Do you hate your Main Salon Table?

[TrueBlue]

TB, what is your beam?

My Bene is 12'6".

10'-10" beam, 33'- 4" hull (36'-6" LOA). Our slip is 30 ft but the marina allows a max 6'-0" extension beyond the finger pier. The maximum width for our slip is about 13'-6". Much wider would create a very tight situation, with side fender allowances.

I suppose 14 ft is "normal" for minimum 40 ft slips, but I sure as heck wouldn't want to share my curent slip with a 14 ft beamer.

Keep in mind that our marina has double boat wide slips - with no finger between.

[TrueBlue]

Just to keep things relative, my question to chuckles was relative to his 34 ft boat - actually shorter than mine, but with a 14 ft. beam.

[chucklesR]

It is a catamaran, so no - I think 14ft is narrow. My community piers has 350 slips of which exactly 6 are wide enough for my boat. I'm in a 36x18 ft wide slip, privately owned where I will patiently wait for someone to die so I can get a community slip.
I've not owned the boat for long- but the user group has been around for a while now. No one has ever had to pay for two slips, or a special charge for haul out based on it being overwide. Frankly, I think the boat is perfectly sized for it's intended purpose (small cruising cat, perfect for near coastal cruising by a couple).
For what it's worth TB, my first choice when looking for a liveaboard was a Nauticat 38 - it was too narrow at 11 feet ish - my Hunter 31 was 10'10.

[TrueBlue]

I checked out the website and it seems to be a nicely designed boat - for a catamaran. I find it interesting that in a recent thread where I had posted an aerial view of my Nauticat 33, sailingdog made a comment that the proportion appeared too wide for it's length . . . and he sails a tri-hull.

[sailingdog]

TB-

One little comment about your boat... Geez... I thinkit is because of the pilothouse that the boat looks so wide from the angle of the photo you had posted. My boat is quite narrow when the amas are folded in.

Originally Posted by TrueBlue

I checked out the website and it seems to be a nicely designed boat - for a catamaran. I find it interesting that in a recent thread where I had posted an aerial view of my Nauticat 33, sailingdog made a comment that the proportion appeared too wide for it's length . . . and he sails a tri-hull.

[chucklesR]

The polynesian formula of beam = 2X length at waterline would normally make the Gemini a 16ft beam - and that would give a much greater form stability factor. I'm no naval architect but I did stay at a hotel once..
Tony Smith (the designer) used 14 ft because for its intended purpose that was sufficient for the CE 'a' rating and 14 ft is in line with what is considered (by some, not all) a normal slip.

[MacGyverRI]

My Paceship has a fold up table and I made the Bulkhead Cabinet (4" deep, all Mahogany) For the PY 26, it really helps w/ dish and glass storage. It is even w/ the mast face so I really don't have anything sticking out. You could even redesign it to make a bar or whatever you need it for.

Plans for it are here;
http://www.paceship.org/how_to/table_cab.asp

[merttan]

Send me some pictures and dimensions, maybe I can design something for you guys... I'll design it and send it to you if you like it, you can get it build by a carpenter... You can be my pilot customers... Give it a shot...
I design custom interior designs, furniture designs and application designs (hiding big lcd tvs behind walls or custom architectural designs). May be I can enter the custom boat layouts too if your responds encourages me
email me at amt@amtdesign.info

[claritycal36]

This table is bolted to the support pole and also has one leg bolted to the deck. I want to be able to turn this into a berth while in port. What do you folks suggest?

[MacGyverRI]

Originally Posted by claritycal36

This table is bolted to the support pole and also has one leg bolted to the deck. I want to be able to turn this into a berth while in port. What do you folks suggest?

I believe Catalina has a similar table setup thats bulkhead mounted and fits against the couch to make it into a dbl. berth, get a basic idea from that setup then modify it for your setup. (look at interior pics of them at www.yachtworld.com, search catalina 30-34'

I wouldn't use your existing table (not made for the weight like a Catalina table) , I would cut a piece of 1/2 - 3/4 plywood to mate w/ your couch on the 2 sides under the existing table and put a support block on the pole w/ a U shaped cutout so it just slides into place. Next, the existing leg would be cut straight across so it will support the berth board and I would put 3-4, 1/4" metal dowel rods into it to easily restore back into the table.

You would also need a few or better yet a full length matching wood support block (1" or so) screwed into the couch for it to sit on. You could also take your existing screw in the pole and change that to a wing nut/bolt for easier removal.


On my boat I'm planning to add a 16" extension board to make the port couch (similar looking to yours) into a double berth and it will fit inside the mast, under the table. It will have a teak or mahogany 2x2" support block under the table and hook onto the stairs at the other end w/ 2 legs under it for extra support. My setup will just go into the quarter berth or below the cockpit when not needed (gotta love the 7' of extra storage space I lined w/ an oak floor because I have the outboard/kicker option).