Fendering or lack of it.

[ChrisP]

Due to some maintenance jobs didn’t get out of the marina much this weekend so had plenty of time to watch the boats. Fendering became the topic of discussion. In particular fendering when entering moorings. Of approx. 60 boats watched entering moorings 50 did so with fenders on onside only (the pontoon side) with nothing protecting the boat in the adjacent mooring. These figures include both sail and powerboats and all moorings were wide enough so that fender snagging was not a problem. Of the 10 that did fender both sides 2 collided with the boat opposite with no appreciable bump and no damage. Of the other 50. 35 had collisions on the un-fendered side and 6 with the fendered pontoon side (actually these six hit both sides). Damage on the fendered side was negligible and the damage to both boats on the non-fendered side ranged from light scratches to tangled standing rigging and the reduction of guard rails to exhibits for the Tate Modern gallery.

Question: Given that the conditions were windy (F4-5) in the marina. Why were people taking so little action to prevent damage? All the boats had spare un-used fenders on deck. Has some revoked the rule about responsibilities for fendering etc.?


<hr width=100% size=1>What do you mean the sea gull in front's walking !!!

 

[Neil_P]

The problem you discribe is not uncommon in many marina's. Our pride and joy regularly has black scuff marks along the side were the neighbouring boat has used her as a guide into their pontoon. As yet the damage is no worse than rubber marks but I await the day something worse appears.

Although we always put out fenders on both sides our neighbour only put them on the pontoon side. Where ever I place ours they always manage to get between them near the stern. This leads me to believe that the port bow of their boat is hitting ours and running along the side pushing the fenders out of the way. The problem is also made worse by the fact that their boat is much smaller than ours.

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[rog]

I was also looking at fendering this weekend as I was trying to work out the appropriate number of fenders to place on the side adjacent to my neighbours boat. We have the added problem of very little space between us and neither of us would claim to be expert boat handlers!
Having a good look round, the average seemed to be 4-5 but there did not appear to be any correlation between boat size and number of fenders.

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[rog]

By the way, does anyone have experience of the fender basket kits where you make up a basket for 3 fenders, say, from 3 units that are coupled together and then the whole thing is fixed somehow to the guardrail?

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