L shaped to U shaped dinette

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tomfoolery
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Joined: 8/23/11
Posts: 43
L shaped to U shaped dinette

We are still on the search for a 36 to replace the Catalina 30 we sold last year. I have always preferred the U shaped dinette but it will certainly not be a deal breaker if we find a good boat with an L shaped dinette. Has anyone converted an L to a U ? We would likely be replacing the upholstery in a boat we buy and I don't see any issues in building a teak box forward in the salon and installing a pedestal and new table. Am I missing something? Thanks.

Tom Irwin
North Saanich, BC, Canada
1983 Catalina 30 - #3134
Until June 10, 2013
Future Catalina 36 MK II owner

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pkeyser
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Joined: 5/18/13
Posts: 659

Tom-
We upgraded from a U to an L on our 36. We had a pedestal table on our 30. We don't miss it a bit- enjoy the extra cabin space with table stowed…plus the 36 has the second, smaller table for guest seating flexibility. For me, the pedestal table was always in the way of under seat access or storage.

…but that's just my opinion. Seems like it would be fairly straight forward to make a box seat against the bulkhead, purchase a pedestal and cut the existing table down in length- your'e in business

Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B

hschlama
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Joined: 11/2/15
Posts: 1

Can you describe how difficult the upgrade was to reconfigure from a U to an L configuration on your C36? Seems like a big undertaking...

Hans Schlamadinger
​1992 Catalina 36 Mk I
​Columbus, IN

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plaineolde
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Posts: 753

We had an L on the C30 and now have the U shaped dinette. Plus and minus to both. I generally prefer the U. I did find the factory table got in the way, so I made a new one that folds back on itself, so it takes up half the space. Others have copied the table on one of the bigger Catalinas, that has all 4 corners fold up on top. You can probably find the articles on the forum if you look.

My wife calls the storage under the forward seat the 'nice storage locker'. It holds a ton of stuff.

Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay

William Miller
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Joined: 10/4/08
Posts: 294

We like the U on our boat but replace the table that folds up the side so we have the room and the table space.My wife does not like the game table so that section is a long couch perfect for laying down to read or watch T.V

Bill Miller
S/V Lorraine
Pacific Northwest,Sound Sound
Grapeview,Wa
1990 Mk1

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Chachere
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Posts: 825

If you do make the conversion, I have the original table for the U configuration that can be yours for free (other than shipping, which, alas, might not be cheap from NY to BC). Or anyone else who would like it...

I built a replacement a few years ago with folding corner scheme, it makes accessing that area much easier, and we find we rarely unfold it:
[url]http://www.c36ia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1624[/url]

Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY

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JAS
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Posts: 258

I have never been on a C36 with U-shaped dinette, but I am here to tell you my wife and I love, Love, LOVE all the extra room that can be created by putting up the L-shaped table.

Joel Schwartz
s/v Get-A-Grip
1993 Catalina 36 Hull #1259
Newport Beach, California

BudStreet
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Joined: 9/4/09
Posts: 1127

WRT access to lockers, we just spin the table as needed. It is offset, so spinning it gives you pretty much unrestricted access to the lockers under the seats. We generally leave it the "wrong" way which gives an unobstructed walkway forward. Plus the pit when it's lowered for video entertainment at night is just the finest for snuggling with my sweetie and our cats.

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HowLin
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Joined: 1/12/12
Posts: 355

[QUOTE=JAS;21345]I have never been on a C36 with U-shaped dinette, but I am here to tell you my wife and I love, Love, LOVE all the extra room that can be created by putting up the L-shaped table.[/QUOTE]

Ditto on that for us too.

Tom if you're coming up Nanaimo-way sometime I'd be glad to show you around our boat...

---- Howard & Linda Matwick ----

--- S/V "Silhouette" - Nanaimo, BC ----

--- 1999  C36 MkII  #1776 M35BC ---

tomfoolery
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Joined: 8/23/11
Posts: 43

Thanks for the feedback all. We had an L shape on or 30 for 15 years , pros for either, we will just see what appears ! Thanks for the invitation Howard, I enjoyed your blog of the VI trip , well done.

Tom Irwin
North Saanich, BC, Canada
1983 Catalina 30 - #3134
Until June 10, 2013
Future Catalina 36 MK II owner

knotdoneyet
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Joined: 7/27/12
Posts: 253

If you are going to do the "U", that's the way to do it!

[QUOTE=Chachere;21344]If you do make the conversion, I have the original table for the U configuration that can be yours for free (other than shipping, which, alas, might not be cheap from NY to BC). Or anyone else who would like it...

I built a replacement a few years ago with folding corner scheme, it makes accessing that area much easier, and we find we rarely unfold it:
[url]http://www.c36ia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1624[/url][/QUOTE]

2000 C36 MKII 1825

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