How to convert a dinette into a settee

[Quetzalsailor]

The post re: converting a settee into a dinette reminds me that we're noodling ideas about how to make our NE38 more comfortable for lounging around.

Bear with me; the really curious can look on the LeComteOwners site to see pictures. Our port settee is three sided-with a drop leaf table arranged to be dropped down into the U so that the settee + table top + settee back cushions form a double bed. In everyday configuration, the table takes up all the real estate in the salon, save for the space underneath which is suitable for the Coonhound and the occasional foot. The settees are formed so that one must sit up straight and not slouch; the backs are all but vertical, the seats are not all that deep. For formal, candles and silverware dining, the dropleaf is raised and the starboard side settee is pulled out about 5"; it's very cosy and will seat 6 with no elbows on the table. The table is mounted on a stainless steel bracket which is impaled on a stainless steel pipe flanged onto sole and socketed overhead. Remove the screws in the flange and socket and the assembly comes right out; it's a clumsy carry and impossible to store aboard. The table is further supported by a socket screwed to the sole matched to a socket screwed to the underside of the table. In the table position the sockets locate a length of aluminum pipe which supports it vertically and keeps it from rotating. In the bed position, the pipe rolls around on a shelf and the two sockets meet to support the table vertically, and both horizontally and vertically by the surrounding settee. Using the various seat back cushions which are located by the table fiddles is not all that successful; any acrobatics - I'm not going anywhere - and the cushions pop out of position leaving the old bones on the table top.

The first and easiest step is to simply take the table and its miscellany of supports out and store them at home. We'll find out whether the suddenly spacious salon is suitable.The tougher step is to modify the table supports so that it can be readily mounted as a table or as a double bed and just as readily demounted and stored aboard. If it had no bulky stainless steel brackets, the leaf could be hinged so that the plywood could be stored behind a settee back cushion. Thus the noodling. Any ideas will be welcome. It should be understood that I will wish to do this so that even Dolf LeComte would never know that his yard didn't do it.

[Rachel]

Do you think you could post a couple of photos here? It would be nice to get a glimpse as you describe it.

[Quetzalsailor]

http://www.lecomteowners.com/index.php? ... &Itemid=41

[Quetzalsailor]

You can see the port side table and settee as well as the starboard side settee at the above link. The piece of aluminum pipe shows as a slightly duller bit of metal under the table. The stainless steel pipe from sole to overhead is a dandy thing to grab when traversing the salon.

[Tom Young]

Good question. These boats like ours did have in mind a good sized crew when the seating arrangements were designed. But that's not the best for two, which is how many boats are used. My first thought is to reduce the table as you suggest. One of the few changes I made to my boat was to cut the centerline table down by 14". It's now a four seater instead of the original 6 which is a waste of space 99% of the time. You can see in this photo a 7" reduction (I took it equally off) which was enough to open up the seating area on the forward side of the settees, made all the difference.

If you reduced (or made a smaller one removable or folding to a much more compact size), could you then increase the seats to a more commodious depth? Could the table be more offset opening up one end of the settee?


I toyed with the idea of taking a pilot berth out and fitting a new arrangement (old idea I posted here) but have since abandoned the idea. The idea not to change it came just last weekend on my final sail for a couple of nights. I was alone and due to weather spent a lot of time sitting out high winds reading, and sitting. Adjusting the settee depths to a comfortable depth I realized all the work would add very little to this simple step (as you can do with your starboard settee). Not ideal as it constricts passage on that side but the sloped seatback and a few pillows make a good seat, the only one(s) on board really.


But what really cemented the deal to eliminate my idea was the cold night. I took the port pilot closest to the wood stove still radiating after the fire went out. A very good cold weather berth. I could see I will get more use out of the pilots than the conversion. It's a great feeling to nix a project on my boat, I have enough to do.

With only two onboard our boat, having another table installed, built for two with an adaption for four, might be an even better solution. You can always keep your stock table and try a new smaller one, try a mock up?