lustyd
Well-Known Member
Looking around the marina it seems most people use a penny washer and flanged hex top screws to fit dock fenders. Does anyone know what size the screws generally are?
Dock Fender fittings
- Thread starter lustyd
- Start date
anoccasionalyachtsman
Well-Known Member
I used 2 1/2" No 12 round head Phillips which were a fraction too long and needed an extra washer. This wasn't a carefully calculated choice, just the biggest they had in Force 4, but they've suffered 3 years barging and survived.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
Yes I did consider just getting some big screws, but the consistency with which the hex ones were used implied there was some normal fittings. I did also consider that maybe the marina have been swapping them out to make removal easier, they do seem pretty proactive. It's one of those situations where I don't want to ask them though, in case they tell me not to fit one and damage their pontoon 
Obviously I don't need a dock fender, I'm just trying to fit in. I glide very gracefully in a long keeler up to the pontoon wearing a hair shirt and smoking a pipe, then step gracefully off and tie her off. I just like the look of them
Obviously I don't need a dock fender, I'm just trying to fit in. I glide very gracefully in a long keeler up to the pontoon wearing a hair shirt and smoking a pipe, then step gracefully off and tie her off. I just like the look of them
anoccasionalyachtsman
Well-Known Member
Your marina may have a different pontoon construction and my way won't work? I dimly remember copying what others on said pontoon had done.Yes I did consider just getting some big screws, but the consistency with which the hex ones were used implied there was some normal fittings. I did also consider that maybe the marina have been swapping them out to make removal easier, they do seem pretty proactive. It's one of those situations where I don't want to ask them though, in case they tell me not to fit one and damage their pontoon
Obviously I don't need a dock fender, I'm just trying to fit in. I glide very gracefully in a long keeler up to the pontoon wearing a hair shirt and smoking a pipe, then step gracefully off and tie her off. I just like the look of them
When I say the fender has survived three years barging, I accidentally left out 'by visitors to my empty berth'.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
That's just given me an idea. I could just remove one of the screws on someone elses and measure it, then put it back!
I hadn't even considered the rage I'll feel when I get back and someone has killed it
I hadn't even considered the rage I'll feel when I get back and someone has killed it
michael_w
Well-Known Member
M6 x 35 try not to throw the tap into the ocean ...
Rappey
Well-Known Member
I would say 85% of all self fitted dock fenders in marinas I have worked at are appalling diy lash ups.
Most don't drill a pilot hole and end up destroying the screw heads or don't realise there is steel behind the wooden edging strip so can't get the screw in all the way, which in turn splits the wood. Then there are the many that don't use stainless.
35mm is more than long enough as any longer on vertical surfaces will hit the steel chassis behind the wood.
Pilot drill where you want to place screw and you will know when you hit the steel and therefore know the depth.
The edge plank that the cleats are fixed to is only 20mm thick with steel underneath.
Large penny washers are a must as the fendering has quite large holes .
The fendering is badly designed as the holes in them often fall directly between the join between the vertices edge plank and the horizontal plank, remedied by drilling better placed holes in the fendering.
I'm amazed that some marinas don't charge for the damage over enthusiastic berth holders create.
Some marinas would rather fit the fendering for you so there are no screws sticking out to savage a hull and just for the sake of doing it properly.
Pontoon decking screws work very well 5x35
Most don't drill a pilot hole and end up destroying the screw heads or don't realise there is steel behind the wooden edging strip so can't get the screw in all the way, which in turn splits the wood. Then there are the many that don't use stainless.
35mm is more than long enough as any longer on vertical surfaces will hit the steel chassis behind the wood.
Pilot drill where you want to place screw and you will know when you hit the steel and therefore know the depth.
The edge plank that the cleats are fixed to is only 20mm thick with steel underneath.
Large penny washers are a must as the fendering has quite large holes .
The fendering is badly designed as the holes in them often fall directly between the join between the vertices edge plank and the horizontal plank, remedied by drilling better placed holes in the fendering.
I'm amazed that some marinas don't charge for the damage over enthusiastic berth holders create.
Some marinas would rather fit the fendering for you so there are no screws sticking out to savage a hull and just for the sake of doing it properly.
Pontoon decking screws work very well
5x35
AndyL
Well-Known Member
lustyd
Well-Known Member
Thanks rappey that’s very useful. Perhaps I’ll ask the marina in that case, maybe they all look the same because they fitted them all. They certainly remove them when people leave their berth, and there are already holes on my berth I was just hoping to get screws before the drive down
Rappey
Well-Known Member
Take some bolt croppers then if your chosen screws are to long you can cut them down..
All of the above applys to Walcon pontoons which are everwhere on the south coast..
Hex heads are better for people with less diy skills as they are less likely to destroy the heads but a bolt with a shoulder will not leave a lot of thread to screw into the wood.
Poecheng
Well-Known Member
I ended up using galvanised roofing screws (bag full in B&G) - I think they may be for installing corrugated roofing and maybe called TekScrews- that have a 10mm nut head and a very wide base to the head. They are about 1" long. Important for that wide base so that nothing pulls through.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
I didn’t realise B&G were selling screw now, must cost a fortune ?
lustyd
Well-Known Member
That does indeed look like the ones at the marina, thanks
Klausen
Active Member
"swim or pool noodle" in a fire hose
