LEGLESS DINETTE TABLE

[drbridge]

I made a modification to the table on our boat that was pretty simple and gets the table leg out of the way.
First I made a partition for storage next to the side of the hull under the table. Then made a new mount for the table leg against the partition that allows the leg to be cantilevered at an angle and gives us more foot room. I did not have to cut the leg and it will still mount in the original spot, but we never use it. It is so much more comfortable to not have the leg in the way of our feet. We have been out in some pretty sloppy water and it has never come apart. It also can still be easily made in to a bed.
There are pictures of it in our album.

 

[Sunbeam]

That's a great mod :thup I currently have a horizontal shelf at about the level of the top of your added "bin wall." Maybe I'll change it around to be like yours, or do a combination. Thanks for the idea!

 

[Sunbeam]

That's a great mod :thup I currently have a horizontal shelf at about the level of the top of your added "bin wall." Maybe I'll change it around to be like yours, or do a combination. Thanks for the idea!



Sunbeam

PS: Looking at your photos reminded me about the hull/cabin-side shape there and that my previous idea wouldn't work very well (hinged vertical bracket).

 

[Molly Brown]

SoBelle...Thanks for the link. I'm a visual kind of guy and pics and links really help get things across.

Rob...Where do you store the "other" piece of wood for the dinette? Does it have more than one use? That seems to be a rule that has evolved over time...where to put all the stuff!! So now any gear has to have 2 uses, excepting safety and quality of life items, of course.

Michael...The leg in legless is not what I was thinking either, but I have to say it solves a lot of my layman engineering! I do think just moving the leg back on an angle is all I really need since it's the entry and exit of feet and bulky items we store under the dinette that's got me looking to do something.

Doug...The leg in your setup is what we have on our boat. The positive lock broke years ago but the leg was still perfectly usable. Just lift the dinette table, flip the leg back and set the dinette on the bunk mounts. But, ours is sooo crudy and rusted I'm looking to replace it and that got me to looking at some kind of legless setup.

Sunbeam.....Your real good on this site. Thanks for dragging Doug's pictures out. I didn't even go looking since you posted them. There's nothing I hate more than looking for something I saw or read somewhere. Guys like you make it painless!

Joe...I should give you a shout out for help as well. Good thing you guys never forget anything, lol

James

 

[RobMcClain]

Well James, I have to admit I was afraid you (or someone) might ask that. I'll see if I can explain it... In our boat there is a trick to making the forward dinette seat a front-facing seat so the passenger can sit across from the captain. To do so I must first drop the dinette table. Then I slide the base of the front seat rearward. Unlike some C-Dory configurations, our dinette table is not split across with a hinge designed to support the backrest cushion. Instead, I need a insert a separate piece of wood into the base unit to support the backrest cushion. This piece of wood is the same one used to hold the backrest in the normal dinette position. That cushion is not snapped to the boat when in the normal dinette position, but instead has an upside down fabric pouch that fits over the wood and holds the backrest cushion in place. This same piece of wood (which is ~3/4" thick) is also used to lay horizontally between the dinette base sections to support the backrest cushions laid in the area left open when the dinette table has been lowered vertically against the hull.

This poor description is no doubt very confusing, but I don't know how to explain it any better. Bottom line is the wood is not at all in the way of anything. When we bought the boat we thought we would use the front facing dinette seat, but turns out we didn't really like not being able to have the table up at the same time. Mary really likes having the table in front of her and she really isn't "far" from me in such a small space. Having the table up allows her to lean on it, spread out a chart or book, it's someplace to put a drink and/or food, etc.

Rob

 

[Sunbeam]

...but turns out we didn't really like not being able to have the table up at the same time. Mary really likes having the table in front of her and she really isn't "far" from me in such a small space. Having the table up allows her to lean on it, spread out a chart or book, it's someplace to put a drink and/or food, etc.

That's kind of how my boat has been so far too. I don't have the sliding seat, but after looking over how it was built, I figured if I wanted one I'd add it -- but would try it first as-is. It hasn't had a major trial with two people, but a buddy did spend a month on Powell with me. It was as you said. Either the co-pilot sat at the aft seat with the full table to use; or sometimes sat side-saddle in the forward seat, with the table to right hand for the same type of use. Maybe I'd change my mind if two of us did a whole Great Loop or something, but for now I like it as is, and I also like the one big hatch on the wide under-table storage (beneath the table area sole).

Heck, maybe it was good to have a little "space" with one of us in the aft seat

'Course everyone prefers their boat their own way (as it should be). I always enjoy getting new ideas, whether or not I end up using them :thup