Cutting tables on boats are incredibly useful for cleaning fish, cutting bait and chum, rigging, and even prepping and serving food and drinks. But the variations — size, shape, features, and especially mounting style — can be daunting.
Which cutting board or fillet table is best for your boat and needs? To help answer that question, let’s take a closer look at the many options Boat Outfitters offers.
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Cutting Board Materials
Before we dive into the details, let’s talk about what makes a cutting board a cutting board. In the simplest terms, it’s a surface that can withstand repeated slicing and chopping, cleans up easily, and won’t dull knives. Several materials fit the bill, including wood, bamboo, HDPE, hard rubber, and various composites.
All have their strengths and weaknesses, but for boat use, HDPE is really the only choice.
While other materials can make great cutting boards, they can’t stand up to the UV exposure, rough handling, and constant moisture that come with the marine environment. In addition to being an excellent cutting surface, HDPE (aka Starboard) is almost unbreakable, impervious to UV and moisture, and cleans up easily.
Rod Holder Mount Tables
Most boat cutting boards and fillet tables — but not all — are designed to drop into a single flush-mount rod holder for use. That makes them easy to remove and stow when they aren’t needed and also allows them to be used in various locations around the boat, assuming you have several rod holders. Even among rod holder mount tables, though, there are numerous variations.
1. Universal Rod Holder Mount Tables
The most popular style of rod holder mount uses a ball joint to adjust to any rod holder angle. The tubular metal base drops into almost any flush-mount rod holder with a cross pin at the bottom.
Then the ball joint allows the table to be adjusted flat. The table can also be rotated to any position. A 13-3/4” tube positions the table several inches above the gunnel for a more comfortable cutting height.
Many boats are built with rod holders of several different angles, and one of the advantages of this style of mount is that it can be used in any of them.
Universal mount rod holder fillet tables like our Rod Holder Mount Fillet Table and Rod Holder Mount Fillet Table with Plano Tray Storage are also among the more affordable options.
The ball joint also allows the mount to be folded flat against the bottom of the table for storage, another important advantage.
2. Fixed Rod Holder Mount Tables with Additional Rod Holders
Fixed mount tables drop into a flush mount rod holder just like universal rod holder mount tables, but they aren’t adjustable.
Instead, tables like our Triple Offset Rod Holder with Rigging Tray and 3 Rod Kite Fish Rod Holder with Rigging Tray are made to fit one of the three common rod holder angles — 0˚, 15˚ or 30˚ — and work only with the rod holder angle they’re built for. The table top cannot be rotated either.
So what’s the advantage?
The table has three integrated rod holders, so instead of losing one rod holder, you gain two.
Additionally, the location of the rod holders makes these tables ideal for rigging chores. Just put the rod you’re rigging in one of the holders.
You might think these tables would be harder to store than universal rod holder mount tables, but in fact, they aren’t.
The Starboard cutting surface assembly easily detaches from the powder-coated aluminum frame and rod holders for flat storage.
The Triple Offset version works works well when mounted in a rod holder, giving you a work surface that sits comfortably inside the boat.
Like universal rod holder mount tables, these tables have a cutting surface about 20” wide, suitable for bait prep and cleaning most fish, but not large species.
3. Transom Mount Tables with Two Legs
A third style of rod holder mounted fillet table uses not one but two legs that drop into 0˚(vertical) rod holders on the transom.
These tables (like our Universal Transom Mount Rigging Table) are larger, with a cutting surface up to 40” wide, making them large enough to fillet most gamefish.
They’re also versatile. The available Entertainment Topper instantly transforms the transom table into a tray for drinks and snacks, while a Grill Insert secures a Weber Q Series or Magma Cabo grill.
These tables are more customizable in terms of fit and positioning than single rod holder tables. Legs are attached to the table by the customer to match the location of existing rod holders and can be cut to length for a comfortable height.
Additionally, two different styles of legs are available, with one positioning the table farther forward into the cockpit than the other.
Unlike single-leg rod holder mount tables, which can be easily removed and stowed when not needed, this style of table is intended to stay in place all day. It’s easy enough to lift out of the rod holders, but with long, fixed legs it can be awkward to store on board smaller boats.
Other Fillet Table Mounting Options
Although fillet tables that drop into flush mount rod holders are the most popular style, there are several other mounting options that may fit your specific application better.
1. V-Lock Mount Tables
The versatile and innovative V-Lock system works well for mounting a fillet table atop a gunnel or transom. The V-Lock mount holds the table securely but allows for quick removal, leaving only the low-profile base.
This is a great option for boats with few or no flush-mount rod holders, such as freshwater fishing boats and aluminum Northwest-style boats.
2. SeaSucker Mount Tables
SeaSucker vacuum mounts — essentially industrial-quality suction cups — offer a way to secure a fillet table without drilling holes and without an existing rod holder.
Our SeaSucker Mount Table uses a pair of 4-1/2” SeaSuckers and provides a considerably larger cutting surface than rod holder mount fillet tables — about 25-1/2” wide x 17-1/4” deep.
It can also accommodate a Grill Insert for use as a grilling station. Keep in mind that SeaSucker mounts need a flat and fairly smooth surface; they are compatible with some nonskid but not all. An acrylic or Starboard livewell lid makes and an ideal mounting location.
3. Tilt-Out Tables
Tilt-Out tables are permanently installed in a cutout in a vertical wall or bulkhead. Our Tilt Out Cutting Board, for example, mounts in an approximately 34” x 8” opening. When not needed, it folds neatly away.
Note that tilt-out tables like this can be built to your custom specifications.
One weakness of this style is that they don’t drain overboard.
4. Sea Hunt Gamefish Transom Tables
Developed specifically for Sea Hunt’s popular Gamefish series of center console fishing boats, these tables use a combination of the V-Lock mounting system and integrated legs with non-marring feet to attach quickly but securely to the hinged top surface of the transom.
Available in both a Standard version and a Deluxe version with additional storage, they can be instantly converted for sandbar days with an Entertainment Topper.
They can also be used on other boats; a flat surface roughly 41” wide is required.
5. Cooler and Bucket Topper Cutting Boards
The simplest, most affordable, and most portable option for an on-board cutting surface is a Starboard topper for your cooler or 5-gallon bucket.
Cooler toppers lock into place with no tools or drilling on a variety of models from Yeti, Engel, Igloo, and other brands, instantly converting them to snack prep, bait cutting, or fish cleaning stations.
Likewise, our 5 Gallon Bucket Top Cutting Board Table converts any 5-gallon bucket into a 23” x 15-1/2” cutting surface.
Cooler toppers instantly convert coolers into to snack prep, bait cutting, or fish cleaning stations.
Custom Boat Fillet Tables
If nothing off the shelf quite fits your needs, it’s easy to assemble a table that does.
We offer custom fillet table tops built to your exact dimensions, these can be paired with a variety of mounts, including adjustable rod holder mounts, V-Lock mounts, SeaSucker mounts, and transom mount legs for both shallow transoms and deep transoms.
A Few Important Questions
So, even with all that information, how do you pick the right option? Here are a few important questions to consider.
Filleting or just bait prep?
If you’re just prepping chum, bait, or rigging lines, size isn’t a big deal. A typical 20” surface works well. Consider a single rod holder mount or a V-Lock mount.
How big are the fish?
A 20” table works for most freshwater and many saltwater species. Bigger fish or cleaning multiple at once? You’ll want more surface area.
Need storage underneath?
Tables with room for Plano boxes are great for keeping hooks, weights, and tackle within reach. If you don’t need storage, skipping trays keeps cleanup quicker.
Can you spare a rod holder?
If rod holders are limited, don’t give one up. Go with a table that has built-in holders or a mount like V-Lock or SeaSucker.
Using it for more than fishing?
These tables aren’t just for cleaning fish. If you plan to use yours for entertaining too, look for options compatible with toppers for serving or grilling.
A Few Important Questions
So, even with all that information, how do you pick the right option? Here are a few important questions to consider.
Are you using your table to fillet fish, or just prep chum and bait?
If you’re just using your table to prepare chum and bait or rig lines, size isn’t a big consideration. A typical 20” wide cutting surface should be plenty. Consider one of the single rod holder mount options, or a V-Lock mount.
If you’re filleting fish, how big are they?
For most freshwater fish — with the exception of big catfish or striped bass — and for a lot of saltwater species, a 20” table is just fine. It’s cramped, though, for many saltwater species. And if you’re cleaning a lot of small fish at once, a bigger work surface can be helpful.
Do you need storage for tackle or tools?
If so, a table with room underneath for one or more Plano boxes is handy. For example, you might keep frequently used terminal tackle like hooks, swivels, weights, etc. under your table if you plan to use it for rigging. On the other hand, if you don’t really need the storage, tackle tray slots add expense and can make cleanup slower.
Can you spare a rod holder?
On boats with just enough rod holders, losing one of them to a rod holder mount table is an issue. Go with either a table that has rod holders of its own or with a mounting style that doesn’t use a rod holder, like a V-Lock or SeaSucker table.
Will you use it for anything besides fishing?
Tables and cutting surfaces have other uses on boats besides just cleaning fish and cutting bait. If you want to use yours for entertaining as well as (or instead of) fishing, consider a table that’s compatible with toppers for serving and grilling.