Figuring out Fenders: A Design Project

[RupertW]

No body has mentioned fender boards, handy as gang planks at times.
Mine's tied to the forward rail.

Ours spends most of it's time as our passarelle but occasionally when mooring between 4 piles it comes into its own as a fender board - we then have to jump ashore the first time before we collect one of the old planks that most pile marinas seem to have lying about.

 

[awol]

The questionnaire and this thread have not yet addressed the most important and argumentative aspect of fenders - what knot to use to attach the things? To me this is absolutely critical as the greater part of my fender collection have been rescued from the open sea. Thus I recommend slip knots!

 

[Seajet]

Do you hang around harbours on the ebb tide waiting ?

Well done, you must have Scottish blood ! :encouragement:

 

[Tomahawk]

Despite the rather silly form in which they were delivered, these are actually quite good points, cheers.

I may be wrong, but I am guessing you are doing some sort of design project as part of some study course?
It helps with such things to have some knowledge of your subject before trying to design something new or ask questions.

I suggest you need to visit a few boat yards and look at the boats and where they are moored (parked).

 

[johnalison]

The questionnaire and this thread have not yet addressed the most important and argumentative aspect of fenders - what knot to use to attach the things? To me this is absolutely critical as the greater part of my fender collection have been rescued from the open sea. Thus I recommend slip knots!

Can I have mine back please?

 

[Daydream believer]

What about a full length thick rope fitted along the gunwale. Does that count as not putting ones' fender away?

 

[Max Campbell]

Matt, If you're still reading, good luck with the project. I think it shows initiative to find the forum & ask the question.

I answered as a sailing weekender in a 20' boat, usually kept on a pontoon. We keep 3 or 4 small fenders in a locker, they rarely see the light of day unless we visit a marina - the home pontoon has fixed fenders.

I could have answered with our other boat in mind - a 28' narrow beam plastic cruiser on the grand union canal (really) There we have 12 fenders permanently in place (6 of which - down the sides - are 2" thick narrowboat fenders, then a balloon either side of the bow, and a drape of 2 x 8" sausages either side behind them).

 

[Blue Sunray]

Despite the rather silly form in which they were delivered, these are actually quite good points, cheers.

Elegantly put.

 

[Wansworth]

He closes the door quietly and tip toes away....... the

 

[essexsj]

Refreshingly simple and quick survey to complete.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I am glad you qualified that with "tend" because my 31 ft boat with aft cabin has a locker that I can easily get into, plus one that a smaller person can squeeze into. However, I actually PREFER to hang my fenders on the aft rail.
Perhaps other do as well.

Oddly enough one of my comments on the survey was that a few of the boats I have sailed on have cleats on the side of deep lockers so you don't have to hold a small child upside by the ankles to get the fenders out from the pile of boat bits in the bottom of the locker.

 

[Daydream believer]

Oddly enough one of my comments on the survey was that a few of the boats I have sailed on have cleats on the side of deep lockers so you don't have to hold a small child upside by the ankles to get the fenders out from the pile of boat bits in the bottom of the locker.

There are a number of reasons I put fenders on the aft rail
1) The lines of the Aeries to the tiller go across the top of the aft locker lids & i need it connected so I do not want to disconnect it whilst I fish for fenders from the lockers
2) The largest locker has a big lid & holding it up in a seaway whilst I get the fenders out could be awkward
3) Being at the helm it is easy to just reach back & pull the slip knot & release a fender ready to move them to the front of the cockpit ready for deployment
4) In MOB I can lob 6 fenders overboard easily as markers & buoyancy really quick & being on short lines I can throw them quite far & accurately. in a line so when going back if I see a fender I know I am near the casualty, I can do this from the helm quicker & easier than I can the ring & dan buoy which would follow
5) I did it to annoy the wife because she said it makes us look like a charter yacht:encouragement:

 

[awol]

3) Being at the helm it is easy to just reach back & pull the slip knot & release a fender ready to move them to the front of the cockpit ready for deployment

And, of course, they never fall off by themselves!

 

[Daydream believer]

And, of course, they never fall off by themselves!

Never lost one in 15 years & 30000 miles. have dropped one when tying ready to berth ( with clove hitches) twice in that time & both times it was crew, who could not tie a clove hitch, not me !! But recovered OK
Had one nicked in Milford Haven though, but could not get on deck in time to catch the blighter.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

I've never lost one with a slip knot either.

 

[TSB240]

There are a number of reasons I put fenders on the aft rail
1) The lines of the Aeries to the tiller go across the top of the aft locker lids & i need it connected so I do not want to disconnect it whilst I fish for fenders from the lockers
2) The largest locker has a big lid & holding it up in a seaway whilst I get the fenders out could be awkward
3) Being at the helm it is easy to just reach back & pull the slip knot & release a fender ready to move them to the front of the cockpit ready for deployment
4) In MOB I can lob 6 fenders overboard easily as markers & buoyancy really quick & being on short lines I can throw them quite far & accurately. in a line so when going back if I see a fender I know I am near the casualty, I can do this from the helm quicker & easier than I can the ring & dan buoy which would follow
:encouragement:

I follow much the same reasoning having a similar but slightly smaller boat design.

However we only use two very large ball fenders and an even larger sausage fender in a furry condom. (kindly donated by an unknown visiting Princess!)
They are arranged in a fine sculpture fitting snugly in our sugar scoop tied to the aft rail ready for some action.

It does not annoy my wife but it I am quite sure it gives the fender police an apoplectic fit:encouragement:

 

[RupertW]

Still far too much work for me. I last tied them on the toerail in Spring 2018 and they will probably still be there when I sell the boat.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Fender boards need including. Rarely ued in civilised harbour where the HM provides but greatly necessary when mooring against ageing staging and half derelict piers. Also used as gangplank and having cleats on it used as ladder on semitidal Plymouth waters. (Not much use as ladder in truly tidal Bristol Channel as would need to be 7m long)

 

[essexsj]

Fender boards need including. Rarely ued in civilised harbour where the HM provides but greatly necessary when mooring against ageing staging and half derelict piers. Also used as gangplank and having cleats on it used as ladder on semitidal Plymouth waters. (Not much use as ladder in truly tidal Bristol Channel as would need to be 7m long)

That is an extremely valid point. I never gave fender boards a thought until I needed one!
Certainly much needed in some of the older privately owned boatyards and yacht clubs based in creeks around Essex.

 

[Humblebee]

Good luck to the guy whatever.
I've filled in the survey and asked him to get back to us with his findings.