"Designated Storage" for a 260DA Table

Dave S

Well-Known Member
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 3, 2006
6,014
Upstate South Carolina
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If you own a 2005 or newer 260DA and have been searching for your "Designated Storage" area that Sea Ray says you have for your cockpit table...............don't bother looking. You won't find it because it doesn't exist even though all their advertising and their web site says it does. The only place where you can store the table is in the bow under the bow cushion. It's the only place it will fit but it's also unpadded under the bow and very inconvenient to get too as well. The table will not fit in the cabin locker like it did on the 2004 and older models and there is no space for it on the underside of the engine hatch either. So here is what you can do if you have a mind to. I created my own "designated storage" with some left over lumber I had at home. I used pieces of 2x6 and 1x6 and primed and painted everything. I suppose you could use Starboard too but I am sure mine will hold up pretty well as it is.

This picture shows the table holder and mounting board. The black padding you see is sticky back foam cut out of of sheet normally used for craft projects (available at any craft store or at Wal Mart for less than a buck) The table rests on the two tapered ends which have the padding on them. There is another piece of padding on the inside on the lower part of one of the sides. This "locks" the table in place when you set it in the table holder.

DSC02539.jpg


The next photos shows the area on the boat where I mounted the table holder. There is a space right next to the water heater which doesn't interfere with any thing and the table is far enough away from the engine so that won't be a problem either. The table can be easily placed in or pulled out of the table holder without having to step into the bilge.

DSC02542.jpg


DSC02543.jpg


As far as the pole goes, there is already a place for that in the cabin closet or under the bunk in the v-berth. So you don't have to move that if you don't want to. However I decided to move mine and I removed the brackets under the bunk (which cleans up that storage area nicely.) I mounted the brackets on the starboard side just above the holding tank. Here is a picture of that too. (Unfortunately, you do have to step down into the bilge though to remove the pole).

DSC02541.jpg


All in all it was a pretty easy project and turned out nicely. If anyone has any questions, I'll try to answer them.
 
Dave... great work sir.... looks awesome!! The 280 comes with storage in the engine compartment as well.... but it is not as pretty as this... makes me think.... hmmmm....
 
Did Sea Ray get rid of the Whale-Quick connect water line connectors? They make it so easy to bypass the hotwater heater.

Nice innovative idea.
 
skolbe said:
Did Sea Ray get rid of the Whale-Quick connect water line connectors?

What you see on my hot water heater was a modification done by my dealer under warranty because the new style screw on connectors that Sea Ray uses were leaking. I am not familiar with the terminology "whale quick", but I suspect my Sundeck may have those connectors. They pop on and off easily and don't leak at all. The new screw on ones have a rubber washer that compresses against the fitting so if you overtighten them or take them off and try to retighten again, they have a tendency to leak .I just had to get a bunch of extra washers for these new screw type connectors because I have had other leaks too. And another phenomonen I found is they leak in cold weather but then the leak stops when things warm up in the bilge. :smt021
 
Dave,

Nice work ... couldn't use that space for much else. What holds the table in? Does the hatch cover prevent it from bouncing out?

Did you use rivets to fasten the bracket to the floor?

-Charlie
 
Charlie,

It's fastened down with Stainless Steel screws. As far as it bouncing out, that shouldn't happen. It sits deep enough and tight enough in the holder (that's what the foam padding is for in the center bottom of the holder) that it shouldn't move even in rough water. But if it did bounce up it would hit the hatch before it could come out of the holder.

If I am wrong and it turns out that I need some way to secure it in the holder, I am pretty sure I can come up with something fairly simple.

Dave
 
RobF300 said:
Did'nt they used to make the underside of that hatch the storage area?
Yes............but there is not enough clearance between the hatch and the engine on the redesigned 05 models to continue to do that.
 
Great job Dave, first class. I wonder if the new 240 Dancers actually have the "dedicated storage" that they advertise?. If not I will be sure to use your design.

Joe
 
Dave, Great job! The project looks tempting. I will take a look at the orientation of my bildge. I suspect it will be slightly different with the generator in it. Also, I will take your advice on jumpstarting on the boat heater to get out earlier. :thumbsup:
-Ron
 
nina and plum said:
Dave, Great job! The project looks tempting. I will take a look at the orientation of my bildge. I suspect it will be slightly different with the generator in it. Also, I will take your advice on jumpstarting on the boat heater to get out earlier. :thumbsup:
-Ron

If you have a generator then I would go with the Xtreme Heater. It has a much smaller footprint so finding a location for it should not be a problem.

And if you want to save a few bucks, you might want to try a "Froogle" search and buy it yourself. You can probably save your self some money at this time of the year and your dealer will still be glad to install it for you. :thumbsup:
7101140.jpg
 
i called sea ray customer service the other day and asked them "where is the dedicated storage for the cockpit table on a 2006 240 sundancer?" and they told me under the cockpit sink.

not a very good spot as the carry on cooler bumps into the battery switch and stuff in there.i am going to make one like dave's.

by the way dave,any dimentions for this project would be great :smt038

email them to me if you don't want sea ray see :grin:
 
eddie said:
i called sea ray customer service the other day and asked them "where is the dedicated storage for the cockpit table on a 2006 240 sundancer?" and they told me under the cockpit sink.

not a very good spot as the carry on cooler bumps into the battery switch and stuff in there.i am going to make one like dave's.

by the way dave,any dimentions for this project would be great :smt038

email them to me if you don't want sea ray see :grin:

I already tried that and it won't fit thru the door! :smt021

As far as dimensions go, I didn't write them down. I had the table at home so I built it to fit. I'll try and get some measurements off the finished unit and post them back here some time in the future.
 
Are you guys sure that table wont fit in the storage locker that shares the same wall/bulkhead as the head (like the prior year 260's?) I was on one the other day and it looks the same size. They were using that storage space for the V-berth filler cushions but I would think the cushions would be better stored under the V-berth because they are not used that often. If it doesn't fit they should have left that part alone when they changed the design in 05. It seems like a pain in the butt to have to open your engine compartment to get the table out.
 
Bridog said:
Are you guys sure that table wont fit in the storage locker that shares the same wall/bulkhead as the head (like the prior year 260's?) I was on one the other day and it looks the same size. They were using that storage space for the V-berth filler cushions but I would think the cushions would be better stored under the V-berth because they are not used that often. If it doesn't fit they should have left that part alone when they changed the design in 05. It seems like a pain in the butt to have to open your engine compartment to get the table out.

It won't fit there either............it's not wide enough.
 
I agree, opening the engine hatch to get to the table sounds like a pain. My friend has a 320 and that's where the table is stored. The 300 has the perfect solution, couldn't be easier, slides in below the aft bench.

Eddie, the 240 table does fit in that storage space below the wetbar, but you have to remove the cooler to get it out. I think I'll opt for Daves solution.
 

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