Plywood Cockpit Table

[BriRich]

I've been warned against it but I'm going to go ahead and build my cockpit table out of plywood and glass it like I used to glass surfboards, 8oz cloth, polyester laminating resin, lap the edges, a couple of sanding coats and then some coats of good quality paint.

What I've been told is the table won't last a year and will fall apart.

I plan on through bolting the piano hinge with some hardwood backing and same for the hinges for the leaves. May not be the prettiest but I think it will look fairly decent and serve the purpose well.

Am I missing something? I need to figure how to artfully attach fiddles after the table surfaces are glassed and finished.

Thanks
Brian

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by BriRich

I've been warned against it but I'm going to go ahead and build my cockpit table out of plywood and glass it like I used to glass surfboards, 8oz cloth, polyester laminating resin, lap the edges, a couple of sanding coats and then some coats of good quality paint.

What I've been told is the table won't last a year and will fall apart.

I plan on through bolting the piano hinge with some hardwood backing and same for the hinges for the leaves. May not be the prettiest but I think it will look fairly decent and serve the purpose well.

Am I missing something? I need to figure how to artfully attach fiddles after the table surfaces are glassed and finished.

Thanks
Brian

Should be fine and outlast you.

Dave

[Sand crab]

Use good quality ply. The more veneers the better. If the ply is warped initially forget it. You will never get it straight. Screw and plug the fiddles on.

[Factor]

I remember when I had a boat with fiddles, seems so long ago.

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by Factor

I remember when I had a boat with fiddles, seems so long ago.

Yep! LMAO.

[fgd3]

Originally Posted by BriRich

I need to figure how to artfully attach fiddles after the table surfaces are glassed and finished.

Thanks
Brian

Glue them on with epoxy. You don't want to penetrate the protective layer of fiberglass and permit water intrusion into your plywood.

Fabbian

[fgd3]

Originally Posted by Factor

I remember when I had a boat with fiddles, seems so long ago.

Fiddles are nice even if they no longer have a function. They give the boat that traditional nautical look.

Fabbian

[darylat8750]

You might consider drilling holes for your screws oversize then filling the hole with epoxy / filler mix, let it cure then drill and screw in fasteners normally. Should greatly reduce the chance of water getting into the lamination of the plywood.

[BriRich]

[QUOTE=fgd3;1417745]Glue them on with epoxy. You don't want to penetrate the protective layer of fiberglass and permit water intrusion into your plywood.

Fabbian[

Yep that's what I was thinking last night. After glassing and before painting epoxy the fiddles on then paint the whole thing. Maybe give the fiddles a thinned coat of resin first.

I'm serious about this I don't want to fiddle around.

[Opie91]

Originally Posted by BriRich

I've been warned against it but I'm going to go ahead and build my cockpit table out of plywood

Most Edson cockpit tables are made out of a quality teak plywood.

[Ukeluthier]

I'm in the middle of making a cockpit table out of marine plywood right now.

I had some 1/4" teak and holly sole ply left over from replacing my cabin sole, so I laminated it to some 1/4" fir marine ply with epoxy.

To avoid vulnerable edges and water infiltration points, I'm putting a 1-1/2"-wide solid teak edge treatment all around with the fiddles attached to that.

The whole thing will be sealed with penetrating epoxy, then varnished with a poly spar varnish. Especially considering that this will be a removable and stowable table, I don't envision any delamination problems.

[SaucySailoress]

We made a temporary one (meant to act as a template, if the design worked) out of some scraps of marine ply which we had left over. It's still fine 6 months later. after exposure to desert sun and sand, ocean storms, tropical monsoons and dogs onboard.. Can't see it wearing out in a hurry!