Bow and ball fenders

ashtead

ashtead

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We currently have a thin plastic flexible fender like a plastic sheet about 1cm thick with a line in each four corners but was looking to see if anything better out there as it is a hassle to rig and adjust so are there any views on other options ?
On a related topic any particular ball fenders to go for ? Our current one has a burn hole as a result of our stern when quietly moored up being attacked by some lunatic in an oyster who managed to role it along our stern as he slide by after an unsuccessful 3 point turn into the heater outlet so a replacement which can be inflated is on to list I thought some reasearch into type and size might assist as bigger ball looks better maybe?
 
I like big balls, hanging out the front. It helps stop others from bumping against any delicate forward protrusions.

Although my anchor roller did get damaged last season. Perhaps my balls aren't big enough :confused:
 
ashtead said:
On a related topic any particular ball fenders to go for ? Our current one has a burn hole as a result of our stern when quietly moored up being attacked by some lunatic in an oyster who managed to role it along our stern as he slide by after an unsuccessful 3 point turn into the heater outlet so a replacement which can be inflated is on to list I thought some reasearch into type and size might assist as bigger ball looks better maybe?
Click to expand...

Berth stern in. You can just hang a couple of ordinary fenders on the pushpit and any rogue Oysters will get impaled on your anchor.
 
I have a large ball that anyone is welcome to. We found that it wouldn't stow in the cockpit locker and was too large to get into the forecabin, so had to take it back to the car each time. For home use, it is easier and better to fender the pontoon.
 
I've recently adopted a new technique for single-handed arrival at our home berth, which is to place the bow against the main pontoon and then use propwash off the rudder to hold the after part of the boat in place against the finger. The boat will happily sit there as long as I like, even against a fairly strong crosswind, while I sort out the warps. The first time I did it I put the bow straight onto a pontoon fender, but I decided a bow fender was probably a good idea in case I miss the permanent one one day, and to add extra cushioning in any case.

The fender I ended up with was the Ocean PVM1, which fits right around the stem (a smaller, cheaper one I first got from Force 4 was too narrow to actually fit). It's made of solid foam rather than inflated, which makes it quite heavy but also feels very robust and of course means you can't burst it or have it deflate. It comes with plastic tubes inside to pass a line through on each side, but no actual line, so you can make a bridle to hold it in place on your boat. Since it will always go in the same place (unlike normal fenders which might be moved up and down or hung in unusual ways) I've bought a couple of stainless hooks to quickly clip the bridle onto the toe-rail when approaching the marina.

Pete
 
ashtead said:
We currently have a thin plastic flexible fender like a plastic sheet about 1cm thick with a line in each four corners but was looking to see if anything better out there as it is a hassle to rig and adjust so are there any views on other options ?
On a related topic any particular ball fenders to go for ? Our current one has a burn hole as a result of our stern when quietly moored up being attacked by some lunatic in an oyster who managed to role it along our stern as he slide by after an unsuccessful 3 point turn into the heater outlet so a replacement which can be inflated is on to list I thought some reasearch into type and size might assist as bigger ball looks better maybe?
Click to expand...


http://marcapelli.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/FENDER BOW5.jpg?itok=GjUbNH2v

we've got these fore and aft (canoe stern) and they are great. Much thicker and more robust that the sheet stuff. Unfortunately, I can't remember what they are called, or where I got them from. Prob boat show.
 
Thank you to all for ideas , we seem to have the answer for the bow but any one have any preferred size of fender balls ? As to 3 point turns by this oyster he cleared made a meal of it any sane owner would have just reversed down the fairway . He almost caught his blue ensign up as he scuttled away without a word of apology .
 
Big inflatable balls and tube fenders are fine but as said can be very difficult to stow. I have made effective fenders out of rolled piece of indoor outdoor carpet. I made a bag of suitable size out of old sail cloth with sewn loops at each end.
I have also made fenders out of old rope. (polyester rope.) use macrame knots. Simplistically you take a loop of old rope each leg similar length. You tie a reef knot joining the 2 legs together followed by another reef knot and another until you get to the end of the legs. You can take 2 loops of rope and alternate the reef knots between the 4 legs. You can make a sheet fender or narrow fender depending on what you want. Indeed a bow fender could be made similar to that in the photo but made of rope. olewill
 
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