Table to cabin sole fixtures?

[Roach1948]

Working on my saloon table and I would like to ask how a table is normally attached to the cabin sole? I see that classic marine do table screws that are VERY expensive but it does not show how these attach the sole? What do other people use to secure their tables to be sturdy enough to take a somebody lurching onto it at sea but also allowing it to be removed when required?

 

[Seagreen]

Backatcha Roach!

Normally these screw into the base plate supplied, which ought to be screwed (bolted) to the non-moving cabin sole. However, since my entire cabin sole comes up in one big awkward piece, I'm going to make little false hole covers in bits of brass plate just to stop the holes from being too damaged, and I'm bolting false chocks to the floors underneath where the table screws will actually attach.

 

[Roach1948]

Well you brought up a good point as my sole comes up in three great jigsaw pieces too, but I can't see the table legs coinciding with the sole bearers if I have the table to my required length - so I would need to go a different solution or make the table shorter. Mhhhh...

 

[Tranona]

If it is the item in their catalogue described as Table leg screw, then it is the biz. You need to ensure that the plate is fixed to a solid bit of cabin sole, not a lifting bit for obvious reasons. I have used a similar screw for many years on a fold up table.

 

[Seagreen]

Can't you put chocks on the side of the floors and then put the legs in the same place? I've made (well, designed. Got a cockpit to rebuild yet) the table so that the screws should do this, andgived the table a slight overhang. I've also designed it so that the table comes to bits in 3 sections and stows up folded under the lockers when at sea. Well, that's the idea.

 

[Boatmik]

Depends a bit on the use and size of the boat too.

The main thing is that if you use it in conditions where the boat might be thrown round (and the crew inside) you don't want it to break loose when some big fella gets flung across the boat at high velocity.

In that case the table has to be very firmly mounted to permanent structure.

On the opposite end there are lots of big hire houseboats that run on the river here (or normally would - some areas are pretty dry now) that just use normal household furniture.

They are big enough and the water is calm enough that the occasional ski boat wake will be no problem.

I think everything else is between those two extremes.

Michael Storer

 

[cliffordpope]

Consider hanging from the ceiling rather than supported from the floor. That way people can't kick it and spill your cornflakes as they shuffle in.

 

[Roach1948]

Never seen an overhead hung table that really works. You need to tension it from below to stop it from wobbling, even then they will still wobble, and IMO still likely to spill your conflakes. A sturdy table, which is what I hope for, should be solid enough not to move when stumbled upon.

 

[Sequoiah1]

If you can wait till after the w/e i can take some pictures of how our saloon table is held down, its a monster of a teak thing made by the first owner but is uses wooden pockets attached to the sole or possibly the floors and is pegged through the pockets to the legs. The legs drop down through the pockets into the bilge to allow the table to form a double berth. The only down side I can see is that you either have part of the sole fixed or it is attached to the floors in the bilge.

 

[Seanick]

The fittings that go under the cabin sole need to be attatched or go through a sole bearer, not just the cabin sole. Looks like your gonna have to tweek your sole to fit the table legs.
A post at one end from sole to deckhead can provide support for your table, crew, and cornflakes...

 

[Seagreen]

Yes, depending on the cabin layout, a strong post at one end, or even the middle of the table, can be a very useful handhold right in the middle of the cabin. However, if you want to take the table down for a sea passage, it could well be too much of a problem.

 

[Peterduck]

When renovating the saloon on my old ketch, I built a stout newel post which fitted between the cabin sole and the coachroof. The end of the table attached to this. This created a wonderful handhold, and ensured that the cabin sole was not going to jump around if the outside conditions became 'untidy'.
Peter.

 

[Roach1948]

I'm not too keen on a post as she is a very small yacht and i'm not exactly a smurf. Infact, I plan to attach the forward end of the table to the keel stepped mast - already a good hand hold. So I am really just looking for a solution for the after end. I think the easiest solution will be to shorten the table to the leg meets a sole bearer.