A question about fenders

[ProDave]

My little boat lives in a harbour throughout the summer. Here's how I hang my fenders normally

Note my boat has a "flange" joint all the way round where the hull moulding joins the coachroof moulding. So all the fendering is done against this flange joint.

(note I'm going to be replacing the rubber strip around the flange for something altogether much better as soon as it arrives)

The only problem with this arrangement, is it can get rough in the harbour with the wind from the E, and this year I suffered two bent stanchions where they came into contact with the harbour wall.

My stanchions do lean out somewhat, so I'll be putting a bend into them so they remain further inboard to lessen the chances of that happening again.

But I'm considering other options:

One is to remove the guard wire and stanchions if it's likely to get rough. That then leaves the problem of how to hang the fenders.

this picture shows how normal fenders would hang

That doesn't look too clever to me. All the fendering would be done against the hull, and with grit picked up from the wall, would probably sandpaper all the paint off my hull.

so what about ball fenders?

Probably want to use some a bit larger than that, but that's all I had to test the theory.

So I'm looking for ideas for the best solution?

 

[prv]

Ball fenders seem like a good idea to me. They always seem to give much better protection against any kind of vertical wall. The standard sausage ones are better when fending off an edge like most pontoons, but otherwise balls all the way. Only downside is they may be harder to stow.

Pete

 

[VicS]

I'd go for the round fenders rather than the cylindrical ones.

I'd definitely put a set in the stanchions so that they do not stick out like they do.

Picking up grit from a wall is a problem. It will take the paint off in no time and then make a pretty ghastly mess of the gel coat too. You'll need fender mats to protect the hull.

Removing and refitting the stanchions and guard rails every time will be such a PITA that you'll soon not bother to remove them or not bother to refit them

 

[Fascadale]

What about a couple of over sized sausage fenders and a fender board across the pair of them? Plus a round one forward and aft of the fender board.

Perhaps you could leave them by on the harbour wall when you go sailing and re-attach them to the boat on your return.

 

[ProDave]

I've put a set in my stancions so they don't stick out like they used to.

I'm also considering shortening them a couple of inches to bring them down to the same height as the pulpit.

Looking at available fenders I like these (apart from the price) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-St...tEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item53dacba929

Because they hang on two ropes, they will always stay the same way round, so the dirty side that rubs against the wall won't rotate around and scuff the hull

 

[William_H]

Fenders

Just as a thought some time back I made some fenders. I started with old left over indoor/outdoor carpet. This is a kind of polypropelene almost like felt in that both sides are the same. I rolled a piece up and fitted into a tube of sail cloth. I sewed the ends to seal the bag and attached loops of sail cloth to tie them on with. The effect was quite a springy tube thinner than an inflated fender and quite robust.
The thing is that you could make something similar in the size or shape of the linked step fender by sculpturing the carpet and cover. All it needs is a sewing machine. good luck olewill

 

[Sandyman]

Why not rig a fender board outside the fenders ?

 

[lw395]

Fenders working on a gunwale like that can tend to flip out.
I used to have an Impala where this was a problem.
Fenderboard outside the fenders, and if necessary/possible, a couple of old tyres outside that.

If the wall is smooth, big ball fenders work well, they take a lot of stowage though.

A canvas 'skirt' can help protect the hull finish.

 

[stevebrassett]

How about the cylindrical fenders hung horizontally just below the lip? The lip will stop them rising up, and you could probably tie them to the stanchion bases.

It they squash too much you might have to go bigger.

 

[ProDave]

How about the cylindrical fenders hung horizontally just below the lip? The lip will stop them rising up, and you could probably tie them to the stanchion bases.

It they squash too much you might have to go bigger.

I do that as well and it works well, but supliment them with normal hanging fenders.

The horizontal ones are more fiddly to fit and remove, and sailing etiquette means people would tut if I put to sea with them still in place.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I've given up stowing fenders when on a passage. I just tie them to the pushpit rail. I think they look OK but a friend said they looked like a bunch of hemerroids.

 

[stevebrassett]

The horizontal ones are more fiddly to fit and remove, and sailing etiquette means people would tut if I put to sea with them still in place.

If you are going to continue with removing the stanchions, you could make up loops to hang the fenders over the bases, and if not, how about some kind of hook arrangement?

 

[Daydream believer]

I've given up stowing fenders when on a passage. I just tie them to the pushpit rail. I think they look OK but a friend said they looked like a bunch of hemerroids.

You have really upset me now . I have been doing that for years. Worse description was that I looked like a charter yacht. I have managed to live with that --but hemerroids !!! Ugh!!! They will end up in a locker now

 

[ProDave]

If you are going to continue with removing the stanchions, you could make up loops to hang the fenders over the bases, and if not, how about some kind of hook arrangement?

I was using snap shackles this year, but the stanchion bases are too large for them to hook round, so was wrapping the rope round and hooking the shackle back onto the rope.

The stanchion bases were not the ideal spacing either. So I'm thinking of adding some extra chain plates just to hook the snap shackles onto.

 

[Seajet]

My boat is a vaguely similar hull shape, also with a rubbibg strake at the hull deck join as shown in the photo's.

I use cylindrical fenders, vertically; the difference is I place the fenders lower, so the 'shoulder' of the fender is up under the rubbing strake.

I also make sure to use at least 3 fenders per side, with large vertical cylinders at fore & aft edges of contact, a slightly smaller one centrally between them, as if using a fender board.

The fenders rarely if ever get flipped up, in extremes I add a medium / small 'teardrop' fender as well, also below the rubbing strake.

I've found any fender with the shoulder above the strake quite likely to get flipped out.

This set-up has evolved over 34 years with this boat, works for me.