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New Table for Traditional Interior

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jaclasch
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USA
104 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/05/2008 : 23:35:06

I’ve always disliked the original table in my traditional interior C25 because it is heavy, clumsy to set up and wobbly once it is in place. For short people, setting it up for use is probably not so bad. A tall person like me, however, has to walk like a troll, heft its full weight out of storage position and then lift it into its support brackets. Not at all good for ones lower back.

Even if you are blessed with an indestructible back it has another major feature on the minus side. It is quite ugly.

Last Fall I decided it was time for a redesign and made a list of features it must have. That was simple. It had to be reasonably attractive, easy to set up and put away, and possess good stability.

It all seemed pretty straightforward and after some careful measuring found I could have a 30-inch table same width as the old one (32 inches) that would fold up against the bulkhead without any loss of leg room. Materials were the next consideration. My first thought was to use double faced ¾- inch teak plywood. Price was not too outrageous and I was ready to go until I compared the teak-ply thickness with that on the bulkhead. It was like comparing paper to cardboard. So I decided to look further.

One of the members of my tennis group owns a millwork company. I asked him for advice and learned that solid African mahogany would be a good option. So the two table tops were fabricated by edge-gluing various width pieces, then planing them to ¾-inch thickness and cutting them to shape. While this was taking place I spent time in the library learning about finishing Mahogany the proper way (wash-coat of de-waxed shellac, pore filler, two coats of shellac and three coats of varnish).

Now, many months later my table is installed. Here it is lowered and opened for use. Notice I used the original teak legs in their original length.

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Storage against the bulkhead is extremely easy and secure. The table tilts slightly against the bulkhead. Two inches from the top the hinge bumps over a plastic detent. So it stays up even without the latch.

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The spring-loaded latch is shown here.

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All that is left to do is replace the old Velcro catches that formerly held the legs together and against the table bottom when in stored position. I plan to use Neodymium recessed magnetic catches that work (and look) much better.

James
1983 FK/TR
Tiempo Dorado

Edited by - jaclasch on 06/05/2008 23:47:39

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2008 : 00:14:15

Impressive!
I'm going to work on mine next winter, I hope I can come close to what you've accomplished.

Edited by - on

cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2008 : 07:56:29

I will be adding a new thread after this weekend. I had several projects that I worked on over the Winter, one of them was the table set up. Like you, I set mine up to fold against the bulkhead. For lower support, I built a small magazine type rack for storage. We are going out on Sunday and the last thing I have to do is install the table and add the locking mechanism to hold it against the bulkhead. The only thing that I didn't do was change out the table top. I shortened the existing table until I had the time to use it for a template and do a new one.

BTW: Yours came out great....

Other projects were to refinish the rudder and add a new tiller, add a small bottle propane stove to the galley, refinish the handrails, and mount the cabin fans that I have had at the boat for a year or two now. Still have to hang the fans, but I am connecting them to existing cabin light circuits so it should be quite easy.

Edited by - cat1951 on 06/06/2008 07:58:17

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2008 : 08:02:16

James,

That is one FANTASTIC looking table! You obviously have some skills!

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2008 : 08:39:06

Two questions...

How long is the new table? and how high off the floor? I love the look of your redesign, but also like the utility of our (ugly) stock table since we are a family of 4.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2008 : 08:52:44

magnificent!

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3478 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2008 : 11:23:50

Very nice table !

So...African Mahogany is another way to go compared to teak Plywood ! Great info...I will look into that also as a consideration for my fall/Winter project. By the way, what glue did you use for making up the width of the table ?

Edited by - on

jaclasch
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USA
104 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2008 : 11:51:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OLarryR
 Very nice table !

So...African Mahogany is another way to go compared to teak Plywood ! Great info...I will look into that also as a consideration for my fall/Winter project. By the way, what glue did you use for making up the width of the table ?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I used Titebond II. I read glue reviews at the library and Titebond II was highly recommended for this type of application.

Edited by - on

jaclasch
Navigator

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USA
104 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2008 : 12:19:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 Two questions...

How long is the new table? and how high off the floor? I love the look of your redesign, but also like the utility of our (ugly) stock table since we are a family of 4.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">The new table is either 30 or 31 inches long (written dimensions are on the boat and I am at home alone with my unreliable memory). Legroom gets very interesting on this boat. My wife and I spent time sitting with a board across our knees calculating minimum required legroom. Claudia requires 22 inches and I need 24 inches. Since the sole is lower on the starboard side going forward, it would have been possible to use 22-inch legroom if I always sat on the starboard side. This would have made a slightly longer table still fit against the bulkhead.

With the shorter table length, however, we have the same legroom as the original and I did not have to shorten the folding leg. It works fine for us but with a family of four, you need more length.

This project is a fine excercise juggling "what ifs." We even considered narrowing the folding leaf to 12 inches so someone could slide by to go forward if necessary.

By the way, my old table boards are available for free if anyone in my general area would like them. This is a limited time offer because I live in a condo and am fast approaching "critical mess" as Claudia has reminded me.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2008 : 12:23:16

Well, there you go. Something we C25 and C250 owners have in common - we hate our stock tables!

You do very nice work. I am impressed.

Edited by - on

cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2008 : 13:01:26

James, My table is 30" long and I set it at 24" for the height. I did have to shorten the table leg, but it wasn't much of a chore. I will post pics after this weekend of our modification.

Edited by - cat1951 on 06/06/2008 13:01:50

Stardog
Captain

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USA
319 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2008 : 13:04:12

Beautiful table, the wood just glows! I thought my old stock table was okay, but it pales in comparison to yours. I have one problem with putting my table away against the bulkhead; I've mounted a compass there, just above the surface of the table. It takes away my nervousness when anchored in stormy conditions, I can see the direction the bow is facing, so I know whether or not the anchor has pulled out and I'm scudding across the lake unmanned at hullspeed.

But all that aside, your table is really very nice and to be admired by all of us and all who go aboard your boat.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2008 : 13:30:49

James, Very nice. I gotta admit I am jealous cuz I have a c250 and you cant do that table set-up on mine.
Steve A

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