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Setting an Outdoor Table
by Chris Caswell
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Most boats have a dinette table in the cabin that can be converted for use as a berth at night. But you'd probably rather have that table installed in the cockpit, for alfresco dining on those pleasant summer evenings.
Here's how to make that table movable, so it can be used wherever you need it.
Most tables are supported on an aluminum post with a pedestal base, so those are the two parts that you'll need. You can usually order a second pedestal from your boat dealer or a marine hardware store.
You won't want the pedestal sticking up in the middle of the cockpit, so you'll need to recess it underneath the cockpit sole (as shown in the drawing). Use marine plywood spacers -- to add strength and to adjust the depth of the pedestal, so it is flush with the cockpit floor.
Seal the pedestal installation with silicone sealant. You may want to make a plug to fill the pedestal hole when it is not in use, so it won't become a "toe-stubber" in the cockpit.
If you don't want to go to the effort to add a pedestal, you can find screw-on table legs at a hardware store in a variety of lengths. Mount four metal attachment plates for the legs on the bottom of your dinette tabletop -- one at each corner. When you want to use the table in the cockpit, simply screw in the four legs, which can be stored easily when they aren't needed.
Whichever method you use, a movable table can turn the cockpit into a very pleasant outdoor dining area.
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This article first appeared in the September 1, 1996 issue of Sea Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
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