Fender Socks - any use?

Not unless you think they look pretty, as they don't serve any functional purpose. They cause more abrasion on the gel coat, not less as some people assume. We have to have them 'cos SWMBO doesn't like the dirty fenders, and wants them to match the navy blue warps, but they need to be replaced each year as they fade and wear.
 
Hough's in denial, blaming his wife........................Your kind make me laugh!!!!

You know that 'You' are the one who thinks theyre great and colour matched to your warps n'all!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

They look the business, but yes they will probably be yet another consumable!

Jas.
 
Agreed. I think the beige ones fade less. But they are all pointless, really. Mind you er so's the boat, but the fender socks are even pointless on a pointless boat, which is very pointless indeed.
 
I found without socks there was scuff marks on my hull.

With fender socks the scuff marks have gone.
But the socks need a good rinse with a hose after been hung on the transom for 100nm to stop salt crystals acting like sand paper.

I use these now, they last longer and dry quicker holding less salt.
Yes they fade after 18 months but the material is designed so you can turn them inside out and they look as new again.

I hate been rafted outside a boat without the socks as I know scuff marks will be left.

www.fender-socks.co.uk

Don't bother with the cable ties, use a 10lb fishing line and needle, much quicker.
 
My last three boat have had blue hulls and I would not even consider using fenders without socks. The only time that I have ever suffered any scuffing from fenders is when during a winters gail someone on our marina thought that they were doing me a favour by adding a fender without a sock resulting in major scuffing. If your hull is white they may not make much difference but if it's a dark colour use them. Take a walk around your local marina and have a look at boats with and without then make up your own mind.
 
I would agree with Lambada,

We too have a blue hull and for the first 2 or 3 months had no fender socks. They left white marks onthe blue gelcoat which took a very long time to polish out.

Since then we have had socks and have had no real marls to speak of (maybe a few if she is left inthe water over the winter, but nothing remotely as bad as the marks left by"unsocked" fenders).
 
Of course they are /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif they wouldn't make them otherwise /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif They do help protect the gel coat particularly boats with coloured hulls, they also help reduce "Fender Squeak" when tied up alongside when there's a bit of a breeze blowing. They have the added benefit of being aethetically pleasing, especially when you get all the ropes canopies and socks the same colour, keeps SWMBO happy, well it will do when I finally get my boat finished!

S'pose I had better duck down out of the way at this point

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Definitely worth using, expensive, but we bought some stretch jersey type stuff in Spain and made them for peanuts, they do make a big difference, as said a rinse now and then helps.
 
"Keep out of them silly expensive, congested marinas"

Leave em alone they all feel nice and safe in there and anyway its always hours of fun as you cruise quietly back to your scary "outside mooring " to watch them fight to get into the lock first,fenders all over the place, while the lock keeper fumes quietly away.
 
I've been warned against them. - the tend to pick up grit and grime what tied up alongside and then work in into the gelcoat. Not great.
 
That used to be the conclusion of most of the people on here that commented about them in the past, as far as I can remember.
Majority now seem to think they're a good idea - I still think they scratch the gel coat if they are not kept clean. Perhaps "naked" fenders do as well.
 
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