Pontoon fenders & covers

EasilyDistracted

EasilyDistracted

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Hi everyone, I'm looking to buy some pontoon fenders, I've noticed that some at our marina (lymington yacht haven) have fabric covers on them, I've searched the Internet and can't find a manufacturer that sell both dock fenders and covers, any ideas?
 
Never seen them, but you really should think twice before fitting fabric covers. Unless you wash them very frequently, they are going to collect dust and grit and will very soon be the equivalent of fine sandpaper running along your hull. The PVC fender is much easier to keep clean - just hose it down every few weeks.
 
I have been very happy with the PVC dock fenders. I agree that fabric covers would be prone to collecting dust and seagull poo, and could become quite abrasive.
 
EasilyDistracted said:
Hi everyone, I'm looking to buy some pontoon fenders, I've noticed that some at our marina (lymington yacht haven) have fabric covers on them, I've searched the Internet and can't find a manufacturer that sell both dock fenders and covers, any ideas?
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Just rely on your boat fenders. Fit a dock fender on the very tip of your pontoon incase the wind catches you on berthing. That's all you'll need. Once you've settled in with your new boat your fender placement will become second nature.
 
I have two x 2m strips of screw on dock fendering in my shed. Free for collection, subject to a reasonable donation next time you see an RNLI or Hamble lifeboat tin.

Located in Hamble. PM me if interested.
 
I have fenders EVERYWHERE, the trouble is I was mooring at the weekend with strong wind and the bathing platform ran right under the pontoon, any closer and it would have gouged out the tender garage door, it was more luck than judgement ( and the help of my neighbours ) that no damage was done :~
 
Hmmmmm can't see how a dock fender would help. Could you have SWMBO with a roving sausage fender just incase. Then if it looks like the bathing platform is going to catch, let her drop the fender inbetween the platform and pontoon and it should do the job whilst you knock in to forward gear, leave the berth and re line up ready for another go??
 
I agree entirely, the main idea was that if all else fails and the bathing platform went under the finger then the tender garage door would be protected by the pontoon fender. I'm trying to get all bases covered while my adventures are in their infancy. I'd be terribly embarrassed if I fouled up my boat in the first year ( by year I really mean month) ;)
 
If you don't mess it up in the first month your not really trying. I remember my first attempt at stern to. Lined up, slipped in backwards, knocked her in to forward gear to stop progress but it wasn't enough. Out of shear panic gave it a little too much forward power and I swear we was nearly on the plane before we cleared the finger!! Probably didn't look as bad as it felt, but you never forget those first few morning goes!! :)
 
In my mind fixed fendering on a berth should be for docking only in case your hanging fenders ride up when you are coming alongside.

Once berthed then you should use hanging inflatable fenders as the main rendering. These fenders will roll and move up and down with the motion of the boat.

I have seen a yacht that had only fixed pontoon fenders and had worn through the gel coat in places where the pontoon fenders touched effectively grinding away with every movement of the boat on the mooring.

Personally I prefer fender socks as well.
 
Bandit said:
Personally I prefer fender socks as well.
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You won't see a professionally crewed yacht in the south of France without fender socks. It is blarney that they scratch the boat. Any grit or dirt on an uncovered fender will definitely scratch the gel coat but not necessarily so with a fender sock. They are very easy to clean also, just a good hosing now and then. They also stop sqeeking so you can get to sleep at night. Think about it, you wouldn't use a piece of plastic to rub down your gel coat or polish it because any grit would scratch the surface, you'd use a cloth every time.
 
wakeup said:
You won't see a professionally crewed yacht in the south of France without fender socks. It is blarney that they scratch the boat. Any grit or dirt on an uncovered fender will definitely scratch the gel coat but not necessarily so with a fender sock. They are very easy to clean also, just a good hosing now and then. They also stop sqeeking so you can get to sleep at night. Think about it, you wouldn't use a piece of plastic to rub down your gel coat or polish it because any grit would scratch the surface, you'd use a cloth every time.
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Totally agree. First year we had our boat we didn't use fender socks and we got some scratches. From then on we have used socks and no more scratches!!

Admittedly I always hose them down when we visit the boat and they are always hosed if they have got wet as we remove or place them around the boat coming in and out of harbour.
 
wakeup said:
You won't see a professionally crewed yacht in the south of France without fender socks. It is blarney that they scratch the boat. Any grit or dirt on an uncovered fender will definitely scratch the gel coat but not necessarily so with a fender sock. They are very easy to clean also, just a good hosing now and then. They also stop sqeeking so you can get to sleep at night. Think about it, you wouldn't use a piece of plastic to rub down your gel coat or polish it because any grit would scratch the surface, you'd use a cloth every time.
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It really does depend on how frequently you clean them. I nice freshly laundered fender sock is fine, but leave it on unwashed for a year and the situation can be very different. Of course you clean your hull with a cloth, but not one that has been left laying on the pontoon for months on end - at least I hope not!
 
Surely you clean your boat more than once a year. I clean my FS every time I clean my boat. If I have been out to sea I always wash the salt off the boat with a hose and always give the fenders a quick clean. If you leave your fenders unwashed for a year, either with or without socks, then they will a) be manky, b) scratch no matter what.

Just be nice to your boat...:p
 
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wakeup said:
Surely you clean your boat more than once a year. I clean my FS every time I clean my boat. If I have been out to sea I always wash the salt off the boat with a hose and always give the fenders a quick clean. If you leave your fenders unwashed for a year, either with or without socks, then they will a) be manky, b) scratch no matter what.

Just be nice to your boat...:p
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I think you may be an exception to the rule! A lot of fender socks round the marina appear to date back to Nelson and not have been washed since then.
 
Ok I admit that I am on the OCD spectrum and yes I do often put all my ropes in the washing machine (of course with softener) so they look good and feel nice :rolleyes:
 
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