Fender knots

Mirror Painter

Mirror Painter

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I have a tiny cabin cruiser and I love her. She is on the Thames so not exposed to serious weather, (except this year). Last year I bought some fancy fender lines with pre-spliced eyes at one end. A year later and the rope is failing. This weeked I scored a large about of nylon stuff at a local boat show. It looks like this:



I have entered 'fender knots' to Google and am a bit overwhlemed by the choices. Any advice or shall I just get on with it?

Thank you.
 
Bear in mind that Nylon is more susceptible to UV than Polyester so it may not last all that long.

You have four choices:
  • Splice to the fender
  • Splice an eye and loop through fender
  • Tie to fender
  • Tie a loop and loop through fender

Splicing may be harder with that stuff so you're left with tie a loop or tie to fender. I'd use a bowline to the fender myself.
 
Tie the smallest bowline you can into a loop, 2mtrs length of line for each fender; loop goes through the fender eye, and rope end through bowline, job done!

If the cheaper braided stuff too much hard work to splice,even if you could.


ianat182
 
My fender lines are 3 strand and spliced on to the fenders.

I use a round turn and two half hitches to attach to the boat.

That stuff may not be easy to splice I've never tried to splice anything other than 3 strand. It also looks a bit slippery.
 
I splice a small loop and then cow-hitch it to the fender. I wouldn't bother splicing braid like yours though, I'd just tie a bowline through the fender eye.

For the top end, I tie a slippery hitch around the rail. Then, once all the mooring up and adjusting is over, I take the loop of the slippery hitch and tie a half-hitch with it around the standing part to secure permanently.

Pete
 
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prv said:
I splice a small loop and then cow-hitch it to the fender. I wouldn't bother splicing braid like yours though, I'd just tie a bowline through the fender eye.

For the top end, I tie a slippery hitch around the rail. Then, once all the mooring up and adjusting is over, I take the loop of the slippery hitch and tie a half-hitch with it around the standing part to secure permanently.

Pete
Click to expand...

Me too
 
lustyd said:
Do you mean a clove hitch?
Click to expand...

If you're talking to me, then kind of. I mean a slipped clove hitch, which is also known as a slippery hitch.

EDIT: a quick google suggests that actually "slippery hitch" is used for several different quick-release knots. I was taught it as a slipped clove hitch in Cubs, by my grandad, and on Stavros, but clearly others use the term for other things.

Pete
 
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I'd second (or fifth) the bowline through the fender eye and as it's a permanent fixture it would be a nice touch to whip the fall against the standing part so it can't work loose.

As for attaching to the lifelines, when new a clove hitch is perfectly OK, but as the line gets older and rougher it can tend to be difficulkt to undo, so the slippery hitch pays dividends.

Rob.
 
rob2 said:
I'd second (or fifth) the bowline through the fender eye and as it's a permanent fixture it would be a nice touch to whip the fall against the standing part so it can't work loose.

As for attaching to the lifelines, when new a clove hitch is perfectly OK, but as the line gets older and rougher it can tend to be difficulkt to undo, so the slippery hitch pays dividends.

Rob.
Click to expand...


Thanks all. Rob's post seems to summarise the general opinion.

Tonight I have learnt to tie a bowline knot.
 
Sorry mate, but you have the wrong rope. Chuck it all away and start again with non-slippery 3-strand imitation hemp rope............Just being controversial. Just tie the fenders on and get on with it!!!
 
SHUG said:
Sorry mate, but you have the wrong rope. Chuck it all away and start again with non-slippery 3-strand imitation hemp rope............Just being controversial. Just tie the fenders on and get on with it!!!
Click to expand...


I bought about 80mtrs of the new string / rope for £10.

The silly, pre-poshed things I bought last year were abiout 2Mtr long and some £s each. So I think last year I bought the wrong rope :-)
 
Use a Duncan / Uni or Palomar knot to tie the rope to the fender, at least it will not undo as can happen with a bowline if you don't stop the end.

You can use your slippery rope for that if you wish. It won't slip.

Look up www.animatedknots.com for all ideas in knot tying.
 
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