Dinette

[TJBurkett]

So while I was putting the finishing touches on some interior projects and getting the boat ready to launch I started thinking about installing a dinette on the port side. I know several vegas have had this done and I was wondering what people who have done it think about it-is it worthwhile or not?

Tom

Pagan Baby V-398

 

[j.hunter9999]

This is going to be my "big" project for next season (along with the stove/oven installation). So, I second hearing any helpful suggestions, some more detailed photos, drawings, or any other words of advice.

Jack

 

[vega1860]

The dinette works well for us. I am sure it can be improved upon,
but our design gives us improved storage and allows a larger working
surface for the cook. The permanent table is more solid than the
original design, is out of the way and always available for charts etc.

The down side is you lose the leeward berth when on the starboard
tack and it is less handy if meals involve more than two. We are
considering raising the level of the starboard settee to place the
seating at the same level and give us more storage space under the berth.

Chuck and Laura
Lealea, V1860

 

[j.hunter9999]

Chuck - Did you and Laura keep any drawings or in-process photos on the work? Can you describe the process and anything that comes to mind? I like the permanent chart table. Nice job!

Jack

 

[eliassonguitars]

One of the problems with the Vega dinettes I´ve seen is that its not in level with the berth. Its raised 3 - 4\'.
Is it really nescessary to make it so high. I´ve seen that some make the dinette the same level as the berth, but I can imagine that this way you wont have any space for your feet when sitting at the dinette. (A common problem on many boats with dinette)

If you raise the berth, You´ll get problems with your head banging against the sidedecks. The Vega was designed so that you have your head below the sidedecks.

The Vega is only 8\' wide and thats something you cant change. For its size it has really big and comfy berths and therefor the rest of the space suffers. You cant have it all.

 

[pjacobs55]

Chuck,
Your dinnette is great. If you raise the stbd bunk bottom, are you going to move the backrest inboard so you are clear of the underside of the deck with your head? That would also create deeper lockers behind the backrest. The only thing is it reduces sleeping room, or do you guys sleep up forward?

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'

 

[TJBurkett]

Chuck,

Do you have any pictures of your dinette set up?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[n6ric]

I'm new to the group. I just purchased hull # 2692 last month after it had been sitting on its trailer for the past ten years. I need to redo the whole interior so I decided to remove the port settee and put in a nav station forward and a refrigerator between the back of the seat and the stove. I saw the photos of a dinette conversion in the photos section, but don't remember who's boat it was. It was what inspired me to do my conversion.

I'm a Ham and will be installing my Ham radios that have HF bands, as well as Marine SSB and VHF, that will connect to my Pactor modem and computer. I have a lot of electronics and wanted a dedicated place to install them, not to mention having a decent chart table.

I have completed the line drawings and should have them posted on my website www.ric-maxfield .com (remove the space) by this weekend should anyone be interested in seeing them.

BTW, I also wanted to say thanks to all those who chimed in about whether or not I should rebuild my MD6A. I really appreciated all the input and haven't made up my mind yet. I should have the boat towed to my house by next weekend and will make up my mind after I pull the heads.

Ric
s/v Blue Max
Hull # 2692

 

[vega1860]

Photos of the dinette conversion in Lealea, and others including my
original inspiration for the project, can be found on the American
Vega Association web site,
here Lealea as a Live-Aboard vessel

It is really very simple. A working mock-up can easily be built in a
weekend. I did mine on the dock with a sabre saw and a screw
driver. (For the finished product we had access to a proper wood
shop) Sorry, I do not have any photos of the work in progress and my
original sketches and measurements are in storage with our other papers.

Malie ke kai,

Chuck Rose
Lealea, V1860

 

[vega1860]

Hi Peter,

Laura wants to make the stbd bunk wider by removing the lockers that
form the backrest and raising the level of the seat. We would put in
the same ceiling we have in the rest of the boat. It will look
terrific and make the saloon (Love that word) seem more roomy. Of
course we will loose a lot of storage which is why I am resisting a
little. Still, I think it will be OK.

We sleep in the V berth when in port but we use the starboard bunk at
sea. Laura wants it roomy enough for both of us to use
occasionally. She thinks it will improve "Lounge-ability". I can't
help wondering where we will put all the clothes, books etc.

Let's jawbone over it at the Rendezvous.

Malama pono,

Chuck

 

[SVFlyAway]

Ric,

Would you please send email when you post your drawings as I am also an
electronic geek and a ham (not active at all though). I was looking at your
website (I found you at .net rather than .com) and didn't see the drawings
yet. I was looking at the photos of your boat you posted -- wow, you have a
real project on your hands. But it sounds as if you are enthusiastic about
it. I have been working on my boat for a few years now and it is all worth
it (definitely a labor of love!).

I am also interested in where you got some of your courses (other than US
Sailing). Not that I could take them in your locale as I am in the Seattle
area, but I teach some of this stuff and am always interested.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[n6ric]

Chris,
You're right that it's .net rather than .com I can't believe I did that. I put the line drawing up last night and they are right below the other pictures. You may have to scroll down to see them. If the pictures of the line drawings aren't big enough for you, or you would like copies, send me your email address and I'll send them to you. They are rather large files though because I wanted to clean up the original and have detail to work with.

The majority of the non US Sailing courses I took at Orange Coast College in Newport Beach, CA. We have a great sailing program there and an active sailing association of which I was commodore in 2008 and 2009. As a matter of fact, I took a fiberglass repair class there last weekend and this weekend is varnishing. I two weeks I have a class on marine electrical. While these latest one don't enhance my sailing skills, ther're perfect for dealing with all the work that needs to be done on my boat.

Ric
s/v Blue Max
Hull #2692

 

[wso_ornbau]

I raised the stb bunk to the same level as the port settees of the dinette. Now i can stow two foldable bikes under the bunk and have much more space for sleeping.
There are pics in the file section: 1992 interiour.zip
Regards
Lueder, 1992 "TWEE"

 

[pjacobs55]

That's a very interesting re-design of the Vega interior, and a really nice job.
I like the raised stbd. bunk idea for more storage.
Thanks for sharing the photos.

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'

 

[TJBurkett]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

 

[j.hunter9999]

Lueder - Could you supply some rough dimensions for the dinette (seat height/width/depth, forward drawer height/width, table length/width/height, etc) and overall dimensions for the starboard bunk? If you raised the starboard bunk to the seat height, then I can figure it out with the dinettes estimates.

Thanks,
Jack

 

[vegatern]

very nice. Craig