Cockpit Table

[Loren Beach]

Cockpit Table success story:
I thought others might want to view the really *cool* Ericson-built table that I recently bought from another EY.org site member. The top and fiddle joinery is identical to the construction of our dining table, so I assume that this circa-1990 table came from the same guys in the same Ericson cabinet shop as our '88 boat interior parts.

What is really neat is the way the top is supported in the "up" position without an angled brace underneath, and also uses the same hinged pieces of teak to lock it securely in the stowed positon! Nothing to hit your knees on underneath when the table is horizontal.
:cool:

Since my YS pedistal guard is 3 inches wider than the Edson guard this table was sized for, I had to improvise with some ss clamps to hold it to the guard. I may re-engineer this during the winter...
The original attachment was a pair of ss U-bolts, but there was not room to do this on our width guard.
Oh Well. ;)

I tried to take some pictures of it up with the "locking pieces" in place, with the locks swung out and ready to lower, and with it "locked down."

And, yes I will be painting that new FRP holder for the Garmin; red-tinted epoxy IS rather obnoxious, isn't it?
:p

Loren
Olson 34 #8

ps: this is such a nice-looking design that I wonder if/when some woodworker in this group will start building and selling them.

[sleather]

Someone spent some time pondering that connection! Hmmmm

It definetly doesn't predate the "cupholder"LOL

[Mindscape]

That's a really great looking table and a cool design. If anyone starts building them let me know:) Probably way beyond my wood working skills!.

Great find Loren!

[Blue Chip]

Well, that answers one question. Our 1990 32-200 has this table, and we have never seen another one, nor has any other boat owner we have had come visit. I was wondering if it were one of a kind. This is the greatest gadgets since glazed doughnuts.
It's a litttle tricky for your canvas guy to build a cover for the whole assembly ((we have a leather covered wheel and cover it) but once it''s all measured properly, it works like a champ. Highly recommend this.

[Loren Beach]

It's a litttle tricky for your canvas guy to build a cover for the whole assembly ((we have a leather covered wheel and cover it) but once it''s all measured properly, it works like a champ. Highly recommend this.

On the canvas situation, we are way overdue for a new cover for the wheel and guard anyway. The old cover is badly worn and now does not fit over the table and higher guard / bigger wheel, etc.
A local canvas sewer is about to start on it, matter of fact.

Now you have me wondering about the "tricky" part! Perhaps you could post up a picture of yours?

Thanks,
Loren
:rolleyes:

[Blue Chip]

With the "shoulders" provided by the instrument panel and wheel, and the "head" provided by the grab bar, we end up with a somewhat stubby kite shape as the bottom tapers a bit. If you can picture it. The process is achieved by putting a "dart" in the top of the thing with the point being toward the bow. I'm going to the boat in a few days and I'll see what I can do about pictures. Anyone in the Alameda area that wouild like a look, feel free. We are in grand Marina.

[Stuart]

Hi Loren

Nice table, I have been wondering how to loose the leg on ours, now I know. Next winters project. I might even add a fold down counter in the galley at the same time. Thanks for posting.
Cheers
Stuart
SV Fairhaven
Comox BC

[hodo]

I liked the table, showed pics to my son who is a shipwright, and therefore a wood worker, and he said "cool when do I start it?". I am giving him the measurements off of Mischief Maker, an E 38, this weekend, and he will get started hopefully next week. I told him I wanted solid teak, not plywood, he said its about 22-25 bucks a board foot. He works for a wood supplier so he can choose a good grain. If anybody is interested in one for their boat, let me know. He will have the bugs worked out doing mine.
Now I need to go down and check the boat and see how she faired in the 50+ knots of wind we are having.
Harold & Jessie, S/V Mischief :devil: Maker

[Martin King]

Loren,

What does this do?

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p200/cruizin31/lockopenLo-rez.jpg

[Loren Beach]

When you raise the table up to the eatin' position, you fold/bring that hinged L-shape piece forward so the the two pieces of "velcro" engage. Along with it being a tight fit, the "velcro" helps ensure that the teak "L" will stay in place and thereby hold the table top in place.

Loren

[Martin King]

That's velcro? Wow, it sure doesn't look like it from the photo. Or maybe
my eyes are really starting to go... What if you used a rare earth magnet
instead?

[Loren Beach]

That's velcro? Wow, it sure doesn't look like it from the photo. Or maybe
my eyes are really starting to go... What if you used a rare earth magnet
instead?

On the plus side, you would never have to adjust the ship's compass again... (or pay any attention to it at all)
:esad:

[Martin King]

Yeah, that might be a problem, eh?...:egrin:

[tenders]

That looks like Velcro made from little plastic pointy protuberances rather than from hook and loop fabric.

I suspect the plastic is more UV- and weather-resistant, and perhaps more amenable to being screwed into place rather than glued.

(My cars' EZ-Pass toll devices attach to the windshields with similar stuff. The adhesive fails regularly every 2 years, but replacing it beats screwing the thing to the windshield.)

[Emerald]

The port berth in the main cabin on the Independence 31 is configured so your feet stick into the hanging locker. The cushion that separates the berth from the locker when your feet aren't sticking through the hole has what appears to be this same "velcro", and it is indeed a very coarse plastic pointy thing. Quite tenacious in its grip. Often wondered where Ericson got it from. Emerald was built in '79, so it would appear to have been used for a few years on different boats. Wish I had the table instead of the cushion :egrin:

[Martin King]

I always thought velcro was hook and loop fabric. Never seen
the pointy plastic stuff before. Wonder if anybody here knows what
it's called and where to get it. 3M makes these dual lock fastener buttons
with hook and loop that look similar.

[Emerald]

I always thought velcro was hook and loop fabric. Never seen
the pointy plastic stuff before. Wonder if anybody here knows what
it's called and where to get it.

I think "velcro" is hook and loop specifically, and this stuff is really two sets of points that interlock, but can be placed randomly together like velcro. It may be tissue, but it ain't Kleenex
:cool:

[tenders]

"Hook and Loop Self-Lock Mushroom Head" - polyolefin
http://www.mcmaster.com/#hook-and-loop/=3jsz1o

Who needs keelbolts when you can use this stuff?

[Blue Chip]

Loren,

What does this do?

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p200/cruizin31/lockopenLo-rez.jpg

It's a 3-M product and is a "mushroom" type fastener. It apparently was (is) a hard rubber thing that over time has turned (UV) into a hard as a rock plastic thing that just doesn't work anymore. The "mushroom heads" are so hard they don't interact. I can't find them this sylel anywhere. I can find ROUND ones...but these are round on a permament backing you see in the picture.
I'd love to talk to a live body at 3-M. Anyb idea how to do that?

[Lucky Dog]

Heres what I found from 3M and from Master Carr

ml

[Gmilburn]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.:rolleyes:
I have a few more pics if anyone wants some high-rez ones sent directly.

Loren

[Loren Beach]

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]

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