I set up the settee table in the main cabin to try to get a feel for the original Craftsman layout. I am sure the boat crawl at the Nor’sea 27 get-together will help crystallize some ideas about which way I want to go with the interior.

The prior owner had installed a couple of cleats and extended the side settee into a wide berth, similar to what Curt did on Journey, but without the fine polish in materials and the convertability.  It was easy enough to take out as the board was just held in with a few screws.  I did find that most all of the trim pieces, fiddles that hold the cushions in place were no longer on the boat.  I just had a short 1′ section, but that gave me a template to use when I make a trip out to Blue Pelican to see if I can find more material.

Next I installed the table, which rides on a big steel clamp attached to the compression post. It’s an awkward arrangement using thumbscrews to clamp the post.  Lots of little dings from every time it has been moved or installed.  It would have been easier to use and much less destructive if they used an overcenter clamp and some delrin or something.  The really surprising part was when I had the table installed I expected it to drop right onto the settee and fill in the space much as the temporary board had done.  this is how any modern RV works, but the table is slightly too large to fit the area, the cushion fiddles would probably have further obstructed it, and its own fiddles create clearance issues.  It’s clear I could optimize this arrangement somewhat.  However I found a really nice Lagun table on eBay that may obviate all this and give me a table that can be used in the cockpit or saloon.

I plan to make a trip over to Ikea just to look at what kinds of materials and cushions they have so I can see what I like by way of interior upholstery.  That’s a separate issue from the layout aspects.