Fendering a pontoon

My 2p'th

There's nothing to stop you having the dock fenders to make life easier when you come in and adding a nice fat fender or three once you're alongside and attached to the pontoon.

If you do fix dock fenders to the pontoon, please fix a safety line across them. Underneath would be fine as long as it's ouit of the water. I once went for an unexpected swim off a pontoon (Long story, but I was sober!) Making my way along the pontoon towards the safety ladder was fine until I came to a dock fender, which was smooth and slippery. The only way past it was to let go of the pontoon and swim, which didn't matter 'cos I'm a good swimmer and there was no current but, with a couple of knots of current or a poor swimmer, it could have been a lot less funny.

If you've been put off the dock fenders, to speed up getting fenders out & in, have good. long fenders and make up lines the right length for your pontoon with hooks a bit like these fron Jimmy Green
5126FenderClip_comp.JPG

on the end so you just clip 'em on and it's done. I set mine up like this 'cos I didn't trust SWMBO's knots, but I like 'em for me as well. I numbered the fenders, too, so No 1 goes forward of Stanchion 1 and so on. That way, I don't even have to think about which is which!
 
When we berthed in Hellevoetsluis on a finger pontoon we 'retired' three of our old fenders and tied them horizontally along the pontoon. I nailed a bit of carpet on the corner of the finger, which lasted seven years (at least). Use synthetic, not wool carpet.

All wore fender socks. Contrary to views sometimes expressed, fender socks do not trap grit and sand and we suffered no wear or chafe throughout our time there. In fact, most boats that are seen to suffer major fender wear of topsides are those without socks. When did you ever see a superyacht that didn't use fender socks? These crews know what works and what doesn't.
 
Dockside fenders

On my permanent mooring I use the plastimo type dock fenders for easy coming alongside. When securely moored I drop normal sauseage fenders in between the hull and the dockside fenders. This solves the problem of dockside fenders rubbing in the same place for protracted periods of time. The sauseage fenders just roll and therefore reduce if not totally eliminate the rubbing damage to gel coat.
 
I use the conventional fenders on the boat. But when doing short sails simply flip themover the lifelines and run a thin rope, kept attached and ready, through the bottom holes to keep them onboard. Coming in simply pull out the retaining rope and they all drop back into place ;-)

In terms of roles I have three sets
(a) main permanent ropes - made up to size with small lengths of chain at cleat end as others recommended. Rapid and secure mooring
(b) short backup rope front and back with loops at both ends - used as belt and braces in case of severe gales, but also left as the last ropes to cast off when leaving as can simply drop into water and too short to tangle
(c) the short stern rope and a temporary extra long bow rope are left hooked on a pole on the pontoon - when come in stop at pole, flick on short stern loop (usually just drop over sheet winch) and walk forward with bow rope. Sorted (usually!)

This works for me and usually less than 15 minutes car to off even solo
 
dunedin said:
I use the conventional fenders on the boat. But when doing short sails simply flip themover the lifelines and run a thin rope, kept attached and ready, through the bottom holes to keep them onboard.
Click to expand...

Couldn't be doing that - my granddad would revolve in his grave at the thought of me sailing around with fenders on deck :-)

Pete
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top