Dinette: Up or Down?

[Minnesail]

I was admiring Igetit80 did on the dinette, but I got to wondering how many people actually use it?

During my first year I mostly kept it up, but my wife complained that it just got in the way and it's not like we sit down for formal dinners, so now we leave it down and just have a nice big couch there.

What do other people do?

 

[Stu Jackson]

We kept ours up until it was time for bed. We made the slip-in plywood filler piece so we had a queen sized berth. Even though we sailed where it was very warm, we ate down below for breakfast and dinner. 1981 #10496

Your boat, your wife, your choice.

 

[Lafayette Mike]

I was admiring Igetit80 did on the dinette, but I got to wondering how many people actually use it?

During my first year I mostly kept it up, but my wife complained that it just got in the way and it's not like we sit down for formal dinners, so now we leave it down and just have a nice big couch there.

What do other people do?

1986 boat. We kept it up the first two years, but never ate/sat down at it. It just collected stuff (we slept in the V-berth). I took it out for the next two years. Really enjoyed having the floor space and it made the dinette seats more accessible/usable. (Still slept in the v-berth). Thinking about sleeping on an air mattress laid across the dinette/quarterberth area this year, stowing stuff in the v-berth.

 

[Gene Neill]

I'm sensing a trend developing here.

We used to use ours a lot ... hardly ever anymore. It never goes up unless there is a specific need. We eat with plates on our laps unless it's filet mignon or some other fancy celebratory thing.

 

[rpludwig]

up always (other than sleeping on it), use it a lot, but cut it down 8" in depth for more room in cabin, we like it...84 model...

 

[Leeward Rail]

Down at night (we sleep one starboard, one port), up when sailing (depending on conditions). After discovering that it works as a cockpit table, I suspect it's even more outdoor dining next season.

 

[Minnesail]

Down at night (we sleep one starboard, one port), up when sailing (depending on conditions). After discovering that it works as a cockpit table, I suspect it's even more outdoor dining next season.

(emphasis mine)

What?! How's that go?

 

[Jacomo Sailor]

Mine is always down with the bed made up. The first season I owned her, I would put it up and down, but soon realized that we never sat at the table to eat, but ate in the cockpit instead. I overnight alone as the wife prefers to go home at night, so for breakfast I slide the galley out, cook and then eat laying in bed while scrolling FB and contemplating my plans for the day.

 

[Milton.Audas]

Entirely your choice. We keep the table up. Useful place for lunches (at least laying out food), card games, and also for keeping things handy (I have a tray for things line bino's, etc.). A better lift mechanism would make it easier to move up/down. Also, we do not sleep aboard any more. Bought a place near the marina for weekends and longer stays. I do plan to replace the existing Formica with a teak veneer and edge trim to add a bit more class to the cabin interior.

 

[rpludwig]

Entirely your choice. We keep the table up. Useful place for lunches (at least laying out food), card games, and also for keeping things handy (I have a tray for things line bino's, etc.). A better lift mechanism would make it easier to move up/down. Also, we do not sleep aboard any more. Bought a place near the marina for weekends and longer stays. I do plan to replace the existing Formica with a teak veneer and edge trim to add a bit more class to the cabin interior.

ditto!

 

[Leeward Rail]

What?! How's that go?

On our "New Design", the table fits between the stern pulpits, and could rest on the traveller support
Would be easy to make a mounting system to hold it in place.
The leg is the right length to hold it level.

Disconnect the mainsheet block from the traveller, and clip it onto the pulpit on one side.
Drop the table into place, and you have a large table at the stern.

I suspect that the same idea works on the original design C22.

EDIT: I have a quick pin setup for my ruddercraft tiller so it's easy to remove if wanted, or to just pivot upwards when anchored but, but not using the table.

 

[Minnesail]

Mine is always down with the bed made up. The first season I owned her, I would put it up and down, but soon realized that we never sat at the table to eat, but ate in the cockpit instead. I overnight alone as the wife prefers to go home at night, so for breakfast I slide the galley out, cook and then eat laying in bed while scrolling FB and contemplating my plans for the day.

Yep, that's how I use mine. Having it down makes a big bench which is handy for sprawling out on. I put a plastic tub under the table to hold sundries. When I sleep aboard by myself I sleep there, when my wife joins me we do the insert for the full-size bed conversion thing.

I keep a lot of stuff up in the v-berth. Sails and the solar panel and the anchor and life jackets. I find when the table is up it just makes it harder to get back to the v.

 

[Grotto]

So not to hijack but any suggestions on material to cut a new dinette mine is swollen and delaminating. Looking for cheap but durable.

 

[Hardhead]

So not to hijack but any suggestions on material to cut a new dinette mine is swollen and delaminating. Looking for cheap but durable.

I'm planning to make a new one out of birch plywood, with 2 coats of epoxy, and then varnish. I'd say almost anything can be used, but just be sure to account for the fact it needs to stand up to a lot of humidity and water.

 

[Grotto]

That sounds about as straight forward as can be thx.

 

[Jacktar]

I leave mine up, single hand so nice to sit inside and eat a meal. Plus I keep food and spare gear under the table, doesnt get in a way and I do not have to move cushions and covers to access frequently used items.

 

[ShotgunSlim]

I seem to remember a thread a while back about nothing but replacing the dinette tables and folks were showing off their various pieces of work. I still have the original table in great shape but like this oak plywood, walnut/maple inlaid and mahogany trimmed one better. For the record: it does stay down and covered with the cushion about 90% of the time.

My second attempt at an inlaid dinette table turned out much better than the first. This one is currently receiving lots of compliments from guests.

• ShotgunSlim
• Jan 12, 2014

 

[Jacktar]

Nice artwork shame to hide it under a cushion all the time.

 

[Minnesail]

I seem to remember a thread a while back about nothing but replacing the dinette tables and folks were showing off their various pieces of work. I still have the original table in great shape but like this oak plywood, walnut/maple inlaid and mahogany trimmed one better. For the record: it does stay down and covered with the cushion about 90% of the time.

My second attempt at an inlaid dinette table turned out much better than the first. This one is currently receiving lots of compliments from guests.

• ShotgunSlim
• Jan 12, 2014

Wow, that's amazing. I wouldn't put that in my boat, I'd hang it on the wall in my home!

 

[Hardhead]

That's some great inlay work by Shotgun Slim - a real work of art.
I was gonna put a map on mine, but now I feel ashamed..