Walk around any boat show and it seemsthat almost every other booth has a new take on a drinks holder. I like a cold one as much as the next man but some of the these drinks holders are very expensive and pretty recherche in the extreme. While it is true that you may want some place to hold your drink whilst out boating ideally everything aboard should have more than one configuration and be capable of more than one function so it was with great joy that I saw this table arrangement on a Freedom 36 the other week. I think that the pictures are fairly self explanatory but what I like about this table / cup holder is it's simplicity; no fancy hardware and nothing to break. As you will see it is all made from teak and teak plywood and consists of a drinks holder securely clamped to the crash bar ahead of the compass binnacle. When out cruising this offers a great place to hold mugs and cans without fear of spillage and yet within easy reach of the helmsman and crew in the cockpit. But what really sets it apart is when you get into port and you need to set up the table for alfresco dining. The table is simply lifted off it's stainless hooks and pulled away from it's clips keeping it neatly in position and slid into the horizontal, no metalwork, flaps, hinges or other impediments to adjust or break off for that matter. I could also see a use for this table arrangement down below, on a powerboat for instance where the cup holder section of the table could be attached to a bulkhead or other surface. Obviously not as solid and secure as a pedestal mounted table perhaps but more than adequate for use when in port or clement weather and unlike a demountable pedestal table no pole to store and get lost.
Just in case the photographs do not make it perfectly clear I enclose a cross sectional sketch so that you can see the relationship of all the parts and as ever you can click on any of the photos to make them bigger.
Hi Mark,
The Beneteau 321 I sail has a similar arrangement. Neat, tidy, efficient, and no little parts to break.
Posted by: Matt | February 19, 2013 at 05:35 PM
1990 Morgan has same arrangement
Posted by: Harold Breuninger | February 22, 2019 at 06:07 PM
Hi Mark, I like this design so much that I have built one myself. But I am now looking for a source for the SS L-hooks that the table hangs on as well as the plastic clips that secure the table to the crash bar. Source suggestions appreciated. 😀
Posted by: Blaine McKibbin | January 31, 2021 at 01:47 PM
Blaine. Glad that you have built your own table. If I remember correctly the plastic clips came from West Marine and the L hooks from Home Depot
Posted by: Mark | January 31, 2021 at 04:43 PM
Hi Mark, I also like the design and would like to build one but I’m unsure how the cupholder is attached to the crash bar. Thanks.
Todd
Posted by: Todd herreid | February 20, 2021 at 12:18 AM
Mark, please forgive my novice woodworking skills. Other than the screws holding the table to the binnacle (which I’m assuming are u bolts), I don’t see any other screws holding the sides to the 2 cross pieces and dowel. Are these a pocket fit and how is the structure held together to form the drink holder box?
Thank you and nice looking piece. I will be making one for my Hughes 38 and like most, don’t want to spend the hundreds of dollars on one from the marine retailers. It’s also great pride in doing it yourself.
Kind regards,
David
Posted by: David | March 14, 2021 at 07:08 PM
Hi Mark. I’ve been looking to build a cockpit table for my Hughes 38 and this would be perfect. I’ve done some woodwork but wouldn’t consider myself that well versed in some of the finer details. Other than the screws holding the drink holder to the crash bar (which I’m assuming are u bolts), I don’t see any fasteners holding the drink holder together. Is this done using pocket fit and glued together or are the fasteners/screws cleverly hidden? Thank you for sharing this post
Posted by: David | March 15, 2021 at 08:08 PM