Whats the best way to prevent fenders from wearing through painted topsides? Ideas?

Even Chance

Even Chance

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As the title says folks, help me to prevent my painted topsides becoming gel-coat again please.

Ive left my E-Boat in the water for this winter. Had a cracking few sails at the weekend, and hopefully plenty more to come.

I need cheap ideas. I was thinking about hanging bits of carpet over the side so the pile side rests against the hull and the fenders can rub on the back. Any better ideas? Will this work?

Thanks.
 
When ever we are along side I make every effort to hold the boat off the dock. I usually say to the guy next door in a marina can we cross your bow with a line bow and stern.

That's the cheapest.

If your on a woodon dock then as previous post mentioned 'fender socks' but if you really want to be cheap buy some old fleece XXL from Oxfam to cover over each fender.
 
Great ideas guys, keep them coming!

Im in a marina by the way. Its got nice rubber D section all round the edges for the fenders to rub on.
 
I guess your carpet idea is a good one. This puts a barrier between your hull and the fenders, it is important that the carpet doesn't move against the hull or you are just transferring the 'scratchy action' from fender to hull via carpet.
I have considered painting my hull but decided to clean it as best I could on the theory that paint was easier to damage than gell coat
 
Jamesuk said:
When ever we are along side I make every effort to hold the boat off the dock. I usually say to the guy next door in a marina can we cross your bow with a line bow and stern.
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+1
Failing that, last winter I was in a Marina predominantly blow on. I rigged a line from midships to the pontoon from the outboard side. I could not obtain much of an outward lead but in all but the strongest winds it kept the fenders from touching the pontoon. It just took a little thought but worked well.
 
When I painted my boat, I made a 'fender skirt' which goes between the fenders and the hull.
It is a foam camping mat with acrylic canvas on one side and fleece material on the hull side.
A bit of webbing along the top to tie it to the toe rail.
Total cost less than one fender...

Also gets used as a deck cushion.
Plenty of wax polish on the hull and fenders is good too. But you have to wash the grime and duck poo off as often as possible.
 
lw395 said:
When I painted my boat, I made a 'fender skirt' which goes between the fenders and the hull.
It is a foam camping mat with acrylic canvas on one side and fleece material on the hull side.
A bit of webbing along the top to tie it to the toe rail.
Total cost less than one fender...

Also gets used as a deck cushion.
Plenty of wax polish on the hull and fenders is good too. But you have to wash the grime and duck poo off as often as possible.
Click to expand...
We have a similar fender skirt. We call it a 'rash pad'. Ours is exactly the same construction and it works well. The fleece is held on with Velcro so it can be removed and washed.
 
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alanorion said:
Hi I attached the web address of Fender socks I have used there easy to use product on three separate boats

they work and look really good. Also they are the cheapest I have found and they are excellent quality. I thoroughly

recommend them. http://www.fender-socks.co.uk/category/fender-sock-kits/small-fender-sock-kits/

Best wishes

Alan
Click to expand...

They are the ones we have. The material is excellent, long lasting and doesn't trap dirt. I'm not a big fan of their fitting method using tie-wraps, all of which failed over a season or two. We sewed ours on in the traditional way, far more secure.
 
>Im in a marina by the way. Its got nice rubber D section all round the edges for the fenders to rub on.

If you have that and fenders you won't get any paint damage provided you keep the fenders clean from any grit type dirt. The two worst marinas we have been in one had a concrete dock that wasn't smooth and the other old pitted wood with sharp bits which tore our fender socks apart and scratched the fenders.
 
Some fantastic ideas for me to ponder guys. I like the simplistic idea of the socks (home brewed of course!).
The fender pad idea sounds great too, just a wee bit more work. I would spread the loading more evenly though.

I also have the berth next to mine free, so I can pull her into the middle away from all the egdes when a big SE blows in to Wick. We get massive waves building in the bay, and the surge in the harbour as a result can make the pontoons rise and fall by a few meters. Mind you, the breakers in the bay can roll right over the lighthouse at the entrance, and its 60ft high!!!

Thanks folks, most appreciated.
 
For cheap fender socks, look for some stockingette polishing cloth in your local market or car spares place. I've a roll of it kicking around and it's a tube. Cut to length & tie off top & bottom. Job done.

Mer, Turtlewax or similar applied regularly to the hull will help too. It's time to do it again when water no longer beads and drops off.
 
Even Chance said:
As the title says folks, help me to prevent my painted topsides becoming gel-coat again please.

Ive left my E-Boat in the water for this winter. Had a cracking few sails at the weekend, and hopefully plenty more to come.

I need cheap ideas. I was thinking about hanging bits of carpet over the side so the pile side rests against the hull and the fenders can rub on the back. Any better ideas? Will this work?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Our previous boat came with two "curtains" although we only use one on the fingerberth side of the boat. It comprises about 2 Metres x 0.5 Metres of heavy PVC fabric (as for lorry curtain sides ) with shockcord each end to hook into the toerail. They stay still and the fenders roll over it. Particularly good if mooring against a stone or brick wall. Only downside is that once in position you don't see it from the boat and we have been known to sail for an hour before realising it is still in place! Unlike the carpet it does not hold moisture and rolls up small to go in the fender locker.
We saved it from the last boat and still use it now, probably 20 years use in all.
 
Could you think laterally & change the type of fender
I have seen some that are 2 ft square & 3inches thick
I am not sure how they perform but if anyone has them perhaps they can comment
Ifor one hate boats coming alongside in a raft if they have fender socks
I usually ask them to use only my fenders or I stick a large ball fender that i have in between us which is thicker than their fenders & takes the weight off their fenders
Come to that perhaps a ball fender which should roll rather than scrape might be better
 
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