Table mod

[shanker]

I once saw a picture of a H260 cabin table mod that was a little unique. It extended the front birth to only one side (I believe it was to port). It looked like a custom piece of plywood which allowed easier access for sleeping and of coarse made it long enough for an adult.

I can't find that anywhere in the archieves. Does anyone remember seeing such a mod?

Thanks,

 

[soling42]

Here you go. My cabin remodel job. Good luck.

When I finally replaced the banquet table in our 260 with a reasonably sized oak table with leaves it changed the whole interior space of our boat. I set the table at the perfect height needed to align with a new insert that fills the gap from the v-berth groove, back to the compression post and over to the port wall.

This was my solution to the often discussed table issue and it now allows for two friendly adults to sleep very comfortably in what amounts to a full sized, 3/4 bed when the easily stored filler piece is in place. The pillows are set between the port wall and the compression post so 75% of the guests weight is on or right at the V-berth section or the compression post.

The insert is 1/2" 4ply which can span the gap without any bracing as long as our fwd bunk guests aren't porkers. Because there is no bracing I can simply slide the whole section under the v-berth padding and slide the 4" foam that fits the added section up on top too. This allows for utilizing the whole couch-like salon seating.

The table leaves are oak stair treads from lowes with a little hardware and some other 1x6" oak boards. It bolts in 3 spots, strong as an ox and comes right out if needed. pretty basic. The comp post drink holder solved a constant spill problem and frees up table space. There was also a short(18") section of foam that fills the port side seating back rest that we made too.

It was a summer project in 2010 but it was a fantastic improvement for sleeping and cabin roominess.

Have fun and sleep well, Mike

 

[msezerino1]

Try this one: http://h260.com/
Good luck!

 

[shanker]

That's it!! Thanks Mike, I should have figured it was your mod as you have some very good ones. I love this set up...I think its the best table mod out there because it allows for adults to use the v birth (with comfortable access) and deals with the space issue of the table. Easy out and easy away...very nice and thanks for sharing Mike.

 

[soling42]

The compression post has to be removed/replaced to easily get out the giant table and get a good fit on the new one. It might seem a little intimidating but the post is pretty easy to get out, other than that the new table is a straight forward project that'll change the boats interior dramatically.

It was a great time to put a new CB line in while the post was out too. Happy tinkering.

Glad to help. Mike

 

[shanker]

Mike... now you scared me. I have to remove the compression post??? I was thinking of building the table in two pieces. I thought I read in one of the table mods that the tables are cut out from around the post? Do you remember a thread that talks about how to remove the compression post or can share what that entails? How big is that job?

I like the idea of replacing and or doing some maintenance on my CB line. There were a couple of times last summer when I returned to my boat (on the hook) and the CB was lowered. I was convinced that I had raised it when I left.

 

[soling42]

You certainly don't HAVE to remove the post but it seemed easier than working around it and figuring how to patch a piece in the table to fit around it. Any patch would be plenty strong but That's just how I went after it to save the original table too(who knows why).

Once I looked at it I simply removed a few screws up top in the mast base and put a small jack on the post from the inside to ease it up. It was so easy that I wouldn't hesitate to do it again, really. My '04 was a caulked fitting at the base plate with no set screw but some older ver had a set screw so just check for that and go for it. Just getting started was my biggest foe on this job. It went very easy once I got past the indecision.

The post doesn't have to come out for the CB line replacement by any means. It sounds like your lowered CB scenario is simply forgetting to pull the CB up after a long day instead of the unlikely slip of a rope clutch. I've done it a dozen times.

Here's a couple more pics to encourage you and one of a table mod from someone else that got me motivated. I don't know whose it was but I give him all the credit for helping me see what was needed. The leaves still seemed a bit long so finding the replacement oak stair treads at lowes with a built in edge cinched the deal for my width. Adding the V-berth insert seemed appropriate while I was setting the table height so a proto type got thrown into the project and ended up being a very successful permanent fix. Sometimes I get lucky.

Stay warm up there, Mike

 

[shanker]

OK, dumb question time. What is the jack lifting and how is it rigged?

 

[soling42]

To apply a nice easy pressure I blocked the base of the jack down to the CP base plate(not shown in the staged pic), wrapped a stout tie down strap around the post at the old table pin and applied upward pressure. Obviously make sure that all the screws are removed at the tabernacle and that the CB line is released, and it'll come right out.

A hydraulic jack is probably over kill but why struggle. Just be aware if there is an abnormal amount of pressure required, then you may have missed a screw or whatever.

Getting started is half of the project so good luck.

 

[SoggieLoggie]

Boy am I hitting the "that was easy" button. That is a great idea Soling... I can't wait to get that oversized table out but have been dreading the compression post. Thanks!

Soggie

 

[soling42]

Glad somebody is encouraged to go for it. The woodwork is very basic too, take it from a gear head whose entire arsenal of wood working tools is a circular saw and a cabinet full of band-aids.

Undoubtedly you will realize some improvement in the project that I missed and hopefully you'll post it for the next guy. Improving with each revision is a good thing.

Good luck and keep us informed...and post pics for us visual learners.

Cya, Mike