Custom Table for the Helm in a 330 Express

[Rusty]

I am new to this forum, but have had a Grady for 10 years. My first boat was a 20ft CC, but I have had a 330 Express for 4 years. I have three little boys and a wife and we love to stay the night on the boat and eat meals.

I was looking for advice on how to make/buy a table for the helm. My plan is to remove the captains chair and have a table that would fit on the post. This would be great for our cruising trips.

Thanks,

 

[megabytes]

Welcome to the board. With some clever engineering you might be able to adapt the cabin table to the helm pedistal. If not I know a really good marine fabricator in NC. They do starboard however so if you want a wood table you will need to do some searching.

 

[jekyl]

Rusty that is a great idea.

I have contemplated that for some time for my 265. i don't have as much room of course but we never eat below.

It should be quite easy to get the top pedestal fitting (underneath the chair) and if you want wood then a carpenter or woodworker could make up whatever your budget allows. I think something with fiddles is probably a bit over the top. But all depends on how you plan to use it. Would love to see pics when you get it done.

 

[Rusty]

Any ideas where I could get a fitting similar to the base of the chair? I would like to use the pole that is already there and just pull off the chair portion. I bet I could call GradyWhite, but was wondering if there were other options.

 

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

You can find that at any marine supply.

 

[drbatts]

rusty, I have seen a 265 in which the owner replaced the helm seat with a table. I believe they both had the same mount and you just pull the chair off and put the table on and vice versa. It looked like a pretty standard marine table. I'm sure with a 33 you have a little more flexibility in size.

 

[HMBJack]

Welcome to the board Rusty. Nice to see another Pillar Point Captain here.
Think about it - if you had a table made up, exactly where would you store your helm chair when the table is being used? These are small boats, even yours, so I would look into a simple, but high quality, folding table (or 2). When not in use, you can store them flat in the cabin somewhere (or even your dock box?). I'd use your deck area for this. Your helm seat turns 360 degrees around so when it is facing aft, you gain another seat while you and your family enjoy the sun or the stars. I always say out loud to myself "my boat is not the Queen Mary" and as such, try to keep it all to a minimum.
But whatever you do - don't embarrass your beautiful 330 Express with a cheap, hack job of a table (I know you won't). Unlike other brands, Grady's are a "class act". Cheers, Jack