J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment floorboards under table

Has anyone subdivided the floorboards under the table, e.g., into 3 pieces? The table's never been installed in my boat but it seems once it's in there, it would seem to be a major obstacle to removing the standard one-piece floorboard. Am I missing something?
Thx

The table slides down over the support tubes, which in turn, slide into sockets molded into the keel support structure. If the support tubes are loose in their sockets, it's not a problem to dismount everything. On the other hand, some folks have said that over time the tubes become very hard to remove.

Joe

Joe is correct in stating it's hard/impossible to remove table/tubes. In our boat (#452) the tubes are corroded in place and will not move, the table is binding on the tubes and it takes two people to remove it. Unless I can get some good advice here I will permanently remove the tubes with a hacksaw this winter. It is a pain to lift the one-piece floorboard to mop up water with the tubes in place.

Hi Bengt -
Can you tell if they're wedged or bonded (i.e., corroded)? How about cross drilling or notching the top for a bar and trying to twist them out? With enough torque maybe they'd buckle and come out? Maybe try dry ice? (I know that's a stretch..)
Seth

I have the same problem - I think they are corroded. I havent drilled hols but used the table holes to try torquing it to no avail.

I was wondering if therre was some acid that may attack the bonding corrosive material - I cant remember my college chm\emistry well enough!

I do manage to lift the floorboard for pumping out.

I like having the table but it would be nice to take it out when racing

Graeme
breezotoo(at)yahoo.com

I'd avoid putting acid in the bilge. Neutralizing it after it's in there may not be so easy. Health issues too. Very close to keel bolts.

Anyone try putting a bolt thru near the bottom and prying up with two crow bars?

Maybe the existing tubes, cut off, would make nice liners for smaller tubes!

got my tubes cut ( how does that sound ? )
just above the ground but lower than the top edge of the floor.....

As I use the table all the time I have alloy tubes inside the original tubes and have them wedged in the cut off portion.

I have opted for a very tight fit of the alloy tubes, as i leave the table in for racing. but when used with a little smaller diameter "inner"tubes, than the table can be easily taken out.

Thor