How about this for crazy idea #1 - fenders

[Sailingsaves]

I've never had to buy new fenders thanks to boat jumbles and having kept them when I sold my boat.

Anf there are often threads on here about flat fenders.

But...

What about fizzy bottle fenders?

I have fitted a trye valve to the lid of a coke bottle and pumped it to 30psi (apparently they can go up to 90psi)

But 20psi would be fine.

Pretty cheap.

Could have the entire length of boat covered. Bit of webbing glued to each outer surface to hold them down and in line (1/10th full of water maybe).

There is a special knot for holding / carrying bottles.

Crazy, but what do you think?

Would they scratch the boat?

For the crazy, no money, Hold Fast (film on youtube) type of sailors.... might work?

See next crazy idea #2

 

[Niander]

they would not be strong enough only in light conditions.

 

[Sailingsaves]

they would not be strong enough only in light conditions.

Fill with water?

No foot pump needed then.

See, they are multi-use too.

Yes, I am as mad as a hatter - must be the mercury fillings.

 

[William_H]

I think I would find them just too snall to protect the boat. When I need fenders (I keep them at home) it is to fend off from a jetty where it is difficult to get them into and stay in just the right place to protect from the irregular posts etc of the jetty so bigger the better. good luck olewilll

 

[[70521]]

Crazy, but what do you think?

Crazy

Apply 3 tonnes of something at 0.10m per second and stand well back, unless you want a shower.

 

[Stemar]

I could be tempted to try for a small dingy, but for anything bigger, I think you'll find there's a reason they're called pop bottles

 

[NormanS]

Yes, you're right. Crazy.

 

[vyv_cox]

Would be nice to watch in the Ionian in August. 5 metre wide Italian boats ramming into 3 metre slots at warp speed 10.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

There was a company back in the sixties that marketed oil in containers that were made out of material similar to that for fenders. The idea was that instead of discarding the empties, as one does with the normal jerry can, the containers could do double duty as fenders. They were OK for dinghies but were even better when used as a pick-me-up for the mooring... and more acceptable than the empty detergent bottles that are sometimes seen.

 

[boaterbaz]

Vaguely remember a PBO article on transiting french canals where empty 3litre pop bottles were tethered to float around the waterline for some reason.

 

[pete]

And whats wrong with old car tires ?? they also make a good step, you could string them together and make a series drogue

 

[NormanS]

And whats wrong with old car tires ?? they also make a good step, you could string them together and make a series drogue

You have to go quite a long way to get your TIRES.

 

[steveallan]

Vaguely remember a PBO article on transiting french canals where empty 3litre pop bottles were tethered to float around the waterline for some reason.

Used to increase buoyancy / reduce draft April edition?

 

[westernman]

And whats wrong with old car tires ?? they also make a good step, you could string them together and make a series drogue

Categorically forbidden in most French marina contracts. Presumably because they eventually fall off and end up on the bottom.

 

[Ludd]

I use empty tonic bottles to protect my Avon against mussels at water level on pontoons. 1/3 full of water. Haven't tried the gin bottles !

 

[Daydream believer]

For most applications a 31 ft boat needs only 3 fenders per side & possibly a larger round one for coming off lock or dock walls etc & placing under the stern so i do not see the point of hanging rubbish round the yacht. If using water would you fill & drain for every application or would you store water filled bottles in a locker on board.
To be honest if you can afford the boat in the first place do you really have to bother with this.
Boating on a budget is fine but there is a point where it becomes silly.

 

[Boreades]

What kind of plastic do they use for these bottles?
I wonder how well it stands up to prolonged UV exposure?

 

[Sailingsaves]

What kind of plastic do they use for these bottles?
I wonder how well it stands up to prolonged UV exposure?

Alas these bottle stand up to a lot of abuse - hence the Pacific Gyre. They are designed to hold liquid at pressure and be thrown around the world via delivery - awful fizzy drinks that I am addicted to.

Gardeners fill them with water and leave on flower beds to scare cats or birds away and they last for years in the sun.

Oh and when they burst at over 90psi, apparently they burst at the neck so one piece goes up and one down, but no splitting so less 'shrapnel'.

 

[srm]

I've never had to buy new fenders thanks to boat jumbles and having kept them when I sold my boat.

Anf there are often threads on here about flat fenders.

But...

What about fizzy bottle fenders?

I have fitted a trye valve to the lid of a coke bottle and pumped it to 30psi (apparently they can go up to 90psi)

But 20psi would be fine.

Pretty cheap.

Could have the entire length of boat covered. Bit of webbing glued to each outer surface to hold them down and in line (1/10th full of water maybe).

There is a special knot for holding / carrying bottles.

Crazy, but what do you think?

Would they scratch the boat?

For the crazy, no money, Hold Fast (film on youtube) type of sailors.... might work?

See next crazy idea #2

The short and simple answer to crazy ideas is:
Go and try it in the real world before posting, then tell us the results.

 

[stevebrassett]

I would have thought they would be noisy.