Lowering the Salon Table for sleeping!

[Nina]

We recently purchased a 95 Beneteau Oceanis 351 and can't seem to find the easiest way to lower the salon dining table to make the double birth. Our kids are tired of sleeping in the van! There are 6-8 screws in the top and base of the pedestals. Do we really have to get it lowered that way? Please help.Nina

 

[larry w]

TABLE DOWN

I have a '94 Bene OC 400. The table is mounted on two hollow aluminum posts that are set into squatty cone shaped holders. The posts are held in the holders by compression. Pick up on the table at both ends and jiggle it gently as you lift. The posts will pull out of the holders, hopefully the lower ones first, but if they stay in the upper ones, the ones on the bottom of the table, simply twist and pull them out. Two other posts, shorter ones, should have come with the boat. Place these in the holders on the cabin sole and set the table on them, being sure the posts engage the holders and the rim of the table is supported by the settee edges under the cushions. Place the center cushion and viola! You have a bunk. We leave our table down most of the time and eat in the cockpit. Hope this helps.

 

[Phil]

You must be missing something

I've got a 381 but it sounds like you're missing the shorter posts. It may be specific to my boat only but I needed to take a hack saw to them years ago to get them to be the correct height.

 

[Joe]

Careful!

Careful before you take a saw to the post-mine are tapered at both ends. If you cut off the tapered ends, it will not seat in one set of the fittings that hold the post.

 

[Nina]

Larry - Thank you, great detail and response!

Larry, Thank you for the detailed instructions. We will try this next weekend and let you know if the 351 works the same way as your OC 400. The kids may be closer to boat comfort now! Nina in Oklahoma, Grand Lake O'The Cherokees.