Fender board alternative

[richgiddens]

Hi,
I,m thinking of visiting Camber Dock on a charter boat in a couple of weeks. I've been before on a mate's boat but he had a board.
I was thinking that, for a short stay, half a dozen fenders tied end to end would probably work ok.
Is there a tried and tested method for something like this?
Thanks in advance.

 

[alant]

Hi,
I,m thinking of visiting Camber Dock on a charter boat in a couple of weeks. I've been before on a mate's boat but he had a board.
I was thinking that, for a short stay, half a dozen fenders tied end to end would probably work ok.
Is there a tried and tested method for something like this?
Thanks in advance.

They can lift, if caught on a snag, whereas a fenderboard is much heavier & unlikely to do so.
OK for a very short stay, but wouldn't be happy in there with ferries in/out, so lots of grinding when alongside.

 

[richgiddens]

They can lift, if caught on a snag, whereas a fenderboard is much heavier & unlikely to do so.
OK for a very short stay, but wouldn't be happy in there with ferries in/out, so lots of grinding when alongside.

Good point, thanks. Maybe one pint then out again.

 

[benjenbav]

I might be missing the point here but wouldn't it be less effort to drill two holes in a plank and attach lines through the holes than to think up an alternative?

 

[Ludd]

I might be missing the point here but wouldn't it be less effort to drill two holes in a plank and attach lines through the holes than to think up an alternative?

NO,NO,NO! You've missed the point!

 

[richgiddens]

I might be missing the point here but wouldn't it be less effort to drill two holes in a plank and attach lines through the holes than to think up an alternative?

You are missing the point somewhat; it's a charter boat and I don't fancy driving down the M3 with a scaffolding plank sticking out of the back window.

 

[[70521]]

You are missing the point somewhat; it's a charter boat and I don't fancy driving down the M3 with a scaffolding plank sticking out of the back window.

You could get a white van?

 

[Ludd]

You are missing the point somewhat; it's a charter boat and I don't fancy driving down the M3 with a scaffolding plank sticking out of the back window.

Board only needs to be 4ft long or so.How small a car do you drive? And think of the admiring looks you'll get from other yachtsmen for having such foresight!

 

[richgiddens]

Board only needs to be 4ft long or so.How small a car do you drive? And think of the admiring looks you'll get from other yachtsmen for having such foresight!

Now that's a good idea. I hadn't thought about a board that short, had a picture in my mind of the full length version.
I don't think I've ever posed a question on here without getting a useful reply.
B&Q for me tonight!
Thanks

 

[Lady Campanula]

Here's an 'advance' on the short f/board concept. The idea comes from looking at the rudders on Wharram catamarans, but don't let that put you off. It certainly works as advertised.

A. Need for long-ish fender board, but have convenient stowage for only a short length.

B. Cut long length in two shorter pieces.

B. Drill a series of through-holes down edges of each of the sawn pieces.

C. Lace the sawn edges loosely together using cord - in a figure-of-eight pattern, like a corset or shoelace - and tie off the ends.

D. Add a couple of lines at each end to hang the thing from, as normal.

D. Your again-long fender board is now ready for use. It will need 3 fenders in place against the hull instead of two, but that's not normally a problem.

QED

 

[richgiddens]

Here's an 'advance' on the short f/board concept. The idea comes from looking at the rudders on Wharram catamarans, but don't let that put you off. It certainly works as advertised.

A. Need for long-ish fender board, but have convenient stowage for only a short length.

B. Cut long length in two shorter pieces.

B. Drill a series of through-holes down edges of each of the sawn pieces.

C. Lace the sawn edges loosely together using cord - in a figure-of-eight pattern, like a corset or shoelace - and tie off the ends.

D. Add a couple of lines at each end to hang the thing from, as normal.

D. Your again-long fender board is now ready for use. It will need 3 fenders in place against the hull instead of two, but that's not normally a problem.

QED

Blimey, better and better. Re admiring glances: if I make one of these, I might actually make a megaphone announcement prior to the great unfolding!
Seriously, great idea.

 

[Searush]

FFS don't BUY a board, just have a walk around a building site skip or three. Decking boards will also do the & will be cheaper if you MUST buy.

 

[Tidewaiter2]

Or, cheaper yet..

FFS don't BUY a board, just have a walk around a building site skip or three. Decking boards will also do the & will be cheaper if you MUST buy.

Most Serious wood yards (Mid Sussex Timbers as an eg) have a 'spoilt' tip- nbg for retail, but ok for a fender board or gangplank- peanuts or a firms fav charity box donation

Or a split scaffolding board- free for the asking, or a beer if you know them!

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

FFS don't BUY a board, just have a walk around a building site skip or three. Decking boards will also do the & will be cheaper if you MUST buy.

You must have a bank book that would choke an elephant.
C_W

 

[Searush]

You must have a bank book that would choke an elephant.
C_W

Yeah sure, it's full of worthless cheques & unused paying in slips. I have been on a company pension since 1997 & no other income for the last 2 years.

Still spending mind, but the accounts never refill themselves. Hope my OAP will help redress the balance next year, but in the meantime I am having to spend SWMBO's money. So it goes, we just make it go as far as we can.

Are you envious?

 

[prv]

FFS don't BUY a board, just have a walk around a building site skip or three. Decking boards will also do the & will be cheaper if you MUST buy.

I inherited a couple of fender boards with KS. I think the owner used them routinely in order to get by with smaller fenders. The odd thing is that they were made of quite decent timber, and most bizarre of all, they were varnished!

Pete

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Lash The Fender Eyes Together Tightly And Forget About The Fender Board Hassle

.... I was thinking that, for a short stay, half a dozen fenders tied end to end would probably work ok. ....

Yes they will but there is method in this. Lash each of the fender eyes together such that the eyes overlap and dont just butt against each other. Make the lashing tight. This means using a lashing and not the the actual fender lanyard.

The string of fenders can now be drooped along the side of the boat using the mid fender lanyards to lessen the droop.

I have use this method on piers and piling walls quite successfully on charter boats. If they eyes are not lashed tightly then the gap between the fenders has a habit of catching on the corners of piles.

Its not as good as a fender board but it works well enough if you lash them together as advised. Yes the fenders can roll out but so can a fender board ride up. Note that not all fenders have eyes at each end.

I use my crews shoe laces as lashings and as such my wallet can choke a blue whale.

 

[BelleSerene]

Now that's a good idea. I hadn't thought about a board that short, had a picture in my mind of the full length version.
I don't think I've ever posed a question on here without getting a useful reply.
B&Q for me tonight!
Thanks

B&Q. Cheapest nastiest laminate floor pack they do. You get 6-10 sheets in a pack. Fits comfortably in a passenger seat, never mind in your whole car.

Take 1-2 sheets. 1-inch hole in each end.

Job done. Thinner than most planks, flexible, lighter, cheap, fits in the stingiest cockpit locker.

I laminated two together with a flexible builders sealant left over from a building job. Gives me greater strength - I tie up to piles a few times in the year.

 

[richgiddens]

Registration with this forum should be compulsory for all sailors. As I said before, never posed a question that didn't elicit some really useful replies.
By the way, what is the meaning of life?

 

[Searush]

(snip)
By the way, what is the meaning of life?

Sailing.