Starboard Material

[NautiDuck]

I want to fabricate a cockpit table just like the one Edson makes that attaches to the Edson pedestal guard. But I don't want to pay a zillion $ for it. I bought the Edson drop leaf table hardware kit ($237 Yikes!) and plan to build the table out of Starboard. I figure I'll still save about $200 when all is said and done, plus have extra Starboard to build some cupholders, etc.Here is my question. Will 1/2" thickness be enough or should I go 3/4". I can't find any source that says what thickness is needed. The largest piece of the table will be 13" X 27".Any advice is appreciated!

 

[Ross]

RandyK, what do you use for fasteners with

the hardware? The material must be thick enough to take the length of the fasteners without poking through.

 

[NautiDuck]

Ross, good point

The kit has not arrived yet and it is hard to tell in the Edson photos. The screws look fairly short.

 

[Bryce22345]

table

the one Hunter supplied on my H410 is made out of 1/2 inch. its certainly strong enough for a table of th esize your suggesting, but attaching it might be a problem.BryceS/V Spellbinder

 

[NautiDuck]

Thanks Bryce

That is very helpful. The hardware kit I bought includes all the mounting stuff. It mounts to the pedestal guard.

 

[Georgetheleo@hotmail.com]

Im making a starboard table too!

I plan on doing the same thing but im using the original hardware to fold & hold but widening from original 3inches and deleting the folding side leaves. Im using half inch biegw starboard and putting half inch wide fiddles at the edges about 1 inch tall -this will stiffen it enough.

 

[ulpilotrmh]

I don't know

if 1/2 inch thickness is self supporting. I have some of it here and it's kinda flexible. 3/4 inch would be stiffer but may sag over time if not braced.

 

[Maine Sail]

Use 3/4

My Starboard table is 3/4 and fairly solid 1/2 inch would not cut it it's to flexible....

 

[NautiDuck]

Good info

I will go with 3/4 but George I'm going to guess that your 1/2" will work since the fiddles will stiffen the structure.Thanks everyone!By the way, has anybody glued this stuff? Marine-tex has a product that they say will glue pieces of Starboard together. I think I would prefer that to using screws. I am a better gluer than screwer. Wait, that doesn't sound good! Forget it.

 

[Paul Z]

Nautiduck

Have you been to TAP plastics yet?The equivelent product is called "seaboard" I have a 1/2" chunk in my hand here. It does not seem that flexible. TAP would also be able to help you withbonding methods. Looks like they don't have a branch in the People's Republic yet. http://www.tapplastics.com/

 

[NautiDuck]

Paul, thanks

That material looks promising. I sent them a couple of questions. Greetings from the People's Republic of Eugene! (from the only Republican in the whole town!!)

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Randy, from the PRof E...

Last year I made a slide in gate and ensign holder out of starboard for a fellow skipper. I used a combination of one half and three quarter inch material. Nice to work with using woodworking tools. I decided not to use screws but instead settled on small SS through bolts and washers. I'm sure they make a bonding material and would defer to the supplier for recommendations. I was worried that screws would not hold as well as bolts under the buffeting caused by the ensign fluttering about. WM carries an okay selection of the material, but be prepared for sticker shock. For a 13" X 27" table I would think 1/2" would be rigged enough as long as you have a bracket support underneath holding the table up.Terry

 

[Mike]

me too

Made a table myself last summer from white oak with biscuit joinery. Many coats of Cetol and the Edson kit made a great table for one fourth the price of a full purchased Edson table. One of the guys wrote that he is using Seaboard, and that it looks good for his job. Well, he is exactly correct. Local plastic manufacturers use Seaboard and it is a great product. I know cause I replaced a water damaged dinghy floor board with the stuff and it was just the thing. Half inch should be thick enough for Seaboard. You'll have a very nice table when you git 'er done.