Fenders out underway...

[burgundyben]

Mea culpa?

But, the things is, when underway we have a plan. Mrs BB holds onto BB Junior and keeps him out of trouble, I deal with the boat. I can cast off the bow line and secure the bitter end to the canopy frame, cast off the stern line, take onboard with me and secure it out of harms way.

So, we're now trundling out of the harbour, warps are secure, but fenders are still out. Passage from Yarmouth harbour entrance to Lymington entrance is 2.3 miles. Passage speed is 15 knots. It'll be less than 10 mins until we are back into a 6 knots limited area.

To bring the fenders inboard, I have to find a bit of open water with enough room, leave the helm, venture onto the side deck, make 4 return trips to the cockpit, then, ten mins later do the reverse process.

To my mind, its not worth the risk.

So yesterday we crossed to Lymington with the fenders out.

 

[adey]

I usually have one out, not always the same one ....oh, and the swim ladder, I often have that down as well.

 

[ari]

Why not take all the fenders off except two on the berth, untie boat, stop just outside the harbour and tip the fenders onto the side decks (5 seconds each) and away you go. If they won't stay on the side decks, tie them on with clove hitches but loop the line so that it will come undone with a quick tug.

I boat single-handed sometimes, but never with the fenders down.

 

[Firefly625]

I personally feel getting the fenders in is possibly worth risking the safety of the vessel and all on board so no excuses Ben.

 

[Mr Googler]

Tie a single line to and through the bottom of all the fenders (if they have an eye at the bottom of course) and pull them all up towards the stern.

Lifts them up off the hull.

Hope that makes more sense than my description does

Saw an old boy do it and thought, that’s a bright idea!

 

[benjenbav]

Mixed feelings: first off, BB, it's not as if you're the blimmin' Andrew with a hundred matelots with nothing better to do. Then there's the risk of your pitching into the briny whilst shipping and resetting the fenders, leaving your family to mourn your absence. (Those of us longer married would actually be watching out for a boathook in the seat of the pants whilst bending as we have a suspicion that our spouse's patience is wearing thin.)

OTOH, if you leave the fenders you feel bad about it and, if the weather cuts up a bit rough, it can be a bit of a b*gger to have a couple of fenders flailing away at the screens with the choice of going outside and dealing with them in much more difficult circs.

 

[markc]

If there was no chance for a fender to smash a window the I'd leave them out for a 2 mile journey.

 

[RupertW]

Tie a single line to and through the bottom of all the fenders (if they have an eye at the bottom of course) and pull them all up towards the stern.

Lifts them up off the hull.

Hope that makes more sense than my description does

Saw an old boy do it and thought, that’s a bright idea!

Exactly the tip I saw on here in June and did this all Summer - being a sailing boat we tip over and do longish trips including a 36 hour trip in very lumpy weather and all fenders stayed in place just above deck level with less than 5 seconds each side to haul the rope back to a preattached clip to the aft rail.

It's completely functional and has the added benefit of annoying all sort of fussy traditional types from up to a mile away.

 

[sprocker]

Tie a single line to and through the bottom of all the fenders (if they have an eye at the bottom of course) and pull them all up towards the stern.

Lifts them up off the hull.

Hope that makes more sense than my description does

Saw an old boy do it and thought, that’s a bright idea!

Simple but brilliant!

 

[sailorman]

Why not take all the fenders off except two on the berth, untie boat, stop just outside the harbour and tip the fenders onto the side decks (5 seconds each) and away you go. If they won't stay on the side decks, tie them on with clove hitches but loop the line so that it will come undone with a quick tug.

I boat single-handed sometimes, but never with the fenders down.

me 2 & i have 6 fenders

 

[Firefly625]

in all seriousness...

most important thing is you are using your boat and getting out on the water so who gives a fig whether fenders in or out. But some good suggestions here. I too have seen the line through the bottom eyelet trick, simple and gets them nearly out the way. I go out on my own quite a bit and I remove all but two fenders before I leave the pontoon leaving me just the minimum to get up. But at the other end when berthing in a quiet place I just stop and get fenders and lines out there. I leave the wheel house window open so I can tweak the thrusters or throttle to keep me motionless but there never has to be any panic in boating, just be prepared to find somewhere to get these things all done quietly and safely without being in the way of anyone.

I have 8 fenders...

 

[Bouba]

While it’s most important that our forumites look the part while out on the water. What annoys me is when boaters pull in their fenders as soon as they start moving. To me the fenders are necessary until you reach open water.

 

[JerryC]

To me the fenders are necessary until you reach open water.

I agree. You see some rediculous things happening to boats manoeuvering badly in marinas.

 

[BruceK]

Oh hell, the only time I leave the fenders out is if the admiral and the sprogs have annoyed me. Leaving them out is guaranteed to catch the swells once planing and flay about ensuring all those in the lower cockpit get a thorough drenching.

 

[fergie_mac66]

Mea culpa?

But, the things is, when underway we have a plan. Mrs BB holds onto BB Junior and keeps him out of trouble, I deal with the boat. I can cast off the bow line and secure the bitter end to the canopy frame, cast off the stern line, take onboard with me and secure it out of harms way.

So, we're now trundling out of the harbour, warps are secure, but fenders are still out. Passage from Yarmouth harbour entrance to Lymington entrance is 2.3 miles. Passage speed is 15 knots. It'll be less than 10 mins until we are back into a 6 knots limited area.

To bring the fenders inboard, I have to find a bit of open water with enough room, leave the helm, venture onto the side deck, make 4 return trips to the cockpit, then, ten mins later do the reverse process.

To my mind, its not worth the risk.

So yesterday we crossed to Lymington with the fenders out.

double ended fendersall tied at bottom line back to cockpit out of harbour pull cord cleat fenders all horizontal and neat takes a little arranging,back in harbour release cord all fenders reset.

 

[Portofino]

View attachment 73507

Crikey guys try putting them all (7 ) in the anchor locker - ahem with no guard rails
Every time !

 

[Momac]

We take in the fender nearest the stern but the others are swung over the guard rail and lie on the side decks.
On the non tidal river the fenders remain down at all times.

 

[Momac]

View attachment 73507

No life jacket ?

 

[Portofino]

No life jacket ?

Too hot ,nobody wears em in the Med mobo scene , or seemingly in the sailboat community either even when racing .

View attachment 73508

View attachment 73509

View attachment 73510

 

[JerryC]

It seems the Fred Drift has already started, so I won't apologise this time. Sorry but I just don't get this no-lifejackets-on-deck thing. Modern LJs are rolled up so tight you hardly know they're there.

Many years ago on the Swale, there was a Shout. The lifeboat duly came out and they recovered the bodies of 3 sailors who had capsized their dinghy going back to their boat moored just off the Ferry House Inn. Lifeboat man told me later that when he boarded the boat to check for anyone else, there were 3 lifejackets on the table. Madness.