Fender socks

[samwise]

Our fenders are now so tacky and grubby that I am forced to consider fender socks ( if only to protect the topsides). "Dressing" eight large fenders looks like a costly business if the socks are bought individually, but I have been looking at a couple of suppliers (Plastimo and Fender Sock Co ) who do "socks on a roll" i.e. you get five metres of material that you cut to length and tie up.
They are quite a bit cheaper ( Plastimo £36, Fender Co £30). Anyone had any experience of these and does the lower price for the socks on a roll reflect poorer quality and less durable material?

 

[gjgm]

the cable ties are a bit naff perhaps, and remember you need to keep the socks clean of salt and grit if you dont want them to work like sandpaper!
My platimo ones are 1.5 seasons old.. think they make the end of season, but thats about it...

 

[Poignard]

What about that stuff old ladies put on their legs?

i.e. Tubigrip. http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/tubigrip-c_1_2610.html

Only £2.17/metre.

 

[ninky]

what about legwarmers (you get two per pack).

fender socks have always made me laugh - but then i don't own a fancy boat.

http://www.dorothyperkins.com/webap...=51593&productId=1206274&langId=-1&cmpid=awin

i also think old fenders look like they are owned by someone with experience and shiny new fenders look like new kid on the block - those scuffs and marks are hard come by!

 

[ChattingLil]

"socks on a roll" i.e. you get five metres of material that you cut to length and tie up. Anyone had any experience of these and does the lower price for the socks on a roll reflect poorer quality and less durable material?

I have, bought the kit at the last boat show. Easy to fit, look super-smart if you like that sort of thing and I was pleased with them. However, one season in, am thinking of taking them off - but only because they take a while to dry off and when they are wet I don't have anywhere to throw them below apart from the floor, so they kick around and get on my nerves.

 

[Athene V30]

Last set lasted best part of 3 seasons and have just renewed using the roll of material. Main thing to watch out for is ladders in the material which run. SWMBO suggests a natural coloured nail varnish

 

[Manuel]

We use Plastimo but hem (stitch) top and bottom then tie with a draw-string. Durability when between yachts is good but against jetties, pontoons or walls it soon wears. If your fenders are tacky you will have to do something and you won't be disappointed with Plastimo. I have not tried the Fender Sock on a roll but we have bought ready-made to size Fender Socks and they were expensive and probably no better than Plastimo on the roll. Many chandlers will give you a 10% or better discount on any Plastimo products.

 

[alan]

Fender Socks

I've used the roll type and also two makes of pre-made ones. None of them last very long but I have found the soft flannel like material is better than the other sorts. Do not use the ty-wraps (cable ties) supplied in the kits unless you can get them right up at the "eye" of the fender or else they can scratch your boat; better to use a cord or elastic. I actually found the kit material a bit 'hard' (don't remember the make).
Last year (following advice on this forum) I took all my socks off and cleaned the fenders and left them naked! Not a good idea as in the winter gales they rubbed the topsides pretty badly (no real damage but had to give the topsides a good polish this spring); so after that I went back to pre-made fenders of the soft flannel type (for F3 about 15 euros in my local swindlers).

Alan.

 

[samwise]

what about legwarmers (you get two per pack).

fender socks have always made me laugh - but then i don't own a fancy boat.

http://www.dorothyperkins.com/webap...=51593&productId=1206274&langId=-1&cmpid=awin

i also think old fenders look like they are owned by someone with experience and shiny new fenders look like new kid on the block - those scuffs and marks are hard come by!

Our fenders bore the brunt of last year's trip up the French canals and enjoyed a couple of seasons in the Med before that, Certainly they are honourable scars, but I had noticed that some of them were starting to mark the hull.

I was almost put off the fendersox idea when we were on the boat last week-end and watched the owner of a giant, gleaming mobo on the opposite pontoon take up all his fenders (12 in all), carefully remove the socks, polish up the naked fender, put the sock back on and hang the fender over the side with a round turn and two half hitches ( clove hitch too tough). I have to admit we both enjoyed a good sneer!

 

[PeterGibbs]

Go to the IBS and troll the stands - that's where I got mine last year. Buying the right size and properly made up, they last a good few seasons - leaving them out in the rain removes all salt etc. Well worth the cost - for 8 you'll get a deal for sure!

PWG

 

[AndyAndKatie]

I must admit, I bought some fender socks from someone with an Ebay shop. Bought red one but after just half a season, they have all faded from red to every shade of orange known to man.. I'm gonna try dying them with Dylon fabric dye, but dunno if it will take.

 

[Mudisox]

Our fenders are now so tacky and grubby that I am forced to consider fender socks ( if only to protect the topsides). "Dressing" eight large fenders looks like a costly business if the socks are bought individually, but I have been looking at a couple of suppliers (Plastimo and Fender Sock Co ) who do "socks on a roll" i.e. you get five metres of material that you cut to length and tie up.
They are quite a bit cheaper ( Plastimo £36, Fender Co £30). Anyone had any experience of these and does the lower price for the socks on a roll reflect poorer quality and less durable material?

Just buy a roll of stockinette - cotton- about £5 for a kilo roll from ebay and make them up yourself. Does 6 of my sausage fenders and last about 2 seasons before throwing them away.Just back from the french canals and removed the old ones and put "fresh" socks on. Looks good and easy to keep clean, and will cause less damage to the topsides.
The uv degraded tops of the fenders were also "cleaned" using cellulose thinners which removed the sticky crud and used up the old fender socks as rags.
Hope this helps and keeps your money away from swindleries.

 

[ninky]

I was almost put off the fendersox idea when we were on the boat last week-end and watched the owner of a giant, gleaming mobo on the opposite pontoon take up all his fenders (12 in all), carefully remove the socks, polish up the naked fender, put the sock back on and hang the fender over the side with a round turn and two half hitches ( clove hitch too tough). I have to admit we both enjoyed a good sneer!

love this story. prefer round turn and 2 half hitches over clove for fenders myself as more reliable. clove is not tough for us girls brought up on a playground of french knitting, cats cradle and plaited hairstyles.