Fender Knots?

[gus]

Apart from the merits of various knots, why do so few put the boat name on the fender? If the fender is named then it has a chance of being returned if found. I have never ever needed to buy a fender because I have always had a ready supply of un-named fenders waiting to be rescued.

 

[lustyd]

It's harder to tie a clove hitch that seems to work but doesn't, than it is to tie a round turn and two half hitches that seems to work and doesn't. Most RTTHHs are tied poorly and I see them come loose all the time, but I'm sure they looked tight when first tied. On the other hand, if a clove hitch is tight it tends to stay tight. Personally I tie a clove hitch and then add a hitch just in case. For lockdown though, I tied RTTHH to the stanchion bases then added a clove hitch with the loose end of the line to the rail. I think I might have even tied three half hitches too, and that's on top of adding an extra fender on the pontoon side of the boat.

 

[Stemar]

if a clove hitch is tight it tends to stay tight

Not my experience. On my Day Skipper course, the fenders were attached with a clove hitch, but one hung a bit far down, so the hitch was constantly being slackened and jerked tight on a bumpy trip. On arrival we were short one fender. Ever since then, I used a RTTHH - NOT a round turn and a clove hitch - until I adopted the clips I use now. The clips are attached with an anchor hitch, which is more secure than the RT, but can be problematic to undo if it's been heavily loaded.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Milady doesn't do knots, so our fenders have snaphooks to be clipped on and are numbered, 1 by the forward stanchion, then working aft. They're big enough to cover most of the freeboard, so adjustment is rarely needed.

You said much the same thing on 24 Feb 2008!! (See earlier in the thread)

I completely agree about a round turn and 2 half-hitches. It doesn't fail, and it can be easily undone after it has been pulled tight.

Mrs M calls a round turn and two half hitches the 'fender knot'. I end up calling to her when she's on a quayside with mooring line in her hand and looking at a mooring ring or something instead of a cleat, "Use a fender knot!".

 

[PetiteFleur]

I've always used a clovehitch and not had a problem. SWMBO always uses a round turn and two half hitches . Some crew use a 'lump knot' which seems to fail...

 

[lustyd]

My mum bought some of those clips for her boat. She lost every fender when the clips deteriorated quickly due to UV exposure. Some of the bits of the broken clips were still on the boat so all was not lost

 

[Stemar]

You said much the same thing on 24 Feb 2008!! (See earlier in the thread)

If it ain't broke...

 

[lustyd]

knots aren't broke, so by your logic those clips shouldn't exist

 

[Stemar]

knots aren't broke, so by your logic those clips shouldn't exist

Ah, but they would be if Milady was tying them