capnsensible
Well-known member
Ages since I bought fenders in the UK!
I see lots of people use old halyard or sheet line to secure fenders. I reckon that comes undone too easily. I prefer 3 strand, grips better. In my opinion!
Lost fender or lucky find
- Thread starter Seven Spades
- Start date
I see lots of people use old halyard or sheet line to secure fenders. I reckon that comes undone too easily. I prefer 3 strand, grips better. In my opinion!
mjcoon
Well-known member
Ah, what's wanted is some orca trained to bite through lines caught round rudders...
ylop
Well-known member
I know some people have an aversion to fender socks. I’m not sure why someone else’s fenders worry you though - if you rafted often enough and had such strong feelings/concerns wouldn’t you just invest in bigger fenders yourself, or a fender board/sheet to keep the nasty evil away? Or even a little sign saying “welcome to raft here but please remove fender socks as I like the squeak”. Personally I’d master anchoring to avoid being alongside others, although if you are as hostile as you come across here I imagine people don’t stay long anyway!
rotrax
Well-known member
As you say there are two sides to the issue.
I have had home made fender socks on my last two boats since 2010. First mate knocks them up on her industrial sewing machine using the stuff from the boat show supplier of the fender sock material.
Both heavy long keelers.
Never a fender rub.
They get hosed off and brushed now and then, usually when cleaning the boat after the winter.
Current boat weighs in at well over 15 tons with full tanks and all the cruising gear aboard. It is in the water 11 months each year, alongside a linear pontoon in Littlehampton.
As I say, never a fender rub. True Knowlege is the Product of Direct Experience.
I usually put fenders on the outside if anyone wishes to raft against us.
It is good news you would not take advantage should you be looking for a space - after all, you would feel uncomfortable being alongside a Twat!
And I, most certainly would prefer not to be alongside someone with such dogmatic views.........................
Daydream believer
Well-known member
So you religiously clean your fenders socks every 11 months of the year. Well done. Then soon as you rub up alongside the pontoon you pick up some grit. Then if you (or your ilk) do ever manage to leave your berth, you take the fenders in (one assumes) & puts them out when later you raft against someone. Then as the boat rocks a little- A lot in some cases- your filthy fender - complete with bits of sharp grit-now does to others what some twat did to me & leaves a nice deep scratch the shape of an arc in their topsides.They get hosed off and brushed now and then, usually when cleaning the boat after the winter.
Current boat weighs in at well over 15 tons with full tanks and all the cruising gear aboard. It is in the water 11 months each year, alongside a linear pontoon in Littlehampton.
It is good news you would not take advantage should you be looking for a space - after all, you would feel uncomfortable being alongside a Twat!
Do not tell me your fender socks are clean - I do NOT believe you.
Anyway. Why on earth should one want such a thing . Seems a bit pointless to me. Unless one wants to look a bit "poncy" -- Then who is the "twat"
Daydream believer
Well-known member
Can you please explain "outdoorsy" New one on me.
Petertheking1982
Member
Fenders without socks, over number of years, create very fine brush mark like scratches on the Hull. On white hulls you don't see them, on blue or black hulls they are can be noticeable. Fender socks help prevent these fine scuffing. BUT only if they are kept clean, any grit trapped in the sock will make the problem worse. And hevean forbid letting the bottom dangle in water allowing a mini habitat to grow in it. Fender socks can also stop squeaking from fenders rubbing, but I have haven't given this issue to much thought as I don't normally get it (maybe linked to how clean the boat is?). Generally I'm against as its one more thing to clean.
ylop
Well-known member
Presumably you are familiar with the word outdoors? It being a term for the area out side of buildings where people go when not arguing on the internet. The addition of a y to the end makes it an adjective describing in this case suitability for the outdoors! Assuming you were following the thread you’d have noted that this particular conversation was about the UV degradation of ropes supplied with fenders and thus I think outdoorsy here is synonymous with “UV stabilised”Can you please explain "outdoorsy" New one on me.
I’m sure you are aware of putative advantages of a fender sock - reducing squeaking and so getting you a better sleep. Presumably they also reduce wear on the fender itself by being a sacrificial layer to get the grit etc you worry about rather than erode or embed in the soft rubber.
Such risks are absolutely real, but why would they only risk your boat and not the owner of said sock? If such consequences were common I think socks would be much less prevalent. Socks do seem less common in harbours than marinas but I suspect that is because on a rough wall the sock doesn’t last long before it gets damaged.
[3889]
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Plus a decent ø line, 10mm minimum. I had 6mm saw through a couple of fender eyes in bad weather.Ages since I bought fenders in the UK!
I see lots of people use old halyard or sheet line to secure fenders. I reckon that comes undone too easily. I prefer 3 strand, grips better. In my opinion!
[3889]
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In DD's binary world anchoring is another choice made only by us fools. I mean, why would you when there's an option to park in a marina and engage in affected distractions to avoid intruding on your neighbour's privacy?
Daydream believer
Well-known member
Can you please point to a post where i suggested that people who anchor are "fools"
I do not anchor for a personal reason. That does not mean that I have anything against those that do.
So come on. Show me where I have inferred that those that anchor are "fools"
Or you could retract the statement.
dunedin
Well-known member
Yes, my theory is clove hitches are promoted by people who don’t pay the bills - such as instructors, crew etc.
Bill payers (eg owner skippers) use round turn and two/three half hitches.
Also, why tie to the top wire on the guardrails? We tie to stanchion bases where possible, and lower wire if not - to reduce and bending leverage on stanchions (particularly in storms when boat left unattended, as boat leans over in the gusts and then tries to pull the fenders back up.
lustyd
Well-known member
I’m an owner skipper and use clove hitches as they’re quick to adjust and hold well. When I leave my boat in it’s home berth the fenders don’t touch the pontoon because I know how to tie the boat up too so it sits a few inches away happily bobbing with no squeaks or bangs or rubbing.
B27
Well-known member
Personally, I find clove hitches are an excellent knot for many types of rope in many situations.
They work fine on the 8mm three strand rope most of my fenders have.
They are less secure for a thick braided rope tied around a thin guardwire.
I just add a half hitch or two once I'm sure the fender is in the best place.
NormanS
Well-known member
Some people don't understand what the extra leverage can do to the stanchions, and some are just too lazy to bend down and make fast at the base. Take your pick.
I can hardly believe that this thread, brought on by someone's personal disaster (or so it seems) of losing a fender, has gone on so long. Maybe we should organise a whip-round to buy him a replacement. My contribution £0.
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rotrax
Well-known member
There does appear to be a 'Twat' posting on here.
And it certainly is not me............................................................................
My fender socks - I have ten large fenders so fitted - vary from faded dark blue to pristine unused dark blue. If I run my fingers over them I can feel no grit. My fingertips have been used for almost 60 years handling delicate engine parts and can be relied on to feel a five thou wear ridge on a component. If there WAS grit or dirt, I would feel it.
First Mate and I often spend all summer cruising. There is no doubt in my mind that fender socks are quieter when lying alongside.
Our home berth has very little grit or sand. Littlehampton Harbour is soft mud. I have NEVER seen mud on our home pontoon.
Are you calling me a liar?
Our vessel spent all last winter and until late June alongside in Littlehampton. Since then, unless on the hook or on a buoy, alongside with at least three large fender sock equiped fenders. The large ball fenders at bow and stern are not 'socked'.
They would be if I could get material big enough! At our permanent berth I have three smaller ball fenders, with socks, permanently fitted to the pontoon. When alongside there, six 'socked' fenders. And no rubbing or damage to the hull. For the last 13 years.
You do it your way, I'll do it mine.
Without any reference to 'Twats'.
Which did you no credit.
RupertW
Well-known member
That’s me
Snowgoose-1
Well-known member
Yes.
Just a slippery clove hitch works for me. Good point about 3 strand .
This particularly lost fender is becoming quite famous.
Will a claim be made on the insurers ?
Will it be found but without a sock ?
Could the owner produce an identikit likeness for identification ?
What is the legal position if I find it and decide not to give it back ?
Stemar
Well-known member
Since you know who the owner is, it'd be theft by finding. Finders keepers only applies if you don't know who the owner is and you've made a reasonable effort to find the owner. That anonymous fender that drifts by your boat is fair game, as there's no reasonable prospect of finding the owner, but you know whose this one is.
Incidentally, DD would also be guilty of theft of the cover.
newtothis
Well-known member
I'd go with flotsam on that one - goods that are floating on the surface of the water as the result of a wreck or accident - in which case you don't have to give it back, unless the owner can prove their claim to it. Hopefully it will have a fender sock with the owners name stitched into it