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. Rutu is designed from the beginning to be an island hopper not a world
cruiser. I could make them removable but that presents a storage problem
and puts 8 to 10 holes in the surface.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:50:23 -0500, "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. Rutu is designed from the beginning to be an island hopper not a world
cruiser. I could make them removable but that presents a storage problem
and puts 8 to 10 holes in the surface.

They are in the way, especially when eating or writing. Whether you
really need them or not depends on how you use the boat, and whether
or not you are prone to leaving things laying around. Our trawler has
dynamic stabilizers and we could easily get by without fiddles about
98% of the time. On the other hand they do catch things if we take an
unexpected roll.

On balance I'd be inclined to recommend them for your counter tops but
not for the salon table unless you plan to eat on it underway or use
it for food preparation.

Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:50:23 -0500, "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. Rutu is designed from the beginning to be an island hopper not a world
cruiser. I could make them removable but that presents a storage problem
and puts 8 to 10 holes in the surface.

They are in the way, especially when eating or writing. Whether you
really need them or not depends on how you use the boat, and whether
or not you are prone to leaving things laying around. Our trawler has
dynamic stabilizers and we could easily get by without fiddles about
98% of the time. On the other hand they do catch things if we take an
unexpected roll.

On balance I'd be inclined to recommend them for your counter tops but
not for the salon table unless you plan to eat on it underway or use
it for food preparation.

Not for salon table, yes for galley and head countertops.

We had removable ones with brass inserts on our saloon table on last
boat, but never ate at it on a passage. It was usually bowls in our
lap...

Our current boat is a 40' catamaran so fiddles are only really
decorative

Evan Gatehouse

On 2008-01-16 20:50:23 -0500, "Glenn Ashmore" said:

Some people say fiddle rails are a must and others say they just get in
the way. Rutu is designed from the beginning to be an island hopper
not a world cruiser. I could make them removable but that presents a
storage problem and puts 8 to 10 holes in the surface.

We have about 1/4" fiddles on the dining table which keep things from
rolling off when we're waked at anchor, but don't get in the way.
They're more decorative a plain edge in my mind.


--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

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. Rutu is designed from the beginning to be an island
hopper not a world cruiser. I could make them removable but that
presents a storage problem and puts 8 to 10 holes in the surface.

There are some excellent non-slip matting materials around which are
virtually as good as shallow fiddle rails. You can roll them up and stow
them in a few seconds.

Dennis.

On Jan 16, 5:50*pm, "Glenn Ashmore" wrote:

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


Hi Glenn:

Good to see you posting again.

I enjoy finding simple yet effective solutions to questions. So when I
travel and read here I do so with sincere observation. I Once i got
out of the US I somwhat startled to find the "fork" "western" styled
toilet, and "car" for that matter are a rather European invention.
Think of it this way: what is the role of woman in society? Uhh, with
all the Iraq news most of have learned..... significantly different
than an "American" style woman. So in hopes of not sounding like a
heretic I ask:

Why do you even need a salon table?

Most the world eats with sticks or hands on the ground?

When I bought my boat the first thing I did after removing 14 giant
garbage bags of **** off the boat was take off that damn banging table
in the cock pit. It kept flapping around when sledding down 25' seas.
Next went the salon table.........
With the salon table gone it really opened a HUGE amount of room. Now
when i entertain I lay a colorful cloth down and we sit around the
"table".........on the floor.
Just a thought to consider. Ive been very happy with out a table.
Glenn, dont be such a rebel WITH a table on your boat. Follow the
crowd, like MOST every one else in the world and try eating on the
floor.

Bob

Glenn,
If the fiddles are large enough to work, they get in your way. I suggest
acquiring that thin silcone sheet material and leave it rolled up somewhere
and use it only when needed. That stuff really works. The only exception to
this is the stove top. You need substantial fiddles with sliding clamps that
mate with your cookware.
Steve

"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message
news
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. Rutu is designed from the beginning to be an island hopper not a
world cruiser. I could make them removable but that presents a storage
problem and puts 8 to 10 holes in the surface.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

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. :-)

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message
news
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. Rutu is designed from the beginning to be an island hopper not a
world cruiser. I could make them removable but that presents a storage
problem and puts 8 to 10 holes in the surface.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

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. Rutu is designed from the beginning to be an island hopper not a world
cruiser. I could make them removable but that presents a storage problem
and puts 8 to 10 holes in the surface.

I made mine removable. I'd say they aren't needed but I felt if missing,
the boat wouldn't look right. My last boat had a center table with a
storage well. The fiddles would store in the well when not in use.

In actual sailing, I doubt I installed the fiddles once. I only put them
in to look nautical at anchor / dock.

-paul

On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:23:17 -0500, "Glenn Ashmore"
wrote:

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. :-)

Yes, and the salon table makes a convenient foot rest, drink and snack
holder when you are surfing the web. Don't ask me how I know that.