cockpit table systems

[Birdseye]

couple of years ago I bought the pole and sockets for a cockpit table together with a teak top. Not yet been installed for a variety of reasons but now coming under wifely pressure. This system http://www.kjhowells.com/PS01

Question is, before I carve a hole in the teak cockpit floor - does this system work well or does it give a wobbly table? At this stage I can still swap it for one that comes off my binacle ( problem - the main sheet track is right in front of the binnacle) or the ugly system that has an ally plate to the side of the cockpit as in http://www.kjhowells.com/ISO01

So advice and reports please.

 

[Poignard]

My cockpit table has the pedestal and a socket in the cockpit floor. It works fine. When not in use the table top is stowed in the forepeak and the leg in a cockpit locker. The only problem I've had is the leg getting stuck in the socket!

 

[Leighb]

We have a system whereby the table leg is clamped at deck level, allowing height adjustment. When released the whole leg slides down so that the table top is level with the bunk base thus converting nicely into a double.

It was presumably a proprietary system available in the late 70s as I have seen the same on another Halmatic 30. That one also had a socket mounted in the centre of the cockpit so the table and leg could be moved for use in the cockpit.

The only snag with that seemed to us to be the large trip hazard on the cockpit floor.

 

[LadyInBed]

I would use http://www.kjhowells.com/SSFB01

 

[Stork_III]

I have the "Ugly" one, being tiller steered. I don't find it ugly. It gives variable height as well as variable lateral location of the table.

 

[SteveSarabande]

The leg on mine gets stuck in the floor holder quite often. I am going to drill a screwdriver size hole low down to add some leverage. I find my small table pretty stable in use.

 

[boguing]

I've used the pole type, and they are pretty stable.

I had one very similar to the ugly one on a boat that I had. Works well too, but if you are a perfectionist like me, you'll be spending hours getting the mounting plate truly vertical. The cockpit sides will have been moulded with a taper (to allow release from the mould). It's normally between one and three degrees, but that looks horrible when the table is in position!

I'd go for the pole.

Edit: Just remembered - stowing the table with the spigot for the ugly type is problematic. The rest of it is pretty much sharp edged everywhere.

 

[mcalan]

[

+1 I have this and its not wobbly ! QUOTE=LadyInBed;4583216]I would use http://www.kjhowells.com/SSFB01[/QUOTE]

 

[Poignard]

If you go for the pole type, it might be worth shopping around for the best price. Motor caravan equipment suppliers sell them.

 

[sailorman]

This is what we have
http://www.poertner-zwaardvis.de/en/products/tablepedestals/81501.php

check-out their site for others

 

[mdonnelly]

I've used the pole type, and they are pretty stable.

I had one very similar to the ugly one on a boat that I had. Works well too, but if you are a perfectionist like me, you'll be spending hours getting the mounting plate truly vertical. The cockpit sides will have been moulded with a taper (to allow release from the mould). It's normally between one and three degrees, but that looks horrible when the table is in position!

I'd go for the pole.

Edit: Just remembered - stowing the table with the spigot for the ugly type is problematic. The rest of it is pretty much sharp edged everywhere.

When I bought mine it came with several very fine plastic wedges that enable a vertical mount to be obtained. I also don't find it 'ugly', it enhances socialising in the cockpit and there's no leg to accidentally kick and cause a wobble!