Alternatives to fenders.

pmagowan

pmagowan

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My boat lives in a marina but during the winter sometimes a bad swell can enter. She is a painted wood hull and often gets damaged where she rubs against the pontoon. Last year a number of fenders burst and even where they remain good they rub the paint through. I noticed online a thing called a mooring whip which seems to be designed to act like a spring, keeping her off the pontoon. Does anyone have any opinions or ideas on this or alternatives.
 
No scope for a line on the other side to hold her away from the pontoon? We're lucky in that the wind blows us clear of the pontoon during a typical big blow. The boats on the other side lean down pretty hard.

I can't think of anything better than plenty of big tough fenders, but maybe a fender blanket of some suitable material between the hull and fenders would protect the paint?

Pete
 
I have tied a line from mid ships to the main walkway but it is at quite an acute angle. It works a bit but would not keep it off in a storm. I had thought about using massive fenders on their side tied to the pontoon so that they spread the load right along. I already use fender covers. I might investigate a curtain. One time the boat actually managed to damage a stantion by dipping under the pontoon in a gale!
 
pmagowan said:
I had thought about using massive fenders on their side tied to the pontoon so that they spread the load right along.
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I would worry about fenders secured that way shifting out of position, ending up either below the pontoon frame or on top of it. Better to use the proper dock fenders mentioned by Duncan if you want to go that way. Although I'm not very convinced by the "spreading the load" idea unless either the pontoon is curved or your boat is unusually square!

Generally hanging fenders are better for paint than fixed ones, as they roll when the boat moves fore and aft whereas the fixed ones will rub.

Pete
 
Is there any scope in your marina to fit lazy lines like those used in Med Mooring ? In Spain even along side we use them to keep the boat off the dock though they were fitted by the marina to allow stern to mooring they work perfectly to do what we want. You may need to drop mooring blocks to do it if allowed but you might also get away with old industrial sized anchors (available often just a s scrap) or something else already there... Admittedly a bit off effort to set up but foolproof
 
Apologies for a minor hi-jacking of this thread but does anyone know what fabric is used for fender blankets/curtains? I have canvas left over from making the sprayhood but I fear it is not soft enough?
 
shan said:
Apologies for a minor hi-jacking of this thread but does anyone know what fabric is used for fender blankets/curtains? I have canvas left over from making the sprayhood but I fear it is not soft enough?
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Knitted acrylic or similar I think.
 
Quiddle said:
How do you get on with your neighbour? Would they be amenable to a midships breast line to lessen the load?
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That is a potential solution and we get on fine but he is a big plastic boat and so does not have this trouble and I wouldn't want to bother him with extra lines just to protect my paint. So far I have just repainted and repaired each year but I am going to be getting the boat out of the water and making a better job of it and would like the paint to remain for a while. I would prefer a self sufficient solution if possible. The whips looked like they might work but I have never seen one in use.
 
Our fender skirt was really heavy gauge pvc (truck curtainside in white) with a double hem, to stop it moving it was secured to the slotted toe rail at about 300-450mm. centres using wooden half discs with twin holes threaded on to a shock cord with hooks at the ends. These were just pushed through the slots. It did a great job of protecting the shine on the hull though we tended not to deploy it if only stopping overnight or if the weather was light.The important thing was securing it so it did not move back and forward against the hull. Without the slots one would need to devise a fixing method which prevents it sliding about.
 
I assume this is a floating dock with a horizontal rub rail.

I've seen folks rig vertical fender boards, such that the fenders remain motionless against the boat, but the board rubs against the dock. A little fiddly, but very secure. Also safer when boats start to rool, since the board is long and cannot get under the dock.
 
Thank you all but I was talking about blankets not socks. There is a Bene near us in the Marina that has a blanket behind his fenders and it seems to do a good job of protecting his hull. I can't tell visually what the fabric is because it's a dark fabric but I think I am going to go and be super nosy this weekend and go have a feel. I will let you know my findings.... well if anyone is interested.
 
I have had a close look & copped a feel of the Fender curtain & it is made of a thin vinyl type material and it has been padded internally with a low to medium density foam.
 
Americans use those whippy poles which go over the boat and pull it off the pontoon ... I've only ever seen them used in sheltered water though ... canals and rivers ... and they'd probably just bend in a blow and be useless!
 
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