Dock fenders - Plastimo or Majoni

[Coastgal]

Hi all - we have a boat on the tidal Thames, alongside a pontoon. Standard fenders aren’t sufficient to protect the boat from the wash of the Clipper’s, fireboats or just fast cruisers. When the boat is lifted with the wash, the fenders pop out of position and end up on the pontoon.

So we’re investigating getting some 3/4 dock fenders that screw onto the pontoon.

Plastimo and Majoni seem to be the most popular brands of dock fenders.

Does anyone have any experience of either?

Thx - Stacey

 

[Seastoke]

We have a great system down Torquay , we are away on the boat at the moment and can’t remember the make. Will get back to you.

 

[Bouba]

I always wonder about dock fenders because the boat will be constantly rubbing up and down on them....marking the gelcoat. A heavy scaffolding board with carpet, rubber etc, hung over the side of the boat might not jump up and down with the wash

 

[Coastgal]

I always wonder about dock fenders because the boat will be constantly rubbing up and down on them....marking the gelcoat. A heavy scaffolding board with carpet, rubber etc, hung over the side of the boat might not jump up and down with the wash

We plan on hanging heavy canvas over the dock side of the boat.
Hopefully that will provide some protection.

 

[Coastgal]

We have a great system down Torquay , we are away on the boat at the moment and can’t remember the make. Will get back to you.

Thanks, much appreciated.

 

[ducked]

Wonder how a large water-ballasted Coke (or other fizzy pop) bottle would do.

 

[Poignard]

How about roller fenders like these?

Rolls over the ship´s hull minimising damage caused by friction with the boat vertical displacement

 

[Bouba]

How about roller fenders like these?

Rolls over the ship´s hull minimising damage caused by friction with the boat vertical displacement

Those look really good….especially as one them uses the same attachment system as my dock (for anyone who followed my recent thread)…of course there is also lateral movement

 

[Coastgal]

How about roller fenders like these?

Rolls over the ship´s hull minimising damage caused by friction with the boat vertical displacement

Oh that’s a very interesting approach. Might just do the trick. I’ll do a bit more research. Thanks!

 

[Coastgal]

How about roller fenders like these?

Rolls over the ship´s hull minimising damage caused by friction with the boat vertical displacement

Sadly, as it’s “price on request” and coming from Greece, I assume they’ll be quite pricey.

But has anyone tried these long fenders:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MiDMarine-...lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ALBQQ9E6GX5AP

 

[Coastgal]

Wonder how a large water-ballasted Coke (or other fizzy pop) bottle would do.

I’ll have to think about that one - may give it a go next weekend.

 

[ducked]

Those look really good….especially as one them uses the same attachment system as my dock (for anyone who followed my recent thread)…of course there is also lateral movement

If you already had the mountings, perhaps some tyred hand cart, wheelbarrow or golf cart wheels could be used with them.

Occurs to me such wheels could perhaps be installed flat on the transom corners of my TRIDENT 24. Theres a teak block there and a drain hole which could perhaps take the axle. Plastic golf cart wheels might be best from a corrosion resistance POV but maybe not robust enough. Doubt I'd buy them specially but if some became scroungable I might try it. Or maybe scrap alloy scooter wheels?

 

[Wavey]

I bought 3/4 dock fenders from Compass Marine. They also do removable washable covers for them so you can keep them clean and free of anything likely to scratch the hull. Had them for a couple of years and very happy with them.

 

[Bouba]

If you already had the mountings, perhaps some tyred hand cart, wheelbarrow or golf cart wheels could be used with them.

Occurs to me such wheels could perhaps be installed flat on the transom corners of my TRIDENT 24. Theres a teak block there and a drain hole which could perhaps take the axle. Plastic golf cart wheels might be best from a corrosion resistance POV but maybe not robust enough. Doubt I'd buy them specially but if some became scroungable I might try it. Or maybe scrap alloy scooter wheels?

I have also been thinking about how to build them....not that I need any because I live in a no wake part of a river in a non tidal area with a floating dock....but just as a mental exercise. First I would want to know the retail price, because some jobs aren’t really worth the effort. Second, how good is your source of scrap parts. Third, will your axel system stand up to a marine environment

 

[Seastoke]

Here look at their web site ,I would say 20% of our marina use them including my self .

 

[Rappey]

I've fitted many dock fenders around marinas. Generally they all seem to be fit for purpose. The biggest problem is the fixing holes and what part of the pontoon they fix to.
Often the holes line up with where there is only 20mm of wood covering the steel chassis of the pontoon. Drilling into wood is OK as the wood can always be replaced.

 

[ducked]

I have also been thinking about how to build them....not that I need any because I live in a no wake part of a river in a non tidal area with a floating dock....but just as a mental exercise. First I would want to know the retail price, because some jobs aren’t really worth the effort. Second, how good is your source of scrap parts. Third, will your axel system stand up to a marine environment

Simple wheels as on handcarts and such tend to have simple rod axles, so stainless steel could probably be substituted if necessary. The relatively narrow axle might tend to concentrate the force to a damaging extent though so that area might need to be significantly reinforced, if its sufficiently accessible.

 

[Seastoke]

Them wheels , there was one at Conwy tyre went down , come off rim and fu%% the boat.

 

[Bouba]

Them wheels , there was one at Conwy tyre went down , come off rim and fu%% the boat.

Good point !......solid rubber wheel !

 

[Luckytosi]

I went with the Majoni ones and they’ve been tough and handled scuffs well. Easy to fix in place too, even with slightly uneven mooring spots on the pontoon.