Cheap fenders : do they last?

[andyball]

Looking at some v.cheap (£2.95 for an 18"x 4.5" one) fenders from compass

I know the plastic won't be as thick as the good ones, and the support around the eyes is non-existent....but has anyone any experience of the life of them just from exposure to the sunlight? (these'll be out 365 days a year). Will they crack or harden quickly?.

Thanks in advance

 

[PaulJ]

As my old Granny used to say - "you gets what you pays for"....... but at that price it doesn't matter you just replace them when they are knackered!

 

[charles_reed]

False economy

It's not the longevity you need to watch for, but the fact that they leak and when subjected to any pressure (like when they're really needed) bursting.

I never buy yottie fenders - always get the big round ones used by fisherman and top them up every season.

The greatest cause of casualties is inefficient stowage leading to them falling overboard, but the oldest one is now 6 years old and still going strong.

 

[BarryH]

I take it when you say "compass" you mean the mail order house. I got some fenders from compass in dartmouth, they were 24"x 6" if i remember rightly, £9.99 each, well constructed durable and you can reinflate them, they've taken quiet a bashing over the 4 seasons ive had'em at one point having half the boats wieght sitting on them, but thats my bad tidal interpolation for you,

 

[longjohnsilver]

Don't really agree about replacement when knackered as this will probably mean failure of fender which is most likely in rough conditions when fender failure will also mean damage to boat. This will probably be much more costly than better quality fenders.

 

[andyball]

Thanks everyone for the advice...these are just for stringing along the finger to make coming in single handed a little more fool-proof (!). I'd be buying some better ones for the boat.

I'm sure they're probably adequate for gentle use...just to avoid scratching the paint... but I didn't want to buy new ones every 2 years because they'd gone hard & cracked.