[70521]
Well-Known Member
After an interesting night alongside at Stonehaven I think it is about time I invest in a fender board. Is a discarded scaffold plank the best way forward or something a bit less 'agricultural'?
Fender boards
- Thread starter [70521]
- Start date
[2574]
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Scaffold plank is good or maybe a couple of decking boards if scaffold planks are in short supply…
top tip - drill a hole through the width of the board of sufficient diameter such that the securing/attaching rope can be threaded through the board‘s width and then a stopper night tied on the underside of the board. Why? Because ropes threaded through the thickness of the board are knackered in short order by being dragged up the quay wall as the tide rises.
top tip - drill a hole through the width of the board of sufficient diameter such that the securing/attaching rope can be threaded through the board‘s width and then a stopper night tied on the underside of the board. Why? Because ropes threaded through the thickness of the board are knackered in short order by being dragged up the quay wall as the tide rises.
PlankWalker
Well-Known Member
I made 2 short ones out of a scaffold plank, easier to stow in a locker, and more versatile to use.
each fender board was not much longer than 2x diameter of sausage fender.
each fender board was not much longer than 2x diameter of sausage fender.
alahol2
Well-Known Member
For occasional use we carry a length of decking board, slightly less agricultural than scaffold plank and definitely lighter in weight.
JVL
Well-Known Member
Used scaffold boards for years .To rope up drill a couple of biggish holes , one either end of the plank then from the top edge down drill into the big hole then rope ?
John
Poignard
Well-Known Member
In one of Dick Everitt's books is a sketch of a fender board which has been lightened by cutting two lines of horizontal D-shaped holes large enough to take a foot so that the board can be used as a ladder.
I suppose the only snag would be that when you are most likely to need a ladder will be alongside a wall where you may well need a fender board.
I suppose the only snag would be that when you are most likely to need a ladder will be alongside a wall where you may well need a fender board.
Wing Mark
Well-Known Member
Sometimes you need a board to go alongside a pile, allowing for some tide movement.
Sometimes only a scaffold plank will do!
Neeves
Well-Known Member
A decent bit of hardwood is sufficient. We made ours from marine ply and faced it with dense foam, no need for fenders. Part of our focus was on lightweight and scaffold planks would not achieve light weight. Our fender board is quite long - but then we have a 22'6" beam and store it in the transom locker (and no, its not 22' long 
).
We have a lot of piles in Australia, most public piers have piles attached to the structure with big bolts (of which one must be most careful)
Jonathan
).We have a lot of piles in Australia, most public piers have piles attached to the structure with big bolts (of which one must be most careful)
Jonathan
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
I find scaffold boards to be a bit heavy. I guess a half width seven foot length would do.
Simon 420
Well-Known Member
Made ours from the stringers of a pallet. Decent thickness and enough strength to bear the weight of the boat
Neeves
Well-Known Member
You need to decide how you are going to store said boards. On the stanchions seems the common answer but if you have other ideas that might dictate length.
Jonathan
Jonathan
Never Grumble
Well-Known Member
The neighbour next door has just given me an old scaffold plank, I was going to use it for this purpose. Probably needs cutting down in length, wonder if there is an optimum size?
[70521]
Well-Known Member
Thanks all. I have a contact in the scaffolding trade who can supply a board, I can then size it appropriately.
alahol2
Well-Known Member
Optimum length should allow the centre of the board to stand away from the point of maximum beam when it rests on a fender at either end. This applies to a 'normally shaped' monohull with maximum beam somewhere close to midships. On our previous catamaran it could have been near to the length of the boat.
Moodysailor
Well-Known Member
Our previous boat came with a length of scaffold board, gravel board is another option as it is also treated so will not rot.
The owner who put ours on board made it in the perfect (maximum possible) length so that it could be fed into the large cockpit locker for stowage. I can't remember the exact length as we never used it in anger, but it was around 6 or 7ft. I suppose if you are using them frequently then deck stowage is preferred, but for us where it would only be used once or twice a year then having it out of sight and out of the way for the rest of the year was ideal - against the stanchions seems to be the place for the paddleboards these days
The owner who put ours on board made it in the perfect (maximum possible) length so that it could be fed into the large cockpit locker for stowage. I can't remember the exact length as we never used it in anger, but it was around 6 or 7ft. I suppose if you are using them frequently then deck stowage is preferred, but for us where it would only be used once or twice a year then having it out of sight and out of the way for the rest of the year was ideal - against the stanchions seems to be the place for the paddleboards these days
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
Something I do - I cow hitch a line to the bottom eye of the fender, bring it up around the board and tie it off to the top line on the fender. It stops the fender riding up or popping out from the end of the board.
Storage - as I have a ketch, I tie my board vertical up a mizzen stay as it isn't very wide.
Storage - as I have a ketch, I tie my board vertical up a mizzen stay as it isn't very wide.
LinTeal
Well-Known Member
With regard to length and width bear in mind you may want it to double as a gang plank for getting ashore.
Graham376
Well-Known Member
We carry two on board as piles can be some distance apart, cheap 4" x 2" scant x about 4ft long, . Double up on ladder as passerelle.
Wing Mark
Well-Known Member
A foot longer is good when you're using it.
A foot shorter when you're storing it.
dunedin
Well-Known Member
Yes, unless planning to use as a gangplank, I think a scaffolding plank is needlessly wide and heavy. Using a piece of wood of an appropriate size can be much lighter and easier to store. This is what we did similarly only 4-6 inches wide but ours is perhaps 6-7 foot long.
Rarely used so don’t want huge scaffold plank cluttering up the rails.