dinette to sofa

[Adeline]

That sounds GREAT!!! Could you post some pictures?

[Greg S]

I want a C-sofa too! But I was thinking of cutting the bins down about 5 inches lower. It's a more natural height on which to plop your butt, and you also wouldn't need a footrest while seated. Has anybody done this already?

[Wayne McCown]

Dear Greg:

I don't think you want to cut the seat height, because that will put your passengers below the viewline.

Here's my solution (which I did not previously mention): I bought two folding stools at Camping World for $9.99 each to use as "footrests." (They also can be used out in the cockpit as "end tables"!) I often use one when at the helm, so when I turn sideways to talk with guests I have a comfortable place to put my left foot!

Even without folding them, these stools fit easily and nicely in the space under the table in the down position: this way, they are always quickly and conveniently available.

This solution requires no customization of the seat boxes, and thus preserves the table/gaucho setup. Moreover, it works well, and is very comfortable.

I am going to get some pictures up soon, but I have to find time!

[C-Hawk]

I mounted a 12" stainless handrail on the horizontal, just above the water tank. It works great as a footrest while sitting on the C-Sofa.

[Wayne McCown]

I now have a photo album! It is labeled Little Mac.

I am putting pics of the dinette to sofa conversion into a sub-album (which is currently located at the end). There are only three photos in it to date; there are more to come!

[oldgrowth]

Wayne - you did good. I will have to revisit this thread when Terri lets me get a 22. I like your solution for the dinette sofa.

[Wayne McCown]

I just added a full set of photos on this project.

Presently, my album, titled "Little Mac," is located last in the C-Dory Photo Albums.

The photos of this project are located in a sub-album titled "Dinette to Sofa Conversion," which is located in the next-to-last position in my album.

[Jazzmanic]

Nice work, Wayne! I might have to borrow your idea about the cover boards over the seat boxes. Caryn and I are tired of pinching our fingers everytime we try to reseat the cushion.

[Wayne McCown]

Another (important) detail!

When the table is in the down position, it can--and will--slide out of position (and could cause damage) when underway (whether on the trailer or in the water).

To keep the table in place, I installed a small "barrel bolt" on the underside. The bolt goes into a hole I drilled into the side rail that supports the table.

This has proved to be an effective fix!

[colobear]

Wayne,

Ingenious! Very nicely done, I especially like the simple but effective finger slots on the covers over the seatboxes and the use of the back as a double bed. Two questions: How do you mount the back as a table for the cockpit? Can you explain the cutting board behind the table back a little bit more. How does it adjust or provide the seating angle. Now to see if swmbo would like this.

[Wayne McCown]

1. Presently, I have no "mounting" for use of the backboard as a cockpit table. (I did mount the hardware so it all fell between the battery boxes.) I have not envisioned the backboard being used as a cockpit table when underway, only when at rest and in calm waters.

I have thought of cutting a couple of smaller pieces of the non-slip rubber material we all use, to place under each end, to keep the board from sliding.

Do you have something to suggest?

2. As explained in my original post (see above), I simply slide the "chopping block" along the table top under the bottom of and behind the backboard. When it reaches the back edge of the table, it automatically "falls down" onto the table leg, which raises the front a couple of inches and puts the edge square against the bottom of the backboard as it is tilting outwards.

I have only had the board fall out of this final resting position one time. But I have thought of adding a wooden "cleat" at the top of its position, as well as possibly another at the bottom--creating a slot for it.

Though amazingly simple, it works amazingly well

[Not For Hire]

I also came up with a couple of other uses for the "backboard." Laid flat and extended into the aisle (and supported by screw-in legs) it is used to create a double (48" wide) bed in the cabin. (One can still sqeeze down the aisle!). At dockside, it can also be laid across the battery boxes and used as a large cockpit table (I placed all the hardware on the backside to fit between the supporting battery boxes).

Award winning work there! Great to have multiple uses. Now if you put traction tape or something on the back of the backboard, and it being wood, it could be a human, and more importantly, a dog ramp, correct?

Nice work.

Regards,

[Wayne McCown]

Now why didn't I think of that?!

[jimcinfra]

Wayne,

Your set-up has also given me a solution to a problem concerning my Honda 2000 generator. I can use the cockpit table to mount my generator and Duration tank so that the exhaust is blown away from the cockpit. I would only use this at anchor and will use the backboard during the day for the sofa.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

[Wayne McCown]

Interesting idea.

You will probably need to secure the board somewhat (per C-Cakes question, above). I think one might be able to simply use a bungee cord over each end, hooking one end under the transom lip (on the cockpit side) and "some thing" back in the area of the motor(s). I will check out this idea over the weekend, when we visit our cottage (which is where we keep the boat).

Where do you store your generator? (I have a smaller one than your 2000, but I have not yet used it on the boat.)