"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in
:

Looks like fiddle rails are out and non-slip mats are in. Thanks,
that makes the table building a lit simpler.

As to dispensing with the salon table all together I don't mind as I
eat in the cockpit 99% of the time but there are certain compromises
like inverter, A/C in the slip and salon tables, that must be made in
the spirit of matrimonial harmony. :-)

Several companies sell dishes that have foam rings attached to their
bottoms that keep them from sliding. They work well. You could always make
your own to fit existing dishes.

If it's rough enough to worry about dishes sliding, we eat out of bowls
that we hold in our hands. A fiddle that's small enough to not be a pain
probably isn't useful.

-- Geoff
www.GeoffSchultz.org

On Fri, 18 Jan 2008 08:50:58 -0600, Geoff Schultz wrote:

"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in
:

Looks like fiddle rails are out and non-slip mats are in. Thanks, that
makes the table building a lit simpler.

As to dispensing with the salon table all together I don't mind as I
eat in the cockpit 99% of the time but there are certain compromises
like inverter, A/C in the slip and salon tables, that must be made in
the spirit of matrimonial harmony. :-)

Several companies sell dishes that have foam rings attached to their
bottoms that keep them from sliding. They work well. You could always
make your own to fit existing dishes.

If it's rough enough to worry about dishes sliding, we eat out of bowls
that we hold in our hands. A fiddle that's small enough to not be a
pain probably isn't useful.

Those dishes are pretty good, but fiddles keep all the other stuff you
dump on a table from sliding off -- pens, pads of paper, books, keys,
handheld electronic devices, CDs, etc. Rubber mats work but stuff can
still roll. If it's truly rough then you'll probably be holding your
dishes anyway, so don't worry about a big fiddle. But a smaller one takes
care of the everyday rocking and rolling, and diesel vibration that shakes
things onto the floor.

For playing cards, cut a piece of felt to fit the top of the table. It
makes it easier to pick up your cards, and keeps them from getting dirty
and sticky a lot longer. A big loose piece of felt works fine -- it
doesn't have to be glued down like a casino card table to work.

Matt O.

On Jan 16, 5:50 pm, "Glenn Ashmore" wrote:
I am about to put saw and router to a boat buck's worth of solid surface
material. I have the galley and head counters laid out and templates made
just right but before I cut I need to figure out the salon table so I am
looking for opinions.

Some people say fiddle rails are a must and others say they just get in the
way.

Yup. I find all they do is tip things over as they're sliding off.

We always had the salon table down in Far Cove, making a nice big
"nesting area" for my Lady, who likes to do various things (from
reading to beadwork to writing HTML code...) while we're sailing.
However, Far Cove DID have a small "kid's table" that we used to eat
on, and a chart table. On my new boat, the salon table is the ONLY
table, so so far it's used to hold tools and small engine parts, but I
suspect it will be used to hold charts, instruments, tools, books and
magazines, cellphone, drinks... (you get the idea!)

druid
http://www.bcboatnet.org

"Glenn Ashmore" wrote:
I am about to put saw and router to a boat buck's worth of solid surface
material. I have the galley and head counters laid out and templates made
just right but before I cut I need to figure out the salon table so I am
looking for opinions.


On the countertops, especially in the head, YES to fiddles.
On the salon table, no. They're not all that helpful because in rough
weather you're either not going to be eating anything, or else you're
going to be slurping microwaved stew from a mug. And the fiddles are a
PITA when you're playing cards, you can't pick up your hand by sliding
the cards as dealt off the edge. I've noted this problem on many
otherwise-wonderful cruising boats.

Just my humble opinion!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King