Fiddles on a small boat?

[Aja]

Elsewhere there is a thread asking how best to attach fiddles to a table. The fiddles in question are c15mm in depth. Any fiddles I've ever found useful at sea have been at least 30mm depth if not more.

Has anyone found that fiddles that come on production boats any use?

Donald

 

[Dan Tribe]

The best thing about fiddles is that when a drink is spilled, the guy sitting at the corner gets the full ration in his lap.

 

[Seajet]

A lot of production boats seem designed for standing dead upright on boat show carpet, so I suppose even a token fiddle is nice if one can get it.

 

[vyv_cox]

Fiddles on the saloon table are a total nuisance. Who sits at the table on a 35 ft yacht at sea? In port or at anchor far more preferable not to have them. Galley tops and chart table yes of course, ours are about 40 mm high.

 

[johnalison]

In 45 years of cruising, I have yet to have a sit-down meal at the cabin table while under way. It is possible that when I do, I will need fiddles, but in the meantime I can do without. I avoid anchorages where they might be needed.

 

[Tranona]

A good setup for a small boat is a central fixed table with deep fiddles for use at sea and decent size flaps for use in harbour. I made a table for my Eventide like that and it worked very well.

Never felt the need for fiddles on larger boats, although my last one did have low fiddles on the fixed single piece table. Looked nice but did not perform any useful function.

 

[Hadenough]

I don't get fiddles. At best they are useful on a table used as a food prep area to keep crumbs etc off the upholstery. But as a safeguard to prevent stuff coming off the surface when the boat heels, at sea or at anchor they are a waste of time. Once some thing starts moving on a flat surface its momentum will cause it to trip over any fiddle less than an unrealistic 50 or 75mm high. We use non slip mat.

 

[Aja]

Best place I've found for juggling mugs of tea/coffee/soup/hot chocolate was in the sink with a big sponge. Is it deemed that a yacht is not properly equipped without them? Why do builders persist with them?

Donald

 

[Daydream believer]

I leave books, notes as well as some small items, pencils, watches, phones etc on the table underway. The fiddles are not that high but coupled with a non slip covering I find them handy for stopping those items ending up on the floor. Plates etc would simply ride over the top & launch into space, but like others I find my knees best for supporting plates under way. Around the sink it is handy to stop water stains running down the cabinet faces & down the bunk cushions along the edge on that side. So for me fiddles need not be greater than 30mm but are still very handy

 

[MM5AHO]

At sea we don't even use standard dinner plates, but put everything in soup bowls, and hold them in one hand while sitting, and spoon (never a knife and fork) in other hand. Our saloon table has a longitudinal central hinge. Normally folded in half, that side has fiddles, standing about 10mm above table surface and very useful, though not for dining. When the table is folded out, that half with fiddles is now facing the bilge and the now top surface has no fiddles. That's the place to eat when at anchor or in port and in calm seas. The fiddles just keep things put while getting something out of a locker. I have prepared sandwiches there, and the fiddles keep the breadboard on the table! (but their music is terrible)

 

[richardabeattie]

What you need is a banjo

 

[davidmh]

Some years ago I sailed on a big wooden yacht and it had removable fiddles on tables and some other places. They were about 20mm thick and 40 or 50mm high, The bottom of the fiddle had two brass dowels about 4mm
dia protruding and they fitted into the table. The holes in the table were lined with a brass tube for a good fit. A lovely piece of work, Howver all the time I was on the boat the table ones were never fitted and the other places never had the fiddles removed. The removable fiddle idea may be of use to the OP.

David MH

 

[LittleSister]

I find even the low fiddles useful on a small boat. Even if you don't use the table at sea (and we sometimes do), tied up or at anchor the boat can be moving about a bit due to swell, passing boats' wash or just people moving about the boat (or the table knocked by people moving past it).

It's not just plates and cups that need keeping aloft, but also pens, sewing/knitting needles and escaped peas/nuts, etc. Shove ha'penny anyone?

My previous boat had removable fiddles, as described by davidmh, and did use them - best of both worlds?

If you do make fiddles, don't forget to have 'fiddle-less' corners so you can wipe the crumbs off!

 

[Iain C]

+1 on a bit of a waste of time IMHO. A remnant of the "good old days" before modern non slip materials and probably only there so the yachty mags can say "she boasts a well-fiddled seamanlike table" on the review. Personally I think a height and angle adjustable table would be a far better idea...just as long as no-one tacks in a hurry!

 

[Plum]

Elsewhere there is a thread asking how best to attach fiddles to a table. The fiddles in question are c15mm in depth. Any fiddles I've ever found useful at sea have been at least 30mm depth if not more.

Has anyone found that fiddles that come on production boats any use?

Donald

Can't speak for production boats but my experience is that for open shelves where stuff gets stored 70mm works for me. Tables and galley worktops I find 30mm perfectly adequate but for tables when sitting down to eat I prefer no fiddles as normally I only do this in harbor. My DIY table has a small fiddled surface when folded and a large un-fiddled surface when opened out.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Gunfleet]

Once the question of keeping cups and plates on tables while sailing is solved (my vote goes to 'eat out of the pot') perhaps the team will turn their attention to reliable methods of having a pee under way without cutting your head on the coachroof and peeing on your boots. Only a bucket in the cockpit is really reliable thus far.

 

[Plum]

perhaps the team will turn their attention to reliable methods of having a pee under way without cutting your head on the coachroof and peeing on your boots. Only a bucket in the cockpit is really reliable thus far.

If you are brave you could start a new thread on this.....

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Daydream believer]

Once the question of keeping cups and plates on tables while sailing is solved (my vote goes to 'eat out of the pot') perhaps the team will turn their attention to reliable methods of having a pee under way without cutting your head on the coachroof and peeing on your boots. Only a bucket in the cockpit is really reliable thus far.

Buy a Hanse 31 - I am 6ft 6ins & one of the best things about our boat is the heads.( It sold it to the wife) Almost full standing headroom & plenty of room to manouver :encouragement:

Called it Daydream Believer but had to resist suggestions to call it "Bigaloo":ambivalence:

 

[ex-Gladys]

Once the question of keeping cups and plates on tables while sailing is solved (my vote goes to 'eat out of the pot') perhaps the team will turn their attention to reliable methods of having a pee under way without cutting your head on the coachroof and peeing on your boots. Only a bucket in the cockpit is really reliable thus far.

...dead easy... Sit...

 

[fergie_mac66]

Fiddles in a boat are not friendly unless played really well.Banjos are equally unfriendly