To fiddle or not to fiddle

Arthurc · Mar 26, 2018

I’m just wrapping up the final touches on my galley remodel planning and am going to go with 3mm quartz countertops with an under counter sink. The question on my mind is should I install fiddles right away. Since it’s likely hard to do in quartz it would mean teak and I’m not sure how that will look.
Am I crazy to think about not installing them? There isn’t really counter space that would cause things to slide off side to side and the galley is basically midship so limited up and down movement.

I could always do them later but want to make sure I’m not completely missing something...

dhays · Mar 26, 2018

I would use fiddles where things could slide off due to rolling movements. Likely not an issue for the hobby-horse movement.

Arthurc · Mar 26, 2018

That’s what I’m thinking too, feels like the undercounter sink is a far bigger risk.

Delfin · Mar 26, 2018

Arthurc said:
I’m just wrapping up the final touches on my galley remodel planning and am going to go with 3mm quartz countertops with an under counter sink. The question on my mind is should I install fiddles right away. Since it’s likely hard to do in quartz it would mean teak and I’m not sure how that will look.
Am I crazy to think about not installing them? There isn’t really counter space that would cause things to slide off side to side and the galley is basically midship so limited up and down movement.

I could always do them later but want to make sure I’m not completely missing something...

With stabilizers, they aren't really necessary. I've never missed them and we just use non skid under the things we don't want moving. If conditions are nasty enough that stabilizers and non skid don't cut it, fiddles aren't likely to be of much use.

Larry M · Mar 26, 2018

We replaced the fiddels when we redid the counters. Even at anchor they keep stuff off the floor.

RT Firefly · Mar 26, 2018

Greetings,
Mr Ac. Aside from the functionality that fiddles would/might provide, have you considered the aesthetics? How about having some thicker quartz cut to say...1/2" W and 3/4" H or some teak pieces of similar dimensions. Maybe marble or another material? Use double sided sticky tape to place them temporarily so you can stand back and cogitate. Perhaps a raised edge or lip around the counter...

Your counter supplier should have a solution for sticking what-ever onto the surface or along the edge...Just sayin'

Arthurc · Mar 26, 2018

I really like the clean look of not having fiddles, I think I’m going to go with 3cm quartz square edged so I can always glue teak or Quartz to them in the future.

FF · Mar 28, 2018

"galley is basically midship so limited up and down movement. "

If the range or sink is athwartship , across the boat, usually facing a bulkhead , the danger of harm from items being thrown from side to side is minimal.

If the range or sink is facing the hull anything tossed off has a 50/50 chance of harming the cook.

You might consider removable fiddles or sea rails for when secure dockside.

Arthurc · Mar 28, 2018

The Sink is athwartship, the range is facing away from the hull so I think the risk is minimal since the range wouldn’t have a fiddle anyway.
She has stabilizers that are super effective so even roll is uncommon but I certainly wouldn’t plan on zero rolling motion.

FF · Mar 28, 2018

"I certainly wouldn’t plan on zero rolling motion."

Especially in an anchorage when a dummy goes past, and are more likely to be cooking.

Arthurc · Mar 28, 2018

Agreed, but the stove has its own supports system so wasn’t going to have fiddles anyways.

Russell Clifton · Mar 28, 2018

On our previous boat I never installed fiddles on the galley counters after I remodeled. Our current boat has fiddles on the galley counters and will just leave them alone. BUT.... the I took a block plane to the ones on the table in the wheel house and cut them down to about 1/4" high. Fiddles are really tough on your arms while sitting at a table trying to eat, play cards, or work on the computer. Much better now.

RT Firefly · Mar 28, 2018

Greetings,
Mr. A. For this version, most certainly WITH the fiddle...
(S. Grappelli).

FoxtrotCharlie · Mar 28, 2018

Me thinks you meant 3cm vs 3mm quartz :angel:

Arthurc · Mar 29, 2018

True, that would be rather thin

ksanders · Mar 29, 2018

We have a non stabilized boat, cruise in the open ocean, and do not have fiddles on the galley counter.

We have never had a problem, and I suppose that I would not like to be on theboat for long periods of time where conditions were so bad that stuff slid off the galley counter.

AusCan · Mar 30, 2018

It's tough to advise anyone on things like this, because we all boat in different conditions.

I wouldn't contemplate countertops without fiddles for a second, but they may be perfectly suitable for you.
I still clear everything off the counters on anything except the most calm days. It takes more than fiddles to contain things when it gets ugly out there.

twistedtree · Mar 30, 2018

Delfin said:
With stabilizers, they aren't really necessary. I've never missed them and we just use non skid under the things we don't want moving. If conditions are nasty enough that stabilizers and non skid don't cut it, fiddles aren't likely to be of much use.

Same here. We have no fiddles on the galley counters, and non-skid under pretty much everything to prevent sliding around.

And either way, I wouldn't want teak fiddles. I think water would eventually get under them, lift the finish, leave dark stains, and look like crap.

Arthurc · Apr 3, 2018

Final decision is no fiddles, installing 2cm quartz (Stellar by Pental I believe), with a flat polished edge. Will post picts once complete (end of April)
AC

To fiddle or not to fiddle

Guru

Guru

Guru

Grand Vizier

Guru

Enigma

Guru

Guru

Guru

Attachments

Guru

Guru

Guru

Enigma

Guru

Guru

Moderator Emeritus

Guru

Guru

Guru

Similar threads