Fenders Which colour?

[TNT]

Hi we are getting ready to join our boat in the Med as new liveaboards and are getting as much kit together as possible whilst in the UK. Fenders?? whilst we have one or two decent ones still onboard is there any reason why instead of sticking to white (which always need cleaning and get black scuff marks) we can't get blue or black? are coloured fenders are impractical? do they mark the hull? seems they would need cleaning alot less! any thoughts?

 

[vyv_cox]

I would recommend that you buy fender socks, whatever the fender colour. The material sold specifically for the purpose, a knitted nylon, is excellent, doesn't mark the hull, in fact protects it well, easily hosed down when you have access to the water, dries very quickly.

Every superyacht you will ever see uses fender socks. I doubt you will see one without. Hull appearance on these boats is paramount, so take a lesson from their crews.

Old T-shirts make good ball fender socks and provide a smile for watchers. They need washing off rather more frequently than the knitted nylon ones.

A few other points on fenders from our experience. Their weight varies enormously and carrying a few decent sized ones can be hard work. Compare weights when buying.

Have plenty. Little is more annoying in crowded stern-to berthing than seeing a boat approaching with two miserable little fenders per side, sometimes less. On our 10.6 metre boat we carry 10 or 11 good sized ones, two or three smaller ones and two big ball fenders. There have been occasions when every one was used.

 

[doug748]

I should get black or purple or the most lurid shade possible. There is then less danger of a neighbour taking yours by accident, or even by design.
One problem with dark shades is it is difficult to mark them with the boat's name. Bright yellow would be good.

 

[Blue5]

I think Vyv is spot on, having been to the boat today and seen the two blue fenders we possess leaving blue marks on the white hull I think fender socks or a cloth is a must.

I certainly will not be buying any more coloured fenders.

 

[Monique]

I would recommend that you buy fender socks, whatever the fender colour. The material sold specifically for the purpose, a knitted nylon, is excellent, doesn't mark the hull, in fact protects it well, easily hosed down when you have access to the water, dries very quickly.

Every superyacht you will ever see uses fender socks. I doubt you will see one without. Hull appearance on these boats is paramount, so take a lesson from their crews.

Old T-shirts make good ball fender socks and provide a smile for watchers. They need washing off rather more frequently than the knitted nylon ones.

A few other points on fenders from our experience. Their weight varies enormously and carrying a few decent sized ones can be hard work. Compare weights when buying.

Have plenty. Little is more annoying in crowded stern-to berthing than seeing a boat approaching with two miserable little fenders per side, sometimes less. On our 10.6 metre boat we carry 10 or 11 good sized ones, two or three smaller ones and two big ball fenders. There have been occasions when every one was used.

We must have the same neighbours. Worst one for me was a mobo to my starboard which caused 10K worth of damage to mine as he had 2 "s***" fenders and they both collapsed in the early part of a storm. AARRGGHHH!

 

[Sandyman]

Yes don't forget the fender socks....................they might get cold feet & toes.

 

[vyv_cox]

Yes don't forget the fender socks....................they might get cold feet & toes.

Unlikely. Temperature in Leros is currently 33 deg. C.

 

[Roaring Girl]

Ho hum - we've not often bought fenders cos the sea has been generous with donations, as indeed has a Norwegian friend who had more than she wanted after transiting the canals! So we've not chosen the colour!

We do enjoy our two fender blankets (blue) bought many years ago and about 2m long by 1m deep. They have many different uses - feners, fridge insultation, padding dinghy when stowed on deck, soft cushions etc.

Big ball fenders are very useful though can be a pain to stow. We have one and use it a lot.

 

[gus]

Cheap and practical fenders

Found it to be very useful to have some car tyres as fenders. They protect a larger area. Don't rise up so easily. Cannot be burst. Don't cost much and deter up-your-nose yachty types. Real boaters don't mind them.

 

[BrianH]

Found it to be very useful to have some car tyres as fenders. They protect a larger area. Don't rise up so easily. Cannot be burst. Don't cost much and deter up-your-nose yachty types. Real boaters don't mind them.

Perhaps your boat is an old, battered work boat with a darkly painted hull that doesn't show the dirty streaks they make.

Doubt if I could be called an "up-your-nose yachty type" but for sure they deter me. The carbon black used in in tyre manufacture will mark topsides big time.

I was at the refuelling dock in Zadar harbour a year or two ago where the sides were liberally hung with old tyres. I was an entire day subsequently at anchor in the inflatable scrubbing off the filthy carbon-black marks.

 

[TNT]

fenders

thanks for all your feedback some useful tips. I think we'll probably stick to white & add fender socks although I will make my own they are a bit pricey and us "yachties" have to watch the pennies. Gus I was actually wondering is there a legal tread limit to the tyres? I know trawlers find them really useful?

 

[vyv_cox]

thanks for all your feedback some useful tips. I think we'll probably stick to white & add fender socks although I will make my own they are a bit pricey and us "yachties" have to watch the pennies.

Our original fender socks were home made using towelling. When they wore out we bought the purpose made knitted nylon stuff, which I must say is far better.

 

[BrianH]

I had bad experience of using fender socks. It all depends on the quality of your air and the length of time between washing.

I keep my boat in a northern Italian marina. Whilst it appears rural and idyllic we are not far from local industry - small factories where - how should we put it, pollution regulations are not always strictly observed. Coupled with that, strong sirocco winds often bring Sahara sand drifting into our air space.

It doesn't take long for microscopic silica particles to embed into external cloth - of any texture. The resultant abrasive surface can grind into gel coat in an amazingly short time if there is any motion of boat or neighbouring boat that may be in contact.

When I saw what such grinding had done to my topsides I threw the socks away and now stay with plastic fenders whose smooth surface cannot retain any grinding powder and ensure that they are well-scrubbed every fitting out.

 

[carl170]

Yeah, a guy in our club painted his catamaram with about 7 coats of international yacht paint. It was beautiful when finished. We all ooohed and aaahed over it.

One season on the water and there are dull spots where the fenders have been and rubbed the shine off the paint.

He has now put fender socks on all of them. I will report later to let you know if they have worked!

Regards

Carl

 

[MapisM]

It doesn't take long for microscopic silica particles to embed into external cloth - of any texture. The resultant abrasive surface can grind into gel coat in an amazingly short time if there is any motion of boat or neighbouring boat that may be in contact.

Agreed, the grinding action can be a bit worse with socks, but other than that they are worth their cost imho.
And the most effective way to reduce the effect you're talking about is by using ball rather than cylinder fenders, anyway.

 

[Marsupial]

thanks for all your feedback some useful tips. I think we'll probably stick to white & add fender socks although I will make my own they are a bit pricey and us "yachties" have to watch the pennies. Gus I was actually wondering is there a legal tread limit to the tyres? I know trawlers find them really useful?

When wearing tyres as fenders you must try and get the etiquette correct, a bit like dressing the ship all over, as far as I know you should place crossplys to port and radials to starboard.

 

[Chrissie]

I should get black or purple or the most lurid shade possible. There is then less danger of a neighbour taking yours by accident, or even by design.
One problem with dark shades is it is difficult to mark them with the boat's name. Bright yellow would be good.

My black fenders were 'liberated' and the grubby looking white ones left behind, the black fenders have never marked the boat at all and I shall replace the black one with more black.
i think I might try painting boat names on them, too.

 

[SailBobSquarePants]

Coloured fenders...

My boat has a burgundy coloured hull above the waterline, which unfortunately made my white fenders turn burgundy in places. Was told to avoid fender socks by my well-respected shipwright, and managed to find fenders of all colours made by Polyform US. Unfortunately, regardless of fender body colour, the eyes are a dark blue. But even with the dark blue eyes, they look fantastic, and they don't seem to interact at all with the hull...unless we raft up next to a white boat, and THEN we get white marks on the fenders!

But overall, they really look better IMHO...

 

[charles_reed]

Hi we are getting ready to join our boat in the Med as new liveaboards and are getting as much kit together as possible whilst in the UK. Fenders?? whilst we have one or two decent ones still onboard is there any reason why instead of sticking to white (which always need cleaning and get black scuff marks) we can't get blue or black? are coloured fenders are impractical? do they mark the hull? seems they would need cleaning alot less! any thoughts?

White ones resist UV degradation rather better, in my experience, than dark colours. Fender socks also help, but the cost-benefit analysis doesn't stand up.

 

[tri39]

If you have time to visit SBS you can buy heavily discounted fenders of any colour, and rope and many other items. It's worth the price of entry