17B Small Dinette

[TimJan]

We are interested in the 17B, but have questions about the small dinette. Is the size confining? Is it comfortable for 2 people? Have you modified the space or table, if so how?

[yardsale]

The sliding feature is nice and size is adequate. The issue is access to the seating. The answer depends on your body size. We are 113 and 160 lbs each and it is ok for us.

[gocamp]

The view and people watching keeps you busy there. Your shoulders don't touch the sides either. Seeing one in person is the way to go since it's a big purchase.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by TimJan

We are interested in the 17B, but have questions about the small dinette. Is the size confining? Is it comfortable for 2 people? Have you modified the space or table, if so how?

It is great for one, and I have had no problems sitting 2 at it. In fact, on a couple of trips with tent camping friends, we managed to sit 3 on rainy meals.

I did make one major modification. I removed the stock cushions, added a fabric cover to the plywood, and bought two West Marine High Back Chairs. Much more comfortable than the cushions, can be taken outside on picnic tables, and fold close to flat when not in use. They often go on sale for 1/2 price...

[thoer]

The larger dinette on our new 21 is one of the things we are most looking forward to! That said we did ok with the small one in the 17b. It got pretty crowded at breakfast as we both had our iPads out reading the new along with all our breakfast dishes, etc. We used lumbar pillows behind out backs to make the seating more comfortable. Pool noodles behind the cushion bottoms help too.

[cpaharley2008]

After having a smaller table "U' dinette in my 21, we went back to the larger table stock front dinette in the 19. All depends on your wants and needs.

[yardsale]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

It is great for one, and I have had no problems sitting 2 at it. In fact, on a couple of trips with tent camping friends, we managed to sit 3 on rainy meals.

I did make one major modification. I removed the stock cushions, added a fabric cover to the plywood, and bought two West Marine High Back Chairs. Much more comfortable than the cushions, can be taken outside on picnic tables, and fold close to flat when not in use. They often go on sale for 1/2 price...

We did a less extensive modification than this. Just bought two of those "arm chair pillows" you can get for $20 at Wallmart and placed them on the cushions. Improved the comfort quite a bit, and you can move the pillows onto the corners of the bed to fabricate a really comfortable lounging area. Put them both on one side to watch video on your computer or on opposite sides for dual reading areas.

[skyfree]

We had ETI omit the wardrobe and extend the bench since we don't need the wardrobe. We have sat 4 people at the front dinette with that layout. The extended bench is quite long.

[advenas]

Originally Posted by skyfree

We had ETI omit the wardrobe and extend the bench since we don't need the wardrobe. We have sat 4 people at the front dinette with that layout. The extended bench is quite long.

Does it also have storage under the extended front dinette bench? If so, I wonder how hard it would be to retro that......

[Chapitre]

In our 17b we had the Goucho bunk option, they really reduce the size of the dinette even more, for anyone thinking of that option.

[skyfree]

Originally Posted by advenas

Does it also have storage under the extended front dinette bench? If so, I wonder how hard it would be to retro that......

It has the same empty space you can access by lifting up the cushion and wood piece that the 3 other dinette bench's have. You could ask for a door to be installed on the end of it to access it that way if you feel the need. Maybe since it is so large you could ask for another exterior hatch to access it from the outside, but I didn't need it and didn't ask. We have the exterior hatch on the rear dinette bench and we do use that regularly.