Cockpit Table [Master Thread]

[Gmilburn]

Gonna Build One

Loren,

I love your cockpit table soooo much I'm gonna build one. Plus its an excuse to buy more power tools--since the admiral approves of the table. I will have to modify it for my YS pedestal on my E29--but I will enjoy the challenge--and wood is easy to modify. Could you post a few more pics from all angles, including the bottom so that I can see how the hinges are positioned. Plus maybe a few measurements. I think it is so cool how it cantilevers into position!

Thanks so much!

 

[davisr]

I really like your table Loren. Do you know what type of wood that is that Ericson used in the construction? I'm thinking a lot about wood types and varnish lately with my companionway hatch rebuild.

 

[Loren Beach]

It's still the Bee's Knees

I really like your table Loren. Do you know what type of wood that is that Ericson used in the construction? I'm thinking a lot about wood types and varnish lately with my companionway hatch rebuild.

More pics when I get out to the boat again...
The wood is solid teak and teak veneer ply for the actual top.
We both love the golden look of un-stained teak.

Note that fitting it to a YS (wide) or Edson (narrow) guard is just a matter of locating the holes for the U-Bolts as the factory did it, or using SS clamps as I did.

Gary, I should note that a master cabinet maker I knew always said that "every new project should justify one new tool!"
His wife always approved too, since he build a beautiful new kitchen at home and then all the new cabinets and the galley for our yacht club house.
He was called a couple years ago to an eternal custom woodworking shop in Heaven, and we all miss his wry sense of humor and willingness to teach his woodworking skills to us. Sharp saws and blades, but gentle humor. We miss him.

Best,
Loren

ps: an admission: it does slightly crowd the cockpit area immediately in front of the wheel. So, "every silver lining has a touch of gray" as Jerry G once said.

 

[Blue Chip]

table dimensions??

Timing is everything. I have the table apart and have removed YEARS of varnish. The skipper says she is going to seal or something? Anyway I hope this helps. I have 11 pics, so I may have to do this in two trips.

 

[Blue Chip]

cockpit table size

Now the rest. Sorry I'm not a better pic taker, but thi should help. Hinges are 2 inches.
Skipper says if she designed this all teak table she would have tried to incorporate some fold down "wings" to make it a but wider. Take off the side fiddles and put the fiddles on the wings. you get the idea..
This is great for our type of sailing...We heave to for lunch, or entertain at the dock and never have more than 4 people aboard.
Good luck.

 

[Gmilburn]

Blue chip and Loren,
WOW you have exceeded my expectations--thanks so much for the kind words (Loren) and plethora of photos (Blue chip). I have two pure pieces of teak, 1 x 10 by 36 inches long that should be perfect (just a fyi, I got them on eBay for $89 each which is about the going rate).

I was going to build a table much like the attached photo with fold down wings--now I think I will do BOTH. Attached is a pic of the fold down wing table.

I intend to take a few photos as I go--and hope to post them here. I love sharing ideas with fellow Vikings!

Thanks again.

 

[Loren Beach]

More pics

I was at the boat and just happened to remember that some more pictures were wanted. Sorry to take so long.
I had the camera with me for once, too.
Note that nowadays the home-brewed gps support has been gusseted and painted.
I have a few more pics if anyone wants some high-rez ones sent directly.

Loren

 

[Loren Beach]

One more photo

There was one more photo I wanted to post -- shows the table all up.

 

[Stardust38]

We have one a lot like that on Stardust. Nice to be able to have breakfast in the cockpit if we feel like it.

 

[Loren Beach]

Building / Selling a Table

A friend with a cabinet shop sez he may build one of these for another friend in PDX with an E-38. Once he creates the patterns, he could build more...
I wonder if it's worth his time to work up a "limited production" price?

Anyone interested should let me know their thoughts. I could imagine it being a situation where a firm price is established and then buyers would put up a portion of the money - like half - up front.

There would be some S/H $$, also, from Portland, OR.

We'd have to see a finished prototype first of course.

Your thoughts?

Thanks,
Loren

 

[Michael Bender]

Custom folding table

A friend with a cabinet shop sez he may build one of these for another friend in PDX with an E-38. Once he creates the patterns, he could build more...
I wonder if it's worth his time to work up a "limited production" price?

Anyone interested should let me know their thoughts. I could imagine it being a situation where a firm price is established and then buyers would put up a portion of the money - like half - up front.

There would be some S/H $$, also, from Portland, OR.

We'd have to see a finished prototype first of course.

Your thoughts?

Thanks,
Loren

I have an E32-3 with the original table design and I would be interested in this table, perhaps even with folding wings. Any idea what this might cost?

 

[Akavishon]

solution with folding strut

 

[Loren Beach]

I have an E32-3 with the original table design and I would be interested in this table, perhaps even with folding wings. Any idea what this might cost?

My friend was going to have a cabinet-maker friend of his work up a quote, but that was in 2010. I have not heard mention of the idea since.

Loren

 

[Teranodon]

Here is my DIY table. The slats are teak; the cross pieces - painted oak. Brass screws. It takes a few minutes to attach to the stock table with 5 screws for a very stable configuration. The port and starboard sections can be attached individually. The blue "Sport-a-Seats" provide comfortable seating, at just the right height.

 

[Christian Williams]

Allow me to brag up the cockpit table that came with my boat--apparently a factory job.

It works very well, is entirely stable, and is the most elegant solution I have seen to the issue of holding a piece of wood horizontal without complication.

The key to the design is the dowel.

The table, which can hang from hooks when not in use, is simply jammed over the dowel to cantilever under the drink holder.

The security pin is not actually necessary.

If you copy the design, it seems important to have a close fit so the table is horizontal.

Looks too simple to work, but it does. We have used it twice in the last few weeks, with seven people aboard in 15 knots, and believe it or not the hummus didn;t fall off, and there was no table leg to kick.

I duplicated the mahogany drink holder, so we have space now for eight red cups of Mount Gay and tonic.

I've had lots of cockpit tables, all hateful things. This one actually is a pleasure.

 

[Frank Langer]

Hi Christian,
It looks very elegant! How is it attached to the pedestal?
Frank

 

[Christian Williams]

One set of 2 West Marine plastic rail clamps (like the four on the instrument box).

 

[Frank Langer]

Thanks for your quick reply!
Frank

 

[Loren Beach]

Thread bump. Perhaps a good winter (and pandemic stuck-at-home) project for other owners.
The Admiral still strongly approves of this table for sitting down for 'happy hour' in the cockpit.

Looking closely at the underside of the one on Christian's boat I see the pin the locks the top in place. It is just a clever as ours, and would not protrude quite as much forward when stored. Well designed!

 

[Teranodon]

A word of caution. If you extend the stock table athwartships (I'm pretty sure that's an English word) you may not be able to access the lazaretto (that's not). Surely it depends on the boat, and there are ways of dealing with it, but it's something to consider before cutting wood.