R-25's dinette table modified to have a drop leaf

[baz]

On the 2013 R-27 I've had the opportunity to see I noted that the dinette table had a drop leaf. When the leaf is dropped it allows a great deal more room for two people to cross paths in the galley/isle. It is a brilliant idea that Ranger came up with IMO.

I'm thinking of modifying our R-25's dinette table to have a drop leaf much like on the R-27.

To do this I will remove the table and slice off about 10" using my handy-dandy table saw and then install hinges on the underside for the 10" leaf. Of course, two supporting sliding runners will need installing to hold up the 10" leaf when required.

I don't believe this will interfere with the dinette table being lowered to form a mid berth.

Has anyone else thought about doing this, and if so, what were the experiences +ive or -ive.... thanks.

 

[The Bud's Tug]

I have not seen the R-27 dinette table but did a drop leaf on my R-29. Really opened up the galley and, if it's just the 2 of us, the table is still plenty big. Goes back to the original size with the drop leaf raised up again if more than 2 dining. I put it on sliders so that the table can now slide 4 ways. I'll try to post some pictures in the next few days once I have an album established on the Tugnuts site.

 

[joempo]

Would it be possible to develop a way for the drop leaf to be against the bulk head and to slide the table top toward the aisle when raising the leaf? As I envision this, two could be seated without having to raise the drop leaf. Also, if vertical clearance allows, a shallow drawer attached to the underside of the table could be utilized. Perhaps that's what Bud's Tug has done... I'll be watching for the photos.

 

[baz]

These are good ideas. I will be holding off making changes to our dinette table until I get to see what others have suggested and/or photos show up. Thanks. -Barry

 

[The Bud's Tug]

I've posted a couple of pictures of the modified dinette table on The Bud's Tug album. The drop leaf (8 inches) is of course against the wall. The table slides in towards the wall to create the extra space. I needed to figure out a way to prevent the table from sliding out (when the leaf is down, which it almost always is) during travel...so we came up with a decorative ceramic top and a brass pin which I pinned through the shelf on the R-29. I added a teak decorative block below the shelf and attached to the wall and shelf to give the "pin" some added support when inserted into the table. The modifications do not hinder the table from being lowered for sleeping arrangements. Hopefully this gives you some ideas.

 

[Dog Islander]

Don and Helen, that is a brilliant solution to the folding dining table. I took some photos of the R-27 in Bremerton this year which had the folding table installed. Unfortunately I can't figure out how to insert these from my iPad. Suffice to say the factory table folded up onto itself revealing some classy stainless steel beverage holders. The table lost its raised rim (I'm sure there is a nautically term for this) and that is a feature I like and see your modification keeps. Are the sliders drawer glides? Nice work!

Ray

On edit: I added the September 2013 R-27 dining table photos to my album.

 

[walldog]

 

[baz]

Herb: It took me a few minutes to figure out your photos were in fact Don&Helen's photos.... but nonetheless, thanks for posting. 🙂

Don&Helen: I guess I never considered having the drop leaf adjacent to the cabin wall like you designed -- interesting option.

For me on our R25 I'm still inclined to have the drop leaf on the isle side as that seems to me to be a fairly simple change to the existing table... one cut, install a piano hinge on underside and then add slider slats to hold the leaf in the up position is all that is required. The only thing I need to figure out (if indeed I even bother) is the lack of the raised edge on the remaining table surface when the leaf is dropped. This could be done by drilling two dowel sized holes in the top surface of the fixed table along the hinge line and then have a raised lip strip made from teak that has two protruding dowels that fit snuggly into the pre-drilled holes. This raised lip strip is then inserted when needed.

In December I will goto the Ranger Tug's Kent factory and take a much closer look at the 2013 R-27's drop leaf dinette table to understand better how they managed to install the fancy chromed metal cup holder component. I understand more 2013 R-27s will be in various production stages in December.

 

[The Bud's Tug]

Hi Rob;
The sliders are drawer glides...you do not want to add too much height. The only change I would do different is to break up the piano hinge to allow a couple of hardwood slides to keep the leaf up when you want a full table. What we have done instead is buy a telescoping camera leg with anti-slip foot to support the leaf when it is raised. This is real strong and we were looking for something that would allow one to really lean on the table without any compromising of strength. But as I said before, most often the leaf is down and it still gives us plenty of room for 2 or 3 dining.

Barry, it seems from the new R27 photo that the raised edge of the table (the fiddles) are on the top only when the table is folded in half.
Happy boat projects!!

Don

 

[The Bud's Tug]

Sorry should have read Ray...not Rob