Fender baskets on a yacht?

[Seajet]

I've heard of - and thought about using - solar garden lights as a cheapo anchor or mooring 'I'm here' warning lights ( discounted as too dim, on this occasion the lights not me ) but I look forward with interest to hearing of the fendering application...

 

[BAtoo]

Yes, they are naff. Might as well just leave them rigged

+1

 

[mjcoon]

Many yachts do have them but I wouldn't because I think they look horrible and it's something else to get knocked off in bad weather, probably taking the pushpit with it.

On one of the earliest flotillas I went on, mid 1970s, the yacht had life rings, U-shaped I think, in canvas pockets on the outside of the pushpit. We got pooped several times (this was a 3-day gale in the Sporades in September). When we arrived in port we discovered that both canvas pockets were broken and empty!

Of course unlike fenders life rings are safety equipment and should always be available, especially in bad weather. But otherwise fittings should be sized such that breakages occur at the least critical point...

Mike.

 

[emandvee44]

Fender baskets on a (sailing) yacht

Rod Heikell had canvas fender pockets on his previous yacht, attached inboard to the pulpit. The advantage of these of course is that they lie flat when unoccupied.
We have 13 fenders, with 8 of them being 300mm. diam. If we hang them all off at the stern there would be no access there, and the cockpit lockers are full of stuff which cannot be relocated.
I thought about having fender pockets made, but it's a struggle to get anything done down here.
As a compromise I have just bought 6 fender baskets which will be installed inboard p & s at the pulpit.
One thing the Commander does not allow is fenders below.

Cheers,

Michael.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Absolutely no reason why you shouldn't have them.

If others think they look horrible that's their problem. It's your boat so just do it.

 

[snowleopard]

One consideration - do they stick out over the stern thereby giving marinas an excuse to move you up into the next price bracket?

 

[RupertW]

I've heard of - and thought about using - solar garden lights as a cheapo anchor or mooring 'I'm here' warning lights ( discounted as too dim, on this occasion the lights not me ) but I look forward with interest to hearing of the fendering application...

Oh dear, I shouldn't have mentioned them as I'm afraid I do use them as anchor lights, beer table lights and general deck lights to tell me where to row back to.

Rotten compared to 12v deck level lights but superb compared to a bright light at the top of the mast. Bright enough for the kind of anchorages I use once you are within a couple of hundred yards of the boat.