer/catalog. Some Trailers have virtually the same leg supporting a dinette. You could also try a woodworking catalog such as Rockler's WWW.Rockler.com.

sailor-d · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 1:41 am Post subject: Table leg

I too had a rusting leg. I sawed most of the leg off below the hinge/lock mechanism, turfed it and cleaned up the part that attaches to the table. I fashioned a square wooden leg out of clear doug fir and fitted into the metal socket (drilled a SS bolt through for security). Good application of Sikaflex and it looks great.
I have seen a solution to more securely attach the table to the cabin wall but cannot recall on whose boat it was done.

Cheers - Dave

Mighty Bite · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:13 am Post subject:

C-Dude, I hear Ya. The table prior to 2005 left something to be desired. The thing is unstable, insofar as the hardware is concerned. I've got a 2004 and it
was the same setup you have. I haven't had the rusting problem, as yet. The old mounting system was simply unsatisfactory, so I upgraded to the new
version of the mounting.

I got all the current hardware from C-Dory directly and installed it spring of last year, including the teak (pre-drilled) mounting board for the table the blind hinges, which replace the pockets, lock down device for the table, and the securing bracket for the bottom of the table leg. Made all the difference in the world. I'm really happy with it now.

Good luck!

Sea Wolf · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 5:00 am Post subject:

C-Dude:

Here are two links to other discussions of this problem:

Table Instability

Unstable Dinette Table

Joe.

tsturm · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: Table Leg Problem

ffheap · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 1:24 pm Post subject:

Years ago a purchased a table leg made from aluminum from J. C. Whitney. It came in three parts, top, bottom (same) and pipe for the leg. Try there catalog.

Also try marine catalogs, especially ones like Kellogg out of Old Lime Ct. You might find the bottom, the top, and the pipe for the center. A little sawing and you have a leg. They might be on different pages or sections.

Boaters World and West Marine Catalogs have mostly everything all ready to go. There might be something there.

This is the old way we did things.

Fred

Eugene · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 8:03 pm Post subject:

As it comes to replacing the leg, you might want to "Google" the string "folding table bracket" and you will find numerous solutions. One of them will be the previously mentioned rockler.com: http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=9993&cookietest=1.

Thanks,

Eugene

Adeline · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:37 pm Post subject:

I just followed Joe's link Unstable Dinette Table and tried the technique offered up by Doug / Liberty Call. I was stunned. Just like Doug (and Tyboo) said the tangs slipped nicely(and fully) into their recesses like never before. After 18 years of that table flopping I think this is finally the solution. Thanks guys !

drjohn71a · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:10 am Post subject:

C-Dude -

Those folding legs are a pain, even in RV's! The new TomCats and, I think, Cd25's have the definitive answer:

The large, metal cylinder leg mounted as far inboard as possible, and two, wall-mounted, slide locking holders. This setup is rock solid! To unhook, you raise the table off the large tube and slide it forward or aft, out of the slide lock holders. This gives you a stable, three point support with the strongest right by the center aisle, right where you need strength in rough water.

John

C-Dude · Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 11:00 pm Post subject: Table problems hopefully solved

Thanks for all the generous advice guys! I called the factory and they are going to send me out the new setup, including the tubular leg and the new sliding hinges. The factory rep says that the new setup works great. To my suprise the stainless sliding hinges and the locking hinge will cost $25 and the new powder coated aluminum cylindrical table leg and mounts will cost $45. This is very reasonable after doing some research with some marine suppliers.

The factory is currently out of the table leg, but should be getting some in soon. The leg is custom made for the C-Dory. It has a longer tube for when the table is all the way up and additionally has a shorter tube for when the table is in the down position for sleeping. This will definitely add more support. The rep said the new setup is very stable. Cool