OK, this may sound a little crazy, but I just bought a my 34 in July and haven't been able to figure how to lower the dinette table. I don't know if a previous owner modified it, and I haven't been able to find documentation in any of the manuals on board. The end of the table next to the hull has what appears to be two tabs that slide into brackets, but they wont budge. The support post is a single piece and doesnt rotate, and the table is VERY attached and solid when I try to lift it. Anyone got any Ideas / comments. Your help would be greatly appreciated!
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for what it's "Worth"
Richard: Most of these tables never get lowered so what you are probably encountering is corrosion. 1. Have someone give you a hand. Sit on each side of the table with a small mallet or hammer and tap the table from the underside until these brackets loosen. Once you get the brackets loose you should be able to loosen the post side. 2. When (if) you get it out you will need to lubicate the brackets and clean the post and the post recepticals. I used McLube on mine and it is much easier now. This is just a maintenance thing. If you are in salt water you will probably need to use some type of light grease or oil. Part of the problem is that you have a steel post that fits into an alum. receptical so I think that there is some galvanic corrosion going on. Hope this helps.
Richard: Most of these tables never get lowered so what you are probably encountering is corrosion. 1. Have someone give you a hand. Sit on each side of the table with a small mallet or hammer and tap the table from the underside until these brackets loosen. Once you get the brackets loose you should be able to loosen the post side. 2. When (if) you get it out you will need to lubicate the brackets and clean the post and the post recepticals. I used McLube on mine and it is much easier now. This is just a maintenance thing. If you are in salt water you will probably need to use some type of light grease or oil. Part of the problem is that you have a steel post that fits into an alum. receptical so I think that there is some galvanic corrosion going on. Hope this helps.
J
John N
Take the post out first
Steve's article is likely right on, I listen to his advice often, and it's worth a lot. But my H31 has the same two tabs with a round post holding up the end. The two tabs have a lock to prevent them from coming out (and they work real good) while the table is level. To lower the table, I have to: 1) Lift the post end of the table just enough to get the post out (the post ocasionally gets stuck and it needs a "whammo" from table bottom). 2) Lower the now unsupported post end of the table below what would be level, this releases the lock. 3) Rest the end of the table against your thighs while you grab the table nearer to the wall tabs, and lift up. The wall tab side of the table needs to be higher than the post side for the tabs to release. Try it.
Steve's article is likely right on, I listen to his advice often, and it's worth a lot. But my H31 has the same two tabs with a round post holding up the end. The two tabs have a lock to prevent them from coming out (and they work real good) while the table is level. To lower the table, I have to: 1) Lift the post end of the table just enough to get the post out (the post ocasionally gets stuck and it needs a "whammo" from table bottom). 2) Lower the now unsupported post end of the table below what would be level, this releases the lock. 3) Rest the end of the table against your thighs while you grab the table nearer to the wall tabs, and lift up. The wall tab side of the table needs to be higher than the post side for the tabs to release. Try it.
G
Gary
Dinette Post
I had a similiar problem with my 1988 H35 which someone had actually glued the table to the post (assuming to prevent wobble). I purchased a captains chair seat mount that clamps around the column with has a nice handle. Then cut off the post, removed the original unit, attached a wood spacer to the table to compensate for the elevation difference, screwed the new seat mount to the spacer. It works great now.
I had a similiar problem with my 1988 H35 which someone had actually glued the table to the post (assuming to prevent wobble). I purchased a captains chair seat mount that clamps around the column with has a nice handle. Then cut off the post, removed the original unit, attached a wood spacer to the table to compensate for the elevation difference, screwed the new seat mount to the spacer. It works great now.
D
Derek Rowell
My solution...
On my '83 H34 I frequently had the same problem. The chromed post became rusted and the aluminum base plate corroded so badly that finally the bottom corroded through. I found a replacement table pedastal (by Todd) in the West Marine catalog and installed it. It's an anodized aluminum post with a plastic table fitting which does not jam like the original did. It comes with a lock-in screw in the base - I removed that because we sleep in the dinette berth, and we lower the table each night. A couple of installation issues: the hole in the cabin sole had to be enlarged sightly, and the post was about one inch too short. I screwed a wooden block to the underside of the table to bring it to the correct height. The new unit looks much better than the original. Derek
On my '83 H34 I frequently had the same problem. The chromed post became rusted and the aluminum base plate corroded so badly that finally the bottom corroded through. I found a replacement table pedastal (by Todd) in the West Marine catalog and installed it. It's an anodized aluminum post with a plastic table fitting which does not jam like the original did. It comes with a lock-in screw in the base - I removed that because we sleep in the dinette berth, and we lower the table each night. A couple of installation issues: the hole in the cabin sole had to be enlarged sightly, and the post was about one inch too short. I screwed a wooden block to the underside of the table to bring it to the correct height. The new unit looks much better than the original. Derek
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Scott Johnston
Johns Right - Post First
Just to confirm with our experiences, John's answer is spot on. We had to apply a bit of force at first to lift the end of the table to remove the post. Once the post is out lower the table and it lifts out of the tabs easily. The first time we tried this was the hardest. As we often have 5 or 6 on board for the weekend we drop the table frequently. When no one else is on board we often prefer sleeping there instead of the aft berth - especially in the heat of summer. I had thought about measuring and installing an additional support for when the table is lowered, but as my wife and I can attest, the table is very solid as is. Scott 83-H34 Island Hops
Just to confirm with our experiences, John's answer is spot on. We had to apply a bit of force at first to lift the end of the table to remove the post. Once the post is out lower the table and it lifts out of the tabs easily. The first time we tried this was the hardest. As we often have 5 or 6 on board for the weekend we drop the table frequently. When no one else is on board we often prefer sleeping there instead of the aft berth - especially in the heat of summer. I had thought about measuring and installing an additional support for when the table is lowered, but as my wife and I can attest, the table is very solid as is. Scott 83-H34 Island Hops
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