wrr
Active member
Provided that there is a flat surface on the supporting brackets, I would consider using 3M Dual-lock, which is a bit like Velcro on steroids.
I like this idea for the "max strength" option....What about bigHead products | bigHead Bonding Fasteners ? Use epoxy resin, etc on the underside of table. Will add weight but not much.
What do all the other boats do about this table ?
No, you don't have to retire when it breaks.Do you have to retire every time it breaks?
It seems to me if you make it weak enough to fail when it gets a smack you're going to be retiring all the time, and if you're allowed to carry on racing when it fails there's nothing to stop you letting it snap off early in every race. Wheras if you make it super strong you're going to snap the table as you fear.
Who decides what your 'normal' table is, can you just tape a tiny table on and use a massive table when you go cruising?
Personally, I think the table *does* affect your performance and therefore does need to be reflected in the handicap. It's clearly in the way and it's clearly a distraction for you in the race and presumably forces you to retire sometimes. (Because if it doesn't you can legitimately make it so flimsy it always breaks shortly after your preparatory signal.)
The tape was there to protect the crew from the bracket after the table fell off, again....Cant you dismantle the table and take photos of the existing bracket ,because your photo just seems to show something wrapped in tape
No, you don't have to retire when it breaks.
Ok, your plan is what I was thinking, but is not clear in my mind the the method of more secure support to the bracket, without seeing the bracket.The tape was there to protect the crew from the bracket after the table fell off, again....
All you need to know about the bracket is that the top surface is essentially a flat plane with 4 holes in. Regardless of the chosen solution, the plan is to fix a flat wooden block to this, probably ply, and then attach the table to that block. Either by epoxy or something more temporary....
Yes, this or 2 inch wide industrial Velcro, in as many strips as can fit on the contact area. May struggle to remove onve fitted.Provided that there is a flat surface on the supporting brackets, I would consider using 3M Dual-lock, which is a bit like Velcro on steroids.
Yes, this or 2 inch wide industrial Velcro, in as many strips as can fit on the contact area. May struggle to remove onve fitted.
However, when in cruising mode if somebody leans very heavily on the very end, or tries to push themselves up with it, the whole lot could suddenly go. Huge leverage at the end, and if able to come free in extremis when sail handling, won’t handle a 15 stone person pushing down on the end.
Possibly need to bite the bullet and have a couple of extra through bolts in cruising usage, bolts removed (and taken ashore )when racing
But it is essential that it can’t “break off” when being used in cruising mode, with lots of hot food on the table …. then in the floor. Otherwise Flaming’s cruising days may be sadly ended prematurely ! Hence why I would add solid bolts for that mode.The irony is, in Cruising mode it *can* be removed and just fitted when required. It only has to be in place when racing. ...and even then, only until it breaks off.
But it is essential that it can’t “break off” when being used in cruising mode, with lots of hot food on the table …. then in the floor. Otherwise Flaming’s cruising days may be sadly ended prematurely ! Hence why I would add solid bolts for that mode.
I'm surprised that it isn't a problem for the other boats unless they are all different so it is the person doing the measuring being a bit pedantic.
This is far too close to the truth to be funny.I agree. It's like the table is solely there as an obstruction to make it slightly more frustrating and awkward to move through the boat, and get an handicap advantage accordingly. It would drive me mad.
"Yeah, we have to have a live Badger on board. It's not worth the handicap penalty to remove it. I suppose we do all get covered in badger poo and scratched a bit, but it's worth it."
Mind you, people sail some really boring dinghies to get an advantage in a handicap fleet so I guess it's just playing the game.
Whilst our table was an option available from the factory, it does appear that nobody else ever ordered it.I'm surprised that it isn't a problem for the other boats unless they are all different so it is the person doing the measuring being a bit pedantic.