Tables for the C18

It is almost impossible for a boatbuilder to fabricate craft that will meet every need or desire for the sailor. So it falls upon us as users to make what changes we want. Choices are made depending on how we use our sailboat whether it be racing, day sailing, or cruising. My wife and I use our Catalina/Capri 18 as a pocket cruiser. It rests in our driveway until we haul her to whatever water we want to cruise and serves as a vacation home for several days or a week. We go alone since our children are grown. They aren’t interested in overnighting and couldn’t possibly fit in the vee berth even if they wanted. So that area became our storage for clothes, bedding and essentials. It didn’t take very long until everything was mixed together and individual items difficult to find. Obviously we needed some organization.

We also found a need for a table, either to eat off, lay out charts, or just play cards. So I designed and built a slide out table for the vee berth area that also ended up being a small galley. 

I chose western red cedar for the project because of weight, cost, appeal, ease of working, and more important local availability. I also used cedar for the unit on top of the table which holds a propane camp stove. This unit also doubles as a portable galley that can be used on a picnic table or in the cockpit. A sliding shelf extends from the bottom of the unit to aid in food preparation.

Even though the cockpit seats are not parallel, the unit fits over a wide range from front to back. The galley unit is sized so that the propane bottle fits nicely between the stove and a raised rail similar to the one in front. The propane is normally stored in the gas locker to eliminate fumes in the cabin area . Cockpit cooking is preferred over inside.

A Forespar mini stove hangs from the bracket on the front of the table and offers a reasonably safe way to prepare lunch while under way. The primary reason for it though is for that important first cup of coffee in the morning. Life begins after coffee. The unit stows in it’s own very compact bag in front of one of the duffel bags. Pots that can’t fit in the stowage under the quarter berths also go in this area.

The whole unit slides back quite easily to facilitate using the toilet facilities. The cushion for the toilet area slides back under the table. The openings ahead of the quarter berths are for eyeglass storage and other small items that need to be readily accessible either day or night.

The table slides easily in a wooden track thoroughly waxed with paraffin and beeswax and stays stowed even when underway in heavy seas. I considered mechanical fastening, but it hasn’t been necessary. To keep the table from tipping or racking in the extended position, I built in an oak dovetail, which is the tightest fit. This again is heavily waxed.

The unit breaks down to a central core with wings so it can be removed for varnish. The wings are secured to the OEM boards forward of the quarter berths with screws. The center portion is held in place with two screws in small angle brackets and into the fiberglass vee berth floor.