A decade of woodworking in the tropics and sailing the Caribbean tradewinds left its mark on this author, who's finding new applications for his nautical know how. The top of this table forms a half-lapped grate - a common feature under the feet of a sailboat's helmsmen and the cockpit crew. Used for an outdoor tabletop, the table will shed water and dry quickly after a rain. It's as durable as it is good-looking.