Folding cockpit teak table

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Stevenjones
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Folding cockpit teak table

Interesting design for a folding cockpit table...shouldn't be too difficult to build.

I have this on my winter list to build!

http://shop.catalinaowners.com/prod.php?50777/

Steven Jones

C36/375IA FaceBook group administrator

C36/375IA Jib Sheet Editor 2012

Seal Beach, CA, USA
C36 #2164 Maléna  2003 Mk-II SRig/FullK,  Long Beach, CA

stevenjones21@gmail.com

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Catboat Willy
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http://www.zarcor.com/products/order-rail-clamps.php

Steve;

 I built a cockpit table for my Catalina several years ago. Not being an expert carpenter, I had difficulty attaching the unit to the pedestal rails.

I found these devices, 'Rail Clamps by Zacor'  (about $12.00 each) to be a great solution to attach the table to the rails. They work well and will allow you to remove the table easily when it needs to be refinished. I can send you dimensions for the table I built. The flat hinges can be obtained from Rockler Woodworking Hardware, Medina, MN. www.rockler.com

I‘ll send a few pictures later in the day .

Bill Dolan

 

PS. Great job on the C-36 FaceBook page.

Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041  'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte  Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'

 

Wally-1840
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Posts: 117

Hi Steven,
I’ve built 3; one for my boat, and two for friends; one a Catalina 34, and the other a Hunter 37. I just finished the Hunter’s a couple of weeks ago. Total materials cost was $275. I used 6 board feet of teak, 2 brass hooks to hold the leaves down when folded, and 2 pairs of brass “sewing machine table” hinges from Rockler. Mounting hardware was separate and I’ll explain below. The dimensions for all 3 are: 28” long x 13” wide with leaves folded. The leaves extended make it 26” in width. The finish was Minwax Helmsman.
 
Mounting hardware was Edson for the Hunter, as they already had an Edson plastic lunch table and they will use that for the new table. For mine and the Cat 34, we both had Seateak tables and used that support rod. I used “Seastow Rail Clamps” from Defender to mount the table to the pedestal. I needed a pair for the teak bracket that I mounted the SS piano hinge up top and a pair to mount the teak bar for the Seateak bracket that receives the support rod below. Using these clamp-on devices allows for obtaining a level table. 

I built the two out of all teak and mine, (the first one), has a ~ 2” wide strip of Yellow Heart in the center of the base table. When varnished, it looks iridescent. 

Here’s a photo of the table under construction. 

 

Wally
"Onanne"
2000 MKII, deep keel, tall rig
​Lake Champlain
 

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Catboat Willy
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Wally;
 Please tell me more about the support leg for your cockpit table. I have a solid fold-down leg that always seems to be in the way and would love to eliminate the thing.
 Thanks,
 Bill

Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041  'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte  Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'

 

Wally-1840
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Posts: 117

Hi Bill,
For two I had the support hardware from previous tables. All I had to do was make two “bars” out of teak that attach to the pedestal. The upper has the ss piano hinges that attach the table to the pedestal guard. The lower bar has the recepticals that the “U” shaped bracket that’s attached to the underside of the table. These bars are held to the pedestal guard with the plastic clamps I mentioned above.

Now that I look at the Seateak tables, it seems they use a leg, mine didn’t. Maybe they were AFI or something. Darned if I can find that now. It was a much less expensive table that Edson, but the hardware works well. It looks similar to below. I cut off the curved parts of the brackets and screwed then onto the aforementioned teak bars.

For the third table, the boat owner already had an Edson luncheon table and will simply swap tops. 

Hope this helps. 

 

Wally
"Onanne"
2000 MKII, deep keel, tall rig
​Lake Champlain
 

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Catboat Willy
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Thanks Wally.
 I'm off to the Rockler Catalogue to see if they have anything that might be close. I appriciate the pictures.
Bill

Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041  'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte  Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'

 

Wally-1840
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Posts: 117

Bill, 
If you don’t mind the bucks, the Edson hardware is sure nice. 

Just as an aside, I used a top-bearing, pattern bit in my router to cut the relief for the hinges. It takes two cuts; one for the hinge leaf and a second to allow for the pin barrel. I have a hinge mortising jig with an insert that exactly matches the Rockler sewing machine table hinges. I highly recommend setup cuts on a piece of pine or something to get it dialed in. Teak is stupid-expensive!

Forgive me me if you are already familiar with this kind of work.

Keep us up to date on your project!
Wally

Wally
"Onanne"
2000 MKII, deep keel, tall rig
​Lake Champlain
 

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Stevenjones
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Posts: 74

Bill, Willy.
Thanks for your contributions to this cockpit table discussion.  
The hardware sources - hinges and mounting rail clamps- are appreciated. 
As for the under table support, I'm a bit lost on how this support works.  Would you send a photo of the bottom of the table, assuming you have one?
And, what are your thoughts on using a folding table leg, as this one from Rockler:
http://www.rockler.com/click-foldable-table-leg

Steven Jones

C36/375IA FaceBook group administrator

C36/375IA Jib Sheet Editor 2012

Seal Beach, CA, USA
C36 #2164 Maléna  2003 Mk-II SRig/FullK,  Long Beach, CA

stevenjones21@gmail.com

Wally-1840
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In the picture I attached of the support, that U-shaped rod is held to the bottom of the table with two straps. The table is lifted, the U rod is swung down and hooked into eyes on the pedestal guard. The rod will form a 45 deg angle between the table and the guard. I don’t have a picture of the bottom of my table and the boat is under cover, under snow and 2 hours away. I really like the Edson brackets.
As for the Rockler support, a leg will work but get in the way when you slide in. Also I’d want to make sure any metal parts are stainless. 
Here’s a picture of how it works.

Wally
"Onanne"
2000 MKII, deep keel, tall rig
​Lake Champlain
 

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Anteup
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Great info thanks guys. Does anyone have the dimensions with the two foldable leaves like Steve's three pictures? Also has anyone used the hinge such as the one Steve has shown? Happy holidays!!

Wally-1840
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Posts: 117

OK,
My tables are 28” long x 13” wide, leaves folded. That means the leaves are 6 1/2” wide each to get maximum width extended. I make then a touch narrower so they won’t interfere with each other due to the “looseness” of the hinges. Which brings us to the hinges. In Steve’s pictures, like my tables, they are “sewing machine table” hinges or sometimes known as “twin-pin” hinges. They will allow the leaves to fold flush on top of the table. They have an inherent “looseness” or wiggle if you will. That’s why I size the leaves a touch narrower than the fixed top. I got mine from Rockler Woodworking. Hope this helps.

Wally
"Onanne"
2000 MKII, deep keel, tall rig
​Lake Champlain
 

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Stevenjones
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Wally,the folding leaves 'a touch narrower than the fixed top'... This is good info, I see why.
As for the hardware, I appreciate your comment about Edson.  I looked up their folding cockpit tables on their website, and see they sell a complete hardware kit, including the 'knee brace' support you mentioned.  I concur this support is much better than a vertical pole support..Thanks for this suggestion  See photos
Also, I see the double pin 'Butler Tray Table' or 'Twin Pin Sewing Machine Table' hinges you refer to. See photos
And lastly, I also like the attachment to the pedestal holding the table in place when down, to alleviate the need of a bungee cord.  see photo 'spare table clips'
This has been a great discussion on how to make one of these tables.  I'm good at wordworking, have lots of tools and decades of experience as a hobby.  So I'm going to give this a try.  

Steven Jones

C36/375IA FaceBook group administrator

C36/375IA Jib Sheet Editor 2012

Seal Beach, CA, USA
C36 #2164 Maléna  2003 Mk-II SRig/FullK,  Long Beach, CA

stevenjones21@gmail.com

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Wally-1840
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Hi Steven,
One thing, don’t use “ butlers tray hinges”. They only fold to 90 deg not the 180 you need. Best of wishes and keep us up on your project.
Wally

Wally
"Onanne"
2000 MKII, deep keel, tall rig
​Lake Champlain
 

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Stevenjones
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Great advice on the butler tray hinges only opening up to 90 deg Wally!   Thank you!

Steven Jones

C36/375IA FaceBook group administrator

C36/375IA Jib Sheet Editor 2012

Seal Beach, CA, USA
C36 #2164 Maléna  2003 Mk-II SRig/FullK,  Long Beach, CA

stevenjones21@gmail.com

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Catboat Willy
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Steve, Wally,
 Wally, glad you mentioned that fact about the 'butler hinge' to Steve. I did make that mistake myself and ordered the incorrect hinge from Rockler. On my table, I 'cheap-ed' out and put in a locking solid folding table leg that is used to support the table when it is in use. While it was an expedient and an inexpensive solution to support the table top, the solid leg is constantly in the way when the table is in use. I just could not see the $400.00 + for the Edson hinge.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably not make the table at all and go with the cockpit table from Zacor Marine made out of StarBoard.
Much less expensive and no refinishing. See; http://www.zarcor.com/products/c-tables/index.php  It's worth taking a look at their photos too as to note the method the used to support their tables. In the end my table took three weeks worth of spare time and $380.00 in teak and parts. Oh, I capped off my table with a commercially obtained 'drink holder which was another $59.00.

Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041  'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte  Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'

 

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Stevenjones
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Bill...you make an excellent point about the Zacor Marine table!  I've checked out the website you referenced.  I'm sold!  I think this will be the way to go! Three weeks of my free time is best spent on other endeavors! 

Thanks for the guidance here from all responders!  I really appreciate all these tips and advice in this web General Forum thread! 

I'm going to reference this forum thread in the Facebook posting I placed concurrently on this cockpit table subject, to steer Facebook users to this discussion topic, which for some will be their first introduction to our web forums. For other users, now more aligned with Facebook, it will serve as a reminder of the wealth of information here. 

I want to be honest. I originally posted this cockpit table subject both on our 'Facebook Group', and at the same time, on our 'General Forum'.  I wanted to see which venue had the most responses, as well as which one had the most in-depth responses!  This web forum is the clear victor!  I'm pleasantly surprised!   Our new C36/375 IA Facebook group's mission statement includes the promotion of our IA, new/renewed membership, and use of these forums!  Steve

 

Steven Jones

C36/375IA FaceBook group administrator

C36/375IA Jib Sheet Editor 2012

Seal Beach, CA, USA
C36 #2164 Maléna  2003 Mk-II SRig/FullK,  Long Beach, CA

stevenjones21@gmail.com

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