Fendering a pontoon

[prv]

Since I live near Kindred Spirit's berth, and can work flexitime, I expect to do quite a bit of sailing as short trips of a matter of hours, at least till the novelty wears off . (Longer ones as well, of course.) With this in mind, I want to minimise the "friction" of just getting aboard and going, and likewise coming back.

So, for the home berth, I want to fit permanent warps of the correct length, which stay on the pontoon (probably spliced to the cleats). That seems simple enough. But I'd like to do something similar with fendering, instead of having to stow and rig them on the boat. Any pointers?

I know that three-quarter-round plastic fendering exists for pontoons, but I'm not sure if it's intended to act as full-time replacement for conventional fenders or just to cushion the odd knock on the way in.

Any cunning plans for other things to use? Any lessons learned that are unexpected?

I realise I'll have to ask the marina owner if he minds; I'm assuming I might have to secure things with line or wire (I'll have a lot of stainless wire going spare after the rig replacement...) rather than screws.

Cheers,

Pete

 

[William_H]

Fenders

One idea for fenders that can be fixed to the pontoon... Carpet rolled up to a suitable size ie about 8cm diameter and cut to a suitable length has a good cushioning effect. Preferably use an indoor outdoor type carpet and you can enclose it in a bag sewn on a domestic sewing machine of typical cloth use for dodgers etc. The wire you have from replacement rigging might not be much use. If you unravel it you will find it very stiff and springy. You could try heating it to soften it. good luck olewill

 

[V1701]

...I know that three-quarter-round plastic fendering exists for pontoons, but I'm not sure if it's intended to act as full-time replacement for conventional fenders or just to cushion the odd knock on the way in...

the latter normally I think for the 3/4 plastic, or at least have some sort of barrier (can just see it in the picture) between the hull and the fender to stop rubbing...

 

[VicS]

Any cunning plans for other things to use? Any lessons learned that are unexpected?

old car tyres. Cut through at one point then though the bead and up the side walls at three other points, open them out and nail to the pontoon edge by the bead.

Outer corners of the finger just a section of tyre round it again nailed by the bead

use galvanised nails

lessons to learn ... black marks on the hull probably.

 

[alan_d]

So, for the home berth, I want to fit permanent warps of the correct length, which stay on the pontoon (probably spliced to the cleats). That seems simple enough. But I'd like to do something similar with fendering, instead of having to stow and rig them on the boat. Any pointers?

I note that this is your first boat, and I infer from your post that you may well be single-handed, some of the time at least.

Unless you are a lot better at boat handling than I am, I would advise that you deploy fenders on both sides when entering and leaving your berth as, depending on wind and tide, you may well end up somewhere unexpected.

 

[Canopy Locked]

One idea for fenders that can be fixed to the pontoon... Carpet rolled up to a suitable size ie about 8cm diameter and cut to a suitable length has a good cushioning effect.

I used the rolled up carpet idea on my 1st boat - worked but not brilliant - and eventually disolved in a squidgy mess.

The Plastimo dock fenders are pretty good - expensive IMO - and there is always a possibility that some thieving toerag will have them away - but if you can bolt them on securely, they're probably the best option for permenant fendering.

Of course one reason for having fenders out on the boat is in case you touch another boat.

Personally I find that dealing with fenders is a 2 minute job and I'd rather have a few fenders on board than rely on dock fenders.

Your thoughts on fixed mooring lines are good - I have these for my boat - Took a couple of hours to get them set up exactly right, but worth the effort. Also worth having a permenant spring line set up on your boat as this also greatly simplifies berthing. But again don't forget to have some mooring lines on board, just in case you end up having to dock in a different place!!

 

[capt_courageous]

Hi
I have used Docksafe fendering for several years now. It works well and is cheap enough so you can put it on all the bits of the pontoon which you may encounter at some tiime. A big plus in my case is that it is quite narrow and so gives a little more free space between the fingers, a bit tight otherwise. It does save all that hunting for fenders etc.

 

[srp]

Proper dock fenders are expensive, and seem to be made of a harder plastic than ordinary types. I managed to get hold of some sausage shaped fenders from Beaulieu boat jumble (there are usually some there every year) - they are orange, dumpier proportions than normal and have a hole running along the middle, and according to a mate who used to be in the Navy are used by them in floating strings (I have no idea what for, maybe to section off a bit of harbour or dock). I have them mounted on a length of rope between the cleats so they just hang over the edge. Obviously you can string as many on as you need, and tie stopper knots to stop them sliding if you want, hose pipe over the rope to stop chafing on the edge of the pontoon. Sorry, no photo, so you'll have to make do with this sketch etc.

ps Does any naval type know what they actually are??

 

[prv]

Comments about fendering the fingers and being prepared in case of touching other boats - good points in most marinas, but probably not relevant in my case. Nearly all the berths in this marina are alongside long pontoons, rather than between fingers. Mine in particular is very easy to get in and out of - just inside the entrance: http://is.gd/ajprP (hopefully you can see the little blue google-flag; the boat in the photo isn't there any more so I have more room than it looks).

Famous last words, but I think I'd have to cock it up pretty severely to be sliding across into the boats on the next pontoon.

Pete

 

[prv]

Personally I find that dealing with fenders is a 2 minute job and I'd rather have a few fenders on board than rely on dock fenders.

Yes, but if it's a job I can eliminate then I might as well. Coming up the river singlehanded might mean there's no good time to do it, either (not sure).

I would of course have normal fenders on board for places other than home.

Pete

 

[prv]

The wire you have from replacement rigging might not be much use. If you unravel it you will find it very stiff and springy.

Mine's not all that springy - partly I think because it's fairly small, but also because it's 7x7 rather than 1x19 and so each strand is thinner. This is because it has to form round thimbles to be shackled to things - old-fashioned rig, none of your new-fangled T-terminals etc

Pete

 

[Piddy]

The fendering seems to have been sorted by one and all.

One small comment about splicing to the cleats - why not use a spliced thimble and a short piece of chain shackled through the cleat - it avoids chafe on the rope and is removable should you move berths or come ashore for any length of time.
It also alows you to have a free end to make up on the deck cleat should you wish.

I can't claim any cleveness for this - a previous tennant on my old marina berth left his strops that just happened to fit mine perfectly. I've still got them in the shed.
Apologies if this is what you intended...

regards

 

[prv]

Hi
I have used Docksafe fendering for several years now.

I see that sort of thing, but it's so narrow I can't quite believe it's an adequate replacement for normal fenders even though the manufacturers seem to suggest that. It's only a couple of inches deep, compared to six or eight or more for conventional fenders.

In my case (see the photo of my berth, above) I have no need to save width.

Pete

 

[Playtime]

Comments about fendering the fingers and being prepared in case of touching other boats - good points in most marinas, but probably not relevant in my case. Nearly all the berths in this marina are alongside long pontoons, rather than between fingers. Mine in particular is very easy to get in and out of - just inside the entrance: http://is.gd/ajprP (hopefully you can see the little blue google-flag; the boat in the photo isn't there any more so I have more room than it looks).

Famous last words, but I think I'd have to cock it up pretty severely to be sliding across into the boats on the next pontoon.

Pete

I agree the berth looks easy . . . in settled conditions.

Have you thought about getting in when there is some wind blowing you off the pontoon, though, or maybe a tide running through? This could be tricky with little room to straighten up after the turn in. Fenders on the port side might well be a good idea in difficult conditions.

Sometimes a finger berth with a boat next to you to 'lean on' if you get blown across from your own finger, is very handy.

 

[prv]

The fendering seems to have been sorted by one and all.

More comments still welcome though - haven't had an "ah ha!" moment yet

One small comment about splicing to the cleats - why not use a spliced thimble and a short piece of chain shackled through the cleat - it avoids chafe on the rope and is removable should you move berths or come ashore for any length of time.

Yep, I've seen that around. Not sure whether I'm going to do it or not; I'm more inclined to just take several turns around and through the cleat before splicing, to limit the movement. I'll be keeping an eye on it, and can always shift and re-splice it if it starts looking worn. At the end of the day each line is one of half a dozen, in a sheltered marina, not the single strop on a Menai Straits mooring buoy

Being able to unshackle to move and remove them does have an appeal though.

It also alows you to have a free end to make up on the deck cleat should you wish.

Don't understand that - how does the way I fix one end determine how I fix the other?

I do plan to have some lines with eyes to drop over cleats on board and others with ends to make up.

Pete

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

When coming into a mooring short-handed it is a lot easier to not have to deal with lines that are on the dock.

My recommendation is therefore that you prepare the couple of lines you need to safely tie up the boat temporarily as you arrive, such as a midships line and a bow or stern as the situation dictates.

We then have permanent lines rigged that we leave on the pontoon when we go sailing. These have a permanent stainless thimble and are attached to the cleat with a bow shackle. Nice and easy to remove and no chafe. When we spend time on a pile mooring in summer, we can rig the exact same lines as permanent post lines as well.

 

[prv]

Have you thought about getting in when there is some wind blowing you off the pontoon, though, or maybe a tide running through? This could be tricky with little room to straighten up after the turn in. Fenders on the port side might well be a good idea in difficult conditions.

Wind off the pontoon won't help, of course. The current/tide only seems to run parallel to the pontoon though (whenever I've been to look at it). Also remember KS is quite a little boat; when I've been and stood at the end of the pontoon I've just got a feeling of "loads of room!" that I probably wouldn't have if I knew I had to bring a 40-footer in. To counter that, I don't yet know how maneouverable she is under power - she has a long keel of sorts!

Still, it's not like I'm professing some religious belief never to use fenders, just trying to make things effortless on a nice day. If things look tricky, I can put them out.

Pete

 

[Piddy]

Quote:
It also alows you to have a free end to make up on the deck cleat should you wish.

Don't understand that - how does the way I fix one end determine how I fix the other?

Sorry, probably didn't explain myself very well... note to self: must read what is typed before posting!

All I meant was:
If the dock side end is fixed and the other end is simply a loop, it can be difficult to keep them tight enough (if the wind is blowing off the pontoon), whereas having a free line allows you to make it up as tight as needed.

Sorry for the confusion...

 

[haydude]

Bad idea unless you do not care about the gelcoat

Bad idea unless you do not care about your hull.

Fenders on the boat do move with the hull and the chafe is mostly between fender and pontoon.
Fenders fitted to a pontoon indeed would absorb impacts and stress but would chafe the hull eventually scratching it.

Even worse is the idea about a rolled carpet that could easily retain small sand and grit particles blown by the wind, or simply blown onto them when washing the boat (ever seen what happens to your hull when you point the hose towards the finger berth?).

 

[prv]

Fenders on the boat do move with the hull and the chafe is mostly between fender and pontoon.
Fenders fitted to a pontoon indeed would absorb impacts and stress but would chafe the hull eventually scratching it.

That's the sort of thing I was looking for - hadn't even thought of that.

Pete