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Outside The Box , First Ext Bunk...Now The Table !

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3448 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/09/2010 : 20:52:34

I first completed my extended bunk on the contrarian side - Side with the stove. The normal think on this was to put it on the starboard side for the bed/length but that blocked off access to the VBerth. So...I figured a way to do the bunk on the port side and it's portable/can easily be taken down and stored with only 3 drop down carriage bolts - that are raised and removed with no nuts. But the bunk does not inhibit access thru the cabin, so we leave it up all the time ! But one problem - The heavy, overly long table that has to be lifted and put into it's hinge support, there now is no room for the support leg. So, I finally designed and bult my "outside the box" Suspended table w/shelves. The table is hinged, so no more lifting it. It is attached with wide mirror clips to the edge of the cabin top/lip but does not interfere with raising the cabin top if desired. It's not for everyone....but works for me.
This setup is secure, cables do not interfere within cabin access and when sliding into table position - No longer a table leg in the way. The cables are plastic coated and have turnbuckles for adjustment. The clips are easily taken off the cabin edge for storage when table is folded up. The shelves and sides are attached/constructed with dowels and the sides are slotted to allow removable of the wood edge guards on each shelf if access is needed for an overly large cup, etc needs to be placed on the shelf - Same with lower area for magazine area. Here goes:

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - OLarryR on 05/09/2010 20:54:33

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2010 : 04:58:35

Cool.. that looks great. Thanks for showing the pictures. I wanna cut my table 15 inches and have it hinge down, so it is good to see one to help me visualize.

I can see it now...

Edited by - on

limey156
1st Mate

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89 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2010 : 06:49:25

wow nice! what an efficient use of space :)

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2010 : 07:28:06

Very innovative, Larry!

Where's the food? Come on, let's eat!

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3448 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2010 : 08:50:21

Thanks guys ! I was all set to get critques of this method. Awhile ago when some of us were posting photos of extended bunks, I took some hits for putting it on the short seat cushion side. But I did it that way for a number of reasons and what I found is that putting an extended bunk on the port side is very comfortable for tall individuals. This is because the majority of the wider width goes past the stove area all the way to the sink and so the legs/feet have plenty of room there to stretch out. The bunk has a small mattress piece purposely cut to to fit that area near the sink/steps to easily facilitate access to the drawers below the sink - That's one drawback of locating the extended bunk on the port side. But with the short mattress piece, that section is easily removable to gain drawer access.

The cables to the table would at first seem to be in the way when gaining access to the table but since I located the hinges in the mid-section of the table, the angle is great enough that you don't hang your head or neck on the cable(s). Also, when the leaf is fully opened, I have it start a little bit away from the mast column. The reaosn for this is with the table set up, you can still squeeze by it to access the VBerth area. One thing maybe not clearly seen is that the shelves are held really only by the 2 hinges visible at the top. the bottom has a dowel on each side that fits into holes in the second square oak 2x 2 or 3x3 I have below the shelf unit. The table is hinged to the second square oak piece. I did this for two reasons : First, it enables me to add shelves and second, it allows me to have a slightly shorter table length that starts about 4-5" from the bulkhead. My reasoning was that if one was sitting near the bulkhead, there was no way they would need touse a table surface starting right against the bulkhead. So, I shortened the table about 4-5", leaving me room for the shelf and then have a slightly less heavy table that still has ample room for two to eat on each side of it.

Edited by - OLarryR on 05/10/2010 08:51:49

sfsmith
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2010 : 13:48:40

Larry, that is a very nice installation. I especially like the table/cabinet combo. I've been planning the same modification. I was going to have the folded table inset into the cabinet, but after looking at your pix I think it makes more sense to have the table all outside the cabinet. That also will allow the table to be a couple of inches longer. Nice job.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3448 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2010 : 20:09:04

Having the table outside the cabinet or at least to the outside edges of the cabinet has at least 3 benefits that i can think of right now. The one you mentioned - You can utilize a slightly larger table. 2nd - Having the table just inside the cabinet may expose any slight off-center or slant between the table and the inside edge of the cabinet since they should be perfectly parallel when table is in stored upright position and then any imperfection will be easily visible. 3rd - Having the table inside the cabinet takes away from the usable space in the cabinet.

There is a lot of careful planning with any of these type undertakings and I found it helpful to use cardboard as a table template to get a feel for what size table worked best for me. Also, you would not believe how many times I took dimensions and kept working it out on paper as well as then getting sample wood sizes to see how the cabinet/table would work out and constantly bringing the woodwork onboard for another check. For example, the table when stored vertically, first the leaf is folded on top of the main table top and then you raise/pivot it upright. Since the table support hinges are attached to the underside of the main tabletop, when you fold it up vertically against the cabinet, the square oak support allows just enough room for the folded table top to line up adjacent to the cabinet. In other words, the cabinet is setback about 1 1/2" to allow both table leafs to pivot up and viewing the vertical positon, you can see the table support hinges are flush with the table top and the square oak support.

Edited by - OLarryR on 05/11/2010 20:14:03

sbell52859
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2010 : 16:00:28

Great Idea ... I like the idea of more berth room ... and the shelf space behind the table looks really nice

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.