Fender Deployment.........

mjf

mjf

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This past w/e I noticed an increasing number of boats in my marina who have fenders on the pontoon side yet leave the 'open' side completely unprotected.

Why risk damage?


Most walk on UK moorings are pontoon type with fingers that 'house' two boats so why not have the side to the pontoon protected at pontoon level and have fenders at rubbing strake level in case a boats arrives alongside you with insuffient protection.
Even on a hammerhead I would leave fenders outboard in case a wayward boats comes by

Do not understand the logic of not going this.

Any one explain pls?


In the Med due to the different nature of the mooring its essential to have fenders both sides but UK seems not so. Why?
 
I also can not understand this.

When I enter a berth I put 4 fenders between my boat and theirs but it is impossible to cover my boat angles, there needs to be fenders on the mored boat.


There is a misconception that a boat entering the berth will be responsible for damage to the unprotected boat.

BUT

If an unexpected side wind pushes a boat into the moored one then there will not be negligence, hence no ones fault.
The owner of the unprotected boat will have only himself to blame and may have to pay for his own damages. ( IMHO)
 
[ QUOTE ]

There is a misconception that a boat entering the berth will be responsible for damage to the unprotected boat.

BUT

If an unexpected side wind pushes a boat into the moored one then there will not be negligence, hence no ones fault.
The owner of the unprotected boat will have only himself to blame and may have to pay for his own damages. ( IMHO)

[/ QUOTE ]Diasagree Daka. If a boat entering hits another boat, then its the entering boats fault..... regardless of whether the wind was unexpected or otherwise.... it should be, IMHO, their insurance that coughs up, not the innocent moored boats....

Saying that, I agree with ref the fenders.... i'd never leave my 'outer side' unfendered.
 
I always leave the outer side fendered up but its prety pointless.
You would have to be very lucky if they actually prevent damage from another boat. Depends of course on the position of your berth - if in a finger beth you do get a little more of a chance but where would you protect - high up or low down.

IMO put them out - its better to have something than nothing - but as I say above - pointless really.
 
I have a whole finger berth between my boat and the next door mobo, but having seen the havoc caused the last time the boat was move I am not sure of this is enough.

Basically dear DAKA it is your responsibility to keep clear and if you get caught unawares your planning of the evolution was inadequate and you or your insurance need to cough up.
 
[ QUOTE ]
There is a misconception that a boat entering the berth will be responsible for damage to the unprotected boat.

BUT

If an unexpected side wind pushes a boat into the moored one then there will not be negligence, hence no ones fault.
The owner of the unprotected boat will have only himself to blame and may have to pay for his own damages. ( IMHO)

[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry, my old fruit, but there's always "fault". If you hadn't been out, the unexpected gust wouldn't have pushed your boat into your neighbour. But of course, you were the one who took the decision to go out, presumably having factored in the changing weather and likelihood of a cross wind on your return.

Of course, there will always be situations that are exceptional, but in general it's always down to the skipper. Stooging around in the fairway on your approach should give you enough warning of gusts, and if you aren't confident in your abilities, then go around, go elsewhere or ask for help with lines.

Discretion is the better part of valour and all that. I'm not too proud to abandon the boat on a different berth and move it back later.
 
Having had an errant yacht bounce off my fenders whilst trying to berth when he had none deployed I'd not agree it's completely pointless, especially if they're left over the rubbing strake, though I do agree it's no guarantee of protection.
 
Not sure I agree with the logic - if what you say about fendings getting knotted up then in the med you would simply return to your 'berth' with no fenders out and sqeeze back between the boats you left behind earlier both neighbouring boats with fenders deployed of course.
 
I know the legal point you're referring to, but i'm not sure a side wind can ever be unexpected (in legal terms) by the skipper of a boat, nor can one engine failing, steering breaking etc.

Now if a freak tsunami wave pushed your boat into the neighbours, i'd agree with you, you may not be liable.
 
cf Moorer's Law:

'The frequency of changes in the wind speed and direction is inversely proportional to the boat’s proximity to the pontoon.'
 
I own a classic boat and I don't want it repaired, so I protect it anyway I can. Yes if a boat slams into me I can pursue a claim, but how well would their insurance company pay out??????
Not all boats that are on the Thames for instance are insured so what happens when they come adrift, even the ER dont remove them, they leave them sinking at anchor, in the case of one boat I saw the last summer.

Also damage can be caused by other floating objects, so for me I have finders outby tied at waterline and at guts (thats a tunnelling term. meaning widest point)
So far these have warded off trees, gas bottles and derilic hulks, with little or no damage to my boat.
 
I used to keep fenders out on the open side but found that the gel coat was rubbing away due to the fenders being banged constantly by the wind. I took the decision not to use them as my neighbour and any visiting boats always have their fenders out when they are mooring. It increases my risk for sure but seems resonable to me compared with fenders wearing away the colour!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I know the legal point you're referring to, but i'm not sure a side wind can ever be unexpected (in legal terms) by the skipper of a boat, nor can one engine failing, steering breaking etc.

Now if a freak tsunami wave pushed your boat into the neighbours, i'd agree with you, you may not be liable.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am not sure either and I can confirm neither are 95% of claims handlers that can barley grasp the English Language never mind English Law, forget the courts petty damage of this nature will never make it that far.

Steering failure, engine failure would be an excellent defence if a schedule of maintenance is available to manufactures specification.

Some have mentioned RTA cases, I once helped a client who suffered a 'Brake failure' on a car that had not been serviced for 26 months. The 17 year old was cleared as the servo was a none service part- No negligence.
 
What you could do, [I do it when I can be bothered] is to fit a rope at each end, and hang the fenders horizontally on the non-pontoon side. Then they won't move about.
 
Quote

Some have mentioned RTA cases, I once helped a client who suffered a 'Brake failure' on a car that had not been serviced for 26 months. The 17 year old was cleared as the servo was a none service part- No negligence.

Quote

This would be under the law of 'latent defect' this might also be a successful arguement if one boat was to strike another as a result of an unforseeable defect arising. In the case of a freak wind causing a similar problem the 'act of god' arguement might be a strong one.
 
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