Since i'm still furloughed from work and looking for things to tinker with on the boat, i focused in on the salon table pedestal. it already appears the threaded portion of the gas strut is broken. the lower outside flange that sits on the sole also seems to be stuck to the lower support post (ie alu corrosion bonded). i couldn't see any fasteners so i have to assume it's just "stuck". i'm waiting to see if the sun/penetrating oil will loosen it up. if anyone's dissembled their's and has a suggestion i'm all ears.
if i can't free the lower flange, which would allow me to clean everything and repaint, i'm hedging towards just removing the pedestal all together. maybe after i use the boat for sometime i'll reevaluate. i'm sure the pedestal lends some support when it's a berth, but is there any actual function of the up/down of the table other then convenience and a little support? if i rebuild i think i'd just use some sort of fixed base/post and remove/shrink it when i want it to be a berth.
replacement parts from CD seem wildly expensive. looking through the past posts on the forum is seems that a large number of people did one or both of two things. shrink the size of the table and/or remove the pedestal all together. those posts were mostly from many years ago, i wonder if that's still the general consensus.
If you remove the pedestal you will have a big round hole in the sole you will have "address" somehow.
Quote from: Noah on June 29, 2020, 11:33:39 AM
If you remove the pedestal you will have a big round hole in the sole you will have "address" somehow.
all of my sole boards need to be redone. and more then just sand/polish. for some reason the board under the salon table is totally delaminated, so i'll have to replace that whole sheet.
If you cut the table you cannot use that area as a birth unless you make a plywood template. PO did just that and it works but I have to remove the table and bring the plywood and the cushion onto the boat. It is a little hassle but not bad.
Quote from: mdidomenico on June 29, 2020, 11:19:48 AM
Since i'm still furloughed from work and looking for things to tinker with on the boat, i focused in on the salon table pedestal. it already appears the threaded portion of the gas strut is broken. the lower outside flange that sits on the sole also seems to be stuck to the lower support post (ie alu corrosion bonded). i couldn't see any fasteners so i have to assume it's just "stuck". i'm waiting to see if the sun/penetrating oil will loosen it up. if anyone's dissembled their's and has a suggestion i'm all ears.
if i can't free the lower flange, which would allow me to clean everything and repaint, i'm hedging towards just removing the pedestal all together. maybe after i use the boat for sometime i'll reevaluate. i'm sure the pedestal lends some support when it's a berth, but is there any actual function of the up/down of the table other then convenience and a little support? if i rebuild i think i'd just use some sort of fixed base/post and remove/shrink it when i want it to be a berth.
replacement parts from CD seem wildly expensive. looking through the past posts on the forum is seems that a large number of people did one or both of two things. shrink the size of the table and/or remove the pedestal all together. those posts were mostly from many years ago, i wonder if that's still the general consensus.
I started my project by doing what a lot of people have done, using a cut down table top. I made a smaller table top out of teak because I didn't want to cut down the original top so it could still be used for the berth. What I found after I installed the smaller top is that it would still support the cushion so it could function as a bunk.
The new, smaller, teak top looked nice and was more functional. Then my wife asked" what if we pulled it out altogether?", so I did, what a difference, it opened up the whole salon and made the area seem much roomier. For the hole in the deck I made a plug that covers it and can be remove should I want to replace the pedestal. For now the salon is open and the original table top is stowed aboard for the berth.
I just scrapped my original table and started from new. Let's face it: the original table was designed to act as a platform for an additional berth. It was always an uncomfortable "bumshuffle" to get any one around the table. And over time, the old Zwaardvis telescoping post had broken at the place where the clamp tightened the post.
I purchased the Zwaardvis fixed table base with a tapered post through Fisheries Supply (maybe $90). I had concerns that it would be "wobbly" but that hasn't been the case at all. The base is a big enough diameter that with the new (smaller) table top being moved outboard slightly, it still covers the old hole though the sole. I opted for a teak table top which folds in half (on sale at Defender) so that it will either seat 3 for dinner or 4 for drinks in the dinette (maybe $160 on sale). The top is clamped (top clamp/table support for 2 3/8" post was $35) to the top of the post and swivels through 270 degrees.
The advantages are (1) the whole thing can be removed, (2) much easier to get in and out of the dinette even when in place, and (3) versatility. The disadvantage is that you can't drop it to make a berth, but that was never going to happen anyway.
Patches
I just trimmed 6 1/2 inches off the aft end of the table.
Mdid : I kept the original table, but made the aft end into a drop leaf (Mainsheet tech note article w/pictures) It was easy to do!!
A thought
Aloha, I hope I haven’t posted this before .....I had the table cut down and used the wood that was on the original one on the sides. Plus wood tape around all the edges.Now it swivels so that people can get into the seating and it’s enough room for dinner for four. I don’t use it as extra sleeping area.( for some reason my photo wouldn’t post)
I made a much smaller table but was behind in finishing it so it didn't make it on our 4 day trip last weekend. I have to admit, the table is more of a catch all rather than used for dining. Perhaps in the fall we'll eat down below if it is too cold in the cockpit. I was thinking that maybe for warm weather sailing removing it all together might be a better plan.
John,
As you can see there are many different ideas when it comes to the dining table, you'll just have to figure out which one works best for you.
I made a smaller table, and bungeed the stock table in the back berth against the engine side wall so I have it on board but out of the way until I need it, I also installed a shelf in the back berth towards the fuel tank up tight against the ceiling to store the cushion, works for me
Copy that Ghostrider.
Trying one more time for a photo of the cut down table.
Susan,
That's an interesting take on this topic, it looks like you cut down the backside of the table which would give more room to move around in the main salon. I can't tell, did you shorten any of the other three sides?
It was cut down to 36" x 22". There are three teak fiddle's on the original table ...the long one fit on the inside and combined two on the outside of the new table.
All : It seemed to me that the early factory dinette tables had the best workmanship (1986/87/88). They had 5 fiddles!! There have been so many table modifications that they'd easily fill a 100+ page booklet!
When I was the C34 Mainsheet tech note editor, I'd call for technical articles and half of articles sent to me (I swear) were modifications to that salon table!
And as you-all can see - the mods are still coming! :shock:
A few thoughts
Unlike many of you, I'm perfectly happy with our OEM table. We have no problems getting in and out of the dinette.
However, I would like to replace the non-functioning gas spring inside the corrugated brown aluminum pedestal. Right now we've got the locking knob cranked as tight as possible in the up position. The gas spring would allow for easy lowering and raising, but more importantly, would help keep the table up without it being totally dependent on the locking knob, especially if someone should lose their balance and give a hard push downward on the table.
Does anyone know where this spring can be found, without having to spring for the entire $548 mechanism (pun intended)?
Ba, Are you saying that
#1) The locking isn't tight enough anymore? Or
#2) You don't want to rely on only that?
(If #1) is the replacement parts/kit on CD what you need?
-k
Quote from: KWKloeber on September 11, 2020, 08:54:11 PM
Ba, Are you saying that
#1) The locking isn't tight enough anymore? Or
#2) You don't want to rely on only that?
(If #1) is the replacement parts/kit on CD what you need?
-k
#2. It's fine for now, but I could envision a possibility of the plastic ferrules and other parts breaking without the additional support provided by the gas spring. I'm a belt-and-suspenders kind of guy.
QuoteUnlike many of you, I'm perfectly happy with our OEM table. We have no problems getting in and out of the dinette.
Does anyone know where this spring can be found,
I'm with you, the table may not be perfect but for the way I use it it's fine. What I don't like is the wobble, not enough to make any major changes but do think about it. I have thought about adding a support at the compression post. Was thinking about just a wood block held with hose clamps, zip ties or rope to see how much that would help. Could even add a knob screw through the block into the table. This hasn't gotten past the thinking about it stage, yet. Maybe something like that would work for you.
FWIW. A few weeks ago I lowered the table, looking at another thinking about doing idea, and after raising the table pretty sure table had less wobble. Maybe exercising the table helps.
Jim
I went with something very similar to Susan's and I think we're going to love it. Easy access to storage and now it swivels for even better access. Naturally I kept the old one and put it and the cushion in storage.
Lots of great ideas on this thread, everything from keep stock to complete removal and everything in between. As always there's no right way it's what works best for you.
Quote from: Breakin Away on September 11, 2020, 08:58:39 PM
I could envision a possibility of the plastic ferrules and other parts breaking without the additional support provided by the gas spring.
You might try to contact Zwaardvis directly or Taco (the US distributor) to see if there are ANY parts or substitute support available. A long shot no doubt!!
-k