Fender - holders/baskets/racks

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I look at some mobos and I'm thinking what a good idea fender holders/baskets/racks might be on my yacht. (holders)

I'm wanting to do some extended sailing and want to make maximum use of my cockpit lockers without fenders taking up all the space.

Mobos often have a very strong tubular rail on stanchions the whole way round giving a more stable fixing for holders. Has anyone used them successfully on a yacht and if so where do you find is the best position to attach them and what type do you recommend or otherwise.

I have fairly generous side decks and a foredeck that you could almost have a table tennis match on, so I'm not pinched for space, but would sheets etc get caught up in them?

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I had three each side on the inside of the quarter, centre cockpit. I am not sure who made them but looked like Plastimo. Each holder was very sturdy, with black clips that connected units together and others that bolted around the push pit rails.

Now the bad part. The rail clips could only ever be fitted on the front of the push pit and the aft and middle holders, when joined as an assembly of 3 had to be lashed to the rail. This meant that the assembly of 3 holders was never that secure.

My advise would be to make sure that you can fit them securely before fitting. I took them off because they ruined the line of the boat and the lashings were never secure enough. I have a stern locker that all 6 fenders fit into.

 

[lustyd]

I thought the reason they don't tend to be on yachts is that we can tie knots? Just tie them to the pushpin and you're done.

 

[pvb]

I thought the reason they don't tend to be on yachts is that we can tie knots? Just tie them to the pushpin and you're done.

I tie mine to the pushpit.

 

[rob2]

I've got the tape measure out a few times, but in reality they take up quite a bit of room , most of which is already occupied with things I hope I'll never use. They do look rather frail when empty and could inflict painful wounds whilst staggering around sorting out mooring lines. Reminds me of Mecanno models - looks like the business, but doesn't work.
Anything in the run of sheets, etc. will snag. They could be used on granny bars up close to the mast though.

Even tying the fenders to the rails has to be done in the knowledge that one day one will fall off... I prefer them inside the pushpit for security and because they don't swing about like a kilt! I just suspect that if I ever needed to launch that tangle known as lifebouy/danbouy/drogue it would take a few minutes to untangle the mess. Perhaps a shock cord run along the lower rail of the pushpit fastened between each fender and then tie to the top rail?

Rob.

 

[Burnham Bob]

another vote for tying on the pushpit. SWMBO thinks its untidy but it works fine. do make sure the knots are good though - we lost one recently!

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I guess when you've sailed long enough you gradually lose the odd one or two if tied on.
At the last count I had 12 fenders.... too many?
Well, I like to have at least 2 ball fenders, which will have to either be tied on or go in a locker and being on a raft mooring now, rather than a swinger as before, more fenders there seem appropriate.

With this big fat beast of boat, which will need some getting used to in harbour/ports, I thought about hanging on to most of them for a while. I may take her to the Med' and having seen how some boats come charging astern into a 'raft' in the Med' it does seem that at least four each side is not too many.

Those holders, or baskets as the American ad's call them, can be very flimsey and I like Robs meccano simile. Others which have a lot more SS construction, look as if they would be more suitable on a super yacht!

I don't have any granny bars which could be used to hold fenders and I'm always mindful of what I heard Lynn Pardy say.... that when out in a big sea, anything on the deck could be viewed as sacrificial.
We do tend to go places almost despite the weather, as we can and in reasonable comfort, so the jury is still out on holder/baskets or not.

My pushpit is not ideal. It has a large deck in front of it with a very handsome teak box covering most of it where gas bottles, liferaft and junk are stored. On the top is a good seating position where swmbo says she can keep an eye on me whilst I do all the hard work and she can watch the boat sail. Behind the pushpit will be the Monitor windvane, which needs a bit of space, as does the horseshoe buoy and the outboard motor.

 

[Billjratt]

I made vertical pockets inside the aft dodgers for the 8" dia fenders and hang the bigger ones over the back with the lower moulded loops wedged into the bathing platform slats. Short time storage for extras in the rib on davits. But I don't do oceans anymore - obviously.