Boat fenders - inflatable or non-inflatable

[coopec]

I bought two inflatable fenders about a month ago. Two days ago I pumped them up and they both leak at the valve. Is there something I have done wrong or have I been sold dud fenders? The thought of a fender deflating has probably put me off inflatable fenders for good.

I'll probably look at fender cushions but is there a better alternative.

 

[bikedaft]

Take them back. All of ours are inflatable, including beach finds, cannot remember having to pump any of them up...

 

[Refueler]

I have all inflatable .... and all of them deflate partially over time .... obviously falling temperature leads to slight deflation ... frequent compression in use .... etc.

I just accept it as part of boating life.

 

[LiftyK]

If you don’t return them, try smearing Fernox LS sealer around the valves. It’s meant to stop water leaks but worked for me on an ancient fender that was leaking air.

 

[dunedin]

Which type of "inflatable fenders"? One time inflation or the type designed to be deflated after each use for easy stowage?

The former are most common. We have one that has slightly softened after 10 years of hard all year round use, the rest all fine. Should not debate in normal use.

 

[coopec]

I have all inflatable .... and all of them deflate partially over time .... obviously falling temperature leads to slight deflation ... frequent compression in use .... etc.

I just accept it as part of boating life.

I did a bit odf googling and apparently deflation of fenders is a common problem. I'd be worried that the yacht would be damaged as a result of a deflation so I'll probably switch to fender cushions .

 

[Refueler]

I did a bit odf googling and apparently deflation of fenders is a common problem. I'd be worried that the yacht would be damaged as a result of a deflation so I'll probably switch to fender cushions .

The amount of deflation is not enough to cause concern ... honest.

 

[Plum]

I bought two inflatable fenders about a month ago. Two days ago I pumped them up and they both leak at the valve. Is there something I have done wrong or have I been sold dud fenders? The thought of a fender deflating has probably put me off inflatable fenders for good.

I'll probably look at fender cushions but is there a better alternative.

I would be worried if I had to inflate mine after 5 years!

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[billyfish]

Are fender cushions heavy enough , the ones I have had blow around in a breeze , no good if you are coming alongside and they blow onto the deck !

 

[coopec]

Are fender cushions heavy enough , the ones I have had blow around in a breeze , no good if you are coming alongside and they blow onto the deck !

Thanks!
I'm relying on you guys for advice so I'll have to look at that aspect

 

[Refueler]

Millions of Inflatable fenders used around the world ...

Many times alternatives hit the market .... but still the inflatable fender soldiers on and sold day in day out ...

I used to only buy UK / EU made fenders ... then about 10yrs ago - wanted some more for the other boats I have ... I decided to try chinese .... bought a job lot .... 10 yrs later - just as good as any of my 'recognised recc'd' brands ... in fact they are still fully inflated after 10yrs !!

Funny thing is as well ... they don't 'squeek' when boat moves as my branded ones do !!

 

[Refueler]

Whatever OP decides ... I really HOPE that he does not use Fender Socks ...... Devils invention.

If there's anything to hold salt and grit in - to then abrade a top side ... its Fender Socks. I actually will refuse to raft alongside another if they have them ... I value my Gel Coat too much !

 

[coopec]

Whatever OP decides ... I really HOPE that he does not use Fender Socks ...... Devils invention.

If there's anything to hold salt and grit in - to then abrade a top side ... its Fender Socks. I actually will refuse to raft alongside another if they have them ... I value my Gel Coat too much !

Thanks!
Noted I hope fender cushions wouldn't hold sand and grit?

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I did a bit odf googling and apparently deflation of fenders is a common problem.

Over years, not 2 days. A fender that deflates over 2 days is utterly useless krap. You been buying ebay 'bargains' again?

so I'll probably switch to fender cushions .

Have you ever walked round a marina? 99.9% of fenders used are inflatable and don't have a problem.

 

[Refueler]

Over years, not 2 days. A fender that deflates over 2 days is utterly useless krap. You been buying ebay 'bargains' again?

You really have a thing about eBay .... (and Chinese ...)

What did you buy that caused this PoV ? Genuinely interested ... not being rude or smart .. honest.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

You really have a thing about eBay .... (and Chinese ...)

What did you buy that caused this PoV ? Genuinely interested ... not being rude or smart .. honest.

I have no issue with Chinese products made to a decent standard. Apple products are made in China to the highest standard of any electronic device as one example, and there are many others. I have an issue with fraudulent and not fit for purpose crap, which does largely come from China, and the sales platforms like ebay and Amazon who facilitate it and who wash their hands of the problem by denying all responsibility. There are plenty of genuine sellers selling decent products on ebay and Amazon, including from China, but it's polluted by the fraud and the trash which is also widespread. My views on this are neither radical nor unique, but are based on the experiences of many people.

There are thousands of videos on youtube where people have found USB drives that don't have the capacity claimed, MPPT charge controllers that are actually PWM, inverters with ridiculous power capability claims and so on, and the platforms know this but allow it to continue. Channel bigclivedotcom tears down some of this cheap rubbish and some of his findings are shocking - sometimes literally and life threateningly so.

 

[Refueler]

I have no issue with Chinese products made to a decent standard. Apple products are made in China to the highest standard of any electronic device as one example, and there are many others. I have an issue with fraudulent crap, which does largely comes from China, and the sales platforms like ebay and Amazon who facilitate it and who wash their hands of the problem by denying all responsibility. There are plenty of genuine sellers selling decent products on ebay and Amazon, including from China, but it's polluted by the trash which is also widespread. My views on this are not radical, and are based on the experiences of many people.

But the buyer should choose carefully. It is not hard to scroll through and reject such as they tend tio have same description as many others selling supposedly different but same item.

But its interesting that you quote Apple .....

I am close friends with the Ex R&D Boss of another leading Mobile Phone brand. He explained to me why they use Chinese production and what real differences there are.
When they designed a next generation Smart Phone ... they asked US ... EU and Chinese factories to submit test buiids for evaluation. The results were so different that it was a sure fire decision to go Chinese.
a) Production was AHEAD of deadlines with Chinese EU was on deadline US failed to meet deadline.
b) Rejected / failed items .. Chinese hit a near perfect score, EU was in the 5% reject range US was so poor that they were out of contention.
c) Costs were Chinese win again ... even though the Contract was only awarded if Chinese factory followed good labour practices and no child / slave labour.

He admitted they were well aware that production was literally re-routing part to another line and labelling similar name - but not his Company's ... the physical product was same. It even went as far with the battery manufacturer they contracted.
The only difference apart from Name and Logo on the case - was that he withheld the Firmware programming. That was installed after product was shipped to main company location outside China.

Some while later - he was aprt of the team that got the Company to offer Free Battery replacements for their Phones .. owners would tell them what battery / phone they had - with serial number. His company then mailed an original battery to replace those that were cloned / counterfeit.
I asked him - but surely that cost them a huge amount ? His answer was that the batterys were same - often from same factory line - but the 'confidence' was restored in the OEM battery and sales improved - offsetting the cost.

Just passing on a true market story.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I am close friends with the Ex R&D Boss of another leading Mobile Phone brand. He explained to me why they use Chinese production and what real differences there are.
When they designed a next generation Smart Phone ... they asked US ... EU and Chinese factories to submit test buiids for evaluation. The results were so different that it was a sure fire decision to go Chinese.
a) Production was AHEAD of deadlines with Chinese EU was on deadline US failed to meet deadline.
b) Rejected / failed items .. Chinese hit a near perfect score, EU was in the 5% reject range US was so poor that they were out of contention.
c) Costs were Chinese win again ... even though the Contract was only awarded if Chinese factory followed good labour practices and no child / slave labour.

I'm not saying, and have never said, that Chinese companies cannot manufacture the highest quality products. They can, and I know that, because the company I work for manufactures some parts in China, and they are fine.

But the buyer should choose carefully. It is not hard to scroll through and reject such as they tend tio have same description as many others selling supposedly different but same item.

My biggest issue is the fraud that goes on from sellers who are allowed by the platforms to describe their products untruthfully, like the examples I mentioned above, and another big one - the fake CE marks. Bricks and mortar shops would never be allowed to get away with this so why should the big American platforms be allowed to? Why should the onus be on me to identify the fraud? If I buy a 512 GB USB drive from Tesco I can be assured that it's 512 GB, but can't if bought from ebay. The platforms know this goes on but only make token efforts to stop it. I have higher expectations from them than that and they are as guilty and immoral as the sellers.

 

[Refueler]

OK ... lets leave it and let thread get back to original path ...

 

[coopec]

Over years, not 2 days. A fender that deflates over 2 days is utterly useless krap. You been buying ebay 'bargains' again?

NO! NO! NO! I haven't been buying eBay Krap!

Actually I bought them from the local chandler (but they were probably made in China)
I think you better settle down and relax!