A simple swing-up counter extension
Issue 55 : Jul/Aug 2007
The U-shaped galley in our Pearson 28-2 seemed more than adequate to me, especially when compared to that of our O’Day 222 trailersailer. However, my wife suggested that additional counter space would really make food preparation easier and leave the dining table for just that . . . dining. After a two-week cruise, I readily concurred.
The cabinetry in our boat is varnished teak and the quality of the joinery is above average. Unfortunately, I’m neither a cabinetmaker nor finish carpenter, and I was a bit hesitant to do even a partial makeover. I figured that a less invasive and more novel approach was called for. Since the counter would not be used all the time, I entertained the idea of a drop-leaf design. This involved the use of a 14-inch spring-loaded foldable brace (commonly used on drop-leaf tables); a 16-inch piano hinge; a 1-inch by 1⁄2-inch by 21-inch hardwood spacer to accommodate the brace when folded; and a hardwood cutting board as the counter top.
The space I had to work with was approximately 15 by 24 inches. I mounted the hardwood spacer along with the piano hinge to the existing galley cabinet. I found a maple cutting board that measured 14 by 23 inches and to it I fastened the long end of the spring-loaded foldable brace. (This is the tricky part. Carefully follow the directions that come with the brace. If measured or mounted incorrectly, the brace will neither completely fold nor completely extend. To avoid ending up with a series of holes, I first made a mockup out of scrap wood.) Next, I mounted the cutting board to the piano hinge (pre-drilled holes made the task easy) and fi nished off the job by fastening the short end of the spring-loaded brace to the galley cabinet (again, having carefully measured). Voilà!
While 14 by 23 inches doesn’t sound overly large, our new swing-up counter extension increases our usable counter space by almost 50 percent and, when not in use, is out of the way. By using off-the-shelf materials, I didn’t have to disturb the existing cabinetry and I kept the cost under $20.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
