What fender size

[Paddydog`1]

Hi all
Time for some new fenders. Was looking at deals on Majoni Star Fenders and it is recommended that size 4 is for boats up to 32 feet. Mine is 35 feet/ 6ton cruising yacht and my current fenders are equivalent to Majoni size 4 and seem OK. Should I go one size bigger and take up much more stowage space when not in use or follow the recommendation for size 5 for my boat

 

[LadyInBed]

If you've found the size you have is adequate, why do you think you need a size larger?
You could supplement with a couple of sphericals.

 

[alancollins]

Carry the largest fenders you can stow. One day you will be grateful for them.

 

[RupertW]

Thin where the boat is fat and fat where the boat is thin

 

[ashtead]

Not heard of Majoni but is there much difference in size/price? I suppose other question is method of construction but surely if not much more an F5 is best. I believe we have Polyform ? versions of this size and don't seem overly large but are more solid than ones we had on our previous Bav 34 although that sounds lighter than your vessel.

 

[Plum]

Carry the largest fenders you can stow. One day you will be grateful for them.

+1 very good advice, even if that means fewer.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Slight tangent.
Is the size number standard in the trade or do the dimensions of a 'Size #' vary from one brand to another? For me it makes more sense to quote the diameter.

 

[RupertW]

+1 very good advice, even if that means fewer.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

Very different approach to mine - you both may well be right but I prefer to cover as much of the length of the hull as possible as incoming boats can make contact at any point before usually settling middle to middle. So for me it's fatter fenders where the boat is narrowest but a couple of smaller ones where boat is widest so when the adjoining boat settles the load is absorbed by a few fenders not just the fat one (or two if you are lucky) where the fat bits touch.

So for me that's 6 fenders either side plus two big round ones at the stern and a couple of corner ones on the stern quarters where I nudge other boats aside when coming into a berth. But I know I'm going for overkill.

 

[niccapotamus]

+1 very good advice, even if that means fewer.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

+1

 

[[70521]]

Carry the largest fenders you can stow. One day you will be grateful for them.

+1

 

[Norman_E]

Carry the largest fenders you can stow. One day you will be grateful for them.

+1

Having a couple of very big ones plus a big spherical one in addition to half a dozen standard size has proved very useful.

 

[RupertW]

+1

Having a couple of very big ones plus a big spherical one in addition to half a dozen standard size has proved very useful.

And if you don't bother stowing them you gain a lot of extra locker space plus save doing a dull task leaving and entering harbour

 

[ashtead]

Plus 1 for a large spherical ones to protect the stern particularly if in marina with tidal flows which can catch out the newcomer. Clearly if travelling to France you might need to take more to make up for the complete absence on many local boats but more seriously maybe the number of fenders and type is influenced by where you sail. My impression is the numbering is standard though?

 

[Norman_E]

And if you don't bother stowing them you gain a lot of extra locker space plus save doing a dull task leaving and entering harbour

They all go in the cockpit lockers, except the big ball one which lives in the lazerette behind the anchor locker. I did think of buying fender baskets, but I don't really like the look of them, and the pushpit rails on my boat are very short. Its a sad fact that a lot of boats dont have the same locker space, and the smaller the boat the harder it gets to stow enough fenders. The big ball fender is not so much used to protect the stern, but is used when other boats arrive alongside, as a crosswind will often blow the bow of the newly arrived boat to you before the crew have secured the lazy line.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

So for me that's 6 fenders either side plus two big round ones at the stern and a couple of corner ones on the stern quarters where I nudge other boats aside when coming into a berth. But I know I'm going for overkill.

With all that lot on board she'll never sink ... that's a bonus!

 

[roblpm]

+1 very good advice, even if that means fewer.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

Im not sure. I am in a marina where there is a lot of swell. Where the boat is fattest and rubs against the pontoon larger fenders seem to go pop quicker than small ones. I upsized and have now downsized.

 

[RupertW]

They all go in the cockpit lockers, except the big ball one which lives in the lazerette behind the anchor locker. I did think of buying fender baskets, but I don't really like the look of them, and the pushpit rails on my boat are very short. Its a sad fact that a lot of boats dont have the same locker space, and the smaller the boat the harder it gets to stow enough fenders. The big ball fender is not so much used to protect the stern, but is used when other boats arrive alongside, as a crosswind will often blow the bow of the newly arrived boat to you before the crew have secured the lazy line.

Ours could go in cockpit lockers buts it's the faff of tying and untying them between anchorages that I got tired of so just pull them over the guard wires onto the side deck. Twenty years ago I would have been appalled with myself but like many things I don't seem bothered by appearances any more.

 

[Norman_E]

Im not sure. I am in a marina where there is a lot of swell. Where the boat is fattest and rubs against the pontoon larger fenders seem to go pop quicker than small ones. I upsized and have now downsized.

Have you tried the type that are like a large and thick sponge rubber board? Fenders can be popped if the pontoon has hard edges that grind into them, and the sponge rubber board type can either be used on their own or like a soft fender boards protecting the inflated fenders. I knew someone who regularly moored against a concrete wall, who used fender socks made from pieces of old sail wound about three times round the fender and sewn up. They lasted quite a while before wearing through.