Whats the most common rope size used....

[Dom81]

......for fenders?

Is it 8mm or 10mm.

Also what type of rope do you use or do you think is most commonly used?

Cheers

Dom

 

[Firefly625]

......for fenders?

Is it 8mm or 10mm.

Also what type of rope do you use or do you think is most commonly used?

Cheers

Dom

depends on the size of the fenders...

 

[Ripster]

I always use 10mm as over time the line wears a bit what with swinging in the wind and rubbing a bit on the side rubbing strake and against the spring lines, so a bit thicker helps in my case...

 

[Dom81]

Its just I hve seen everything used from string to 16mm.

One other thing I have noticed is alot of people dont really care what their fenders look like. Its like having a half million pound house with tatty window boxes.

Dom

 

[sarabande]

perhaps if you spent your life dangling in dirty water, buffering a half million pound yacht against an oily concrete wall, you might feel a little scruffy.

Form follows function.

 

[AndieMac]

Get something nice and soft, like yachtie braided lines which stays soft and pliable and doesn't go stiff in the elements, like cheap 3 strand. You can them use a smaller diameter, as the line is super strong.

 

[MapisM]

8 is a tad small imho, but not because it isn't strong enough.
A slightly bigger diameter is more comfortable to handfle, on top of what AM says re. the type of line.

 

[Dom81]

Interesting. One other question, how many of you actually keep them tidy and use the right length rope?

Have I got fender OCD ?

Dom

 

[AndieMac]

Have I got fender OCD ?

Dom

You just had to mention that...didn't you!! You know it's rife amongst this community :-0

As M said, the larger rope is nice to handle, but maybe just for men with big hands.
If the crew has little lady hands, she may struggle getting the clove hitch tied off? Just a thought.

 

[Tom Price]

You just had to mention that...didn't you!! You know it's rife amongst this community :-0

As M said, the larger rope is nice to handle, but maybe just for men with big hands.
If the crew has little lady hands, she may struggle getting the clove hitch tied off? Just a thought.

Where does a clove hitch appear?

 

[AndieMac]

Where does a clove hitch appear?

Towards the end of my fender line when being temporarily secured to a rail, why?

 

[Tom Price]

Fender strings

I settled for 12mm as 'user friendly' is important.
But if SWMBO can't tie the knots, including locking off
with half hitches*, either lock her in the cabin or
leave her at home.
There is no 'correct' length: up on the rail next to
another boat, down at the waterline against a pontoon.

* without which they do tend to disappear!

 

[AndieMac]

But if SWMBO can't tie the knots, including locking off
with half hitches*, either lock her in the cabin or
leave her at home.

So you never have a problem getting a crew then?!

 

[AndieMac]

including locking off
with half hitches*,

* without which they do tend to disappear!

The complete berthing process often involves several fine adjustments of the fender lines, especially against low slung floating pontoons.
The clove hitch, to me, is the best initial choice, as it allows easy adjustments while the boat is settling, before the final tie off is completed.

 

[Tom Price]

O & S

The complete berthing process often involves several fine adjustments of the fender lines, especially against low slung floating pontoons.
The clove hitch, to me, is the best initial choice, as it allows easy adjustments while the boat is settling, before the final tie off is completed.

Good textbook stuff - well done. It works too.

"So you never have a problem getting a crew then?"

I would if all I had was a Bertram 23!
Try singlehanding.

 

[AndieMac]

Good textbook stuff - well done. It works too.

"So you never have a problem getting a crew then?"

I would if all I had was a Bertram 23!
Try singlehanding.

Well what a result, fancy being accused of text book boating advice from the original master.
I do believe in one of your later aliases, Malaprop in fact, I may have inferred you did exactly this, it's been a long time coming, but great come-back!

These days of course, our newest character is the adventurous seadog TP, who has recently demonstrated the long forgotten skills of basic navigation to chart a course across the vast expanse of the English Channel, after 'suddenly' loosing the 12 volt supply.

What a guy!....but still managing to descend on a thread with the popularity of a fresh steaming dog t#rd on the footpath.

 

[Assassin]

I splice my own using braided dacron as it get it for free, i form them to around 12mm as this is immensely strong and has very little stretch, and i have towed with them.

 

[Kawasaki]

But if SWMBO can't tie the knots, including locking off
with half hitches*, either lock her in the cabin or
leave her at home.
There is no 'correct' length:

Some say length is a problem others say width

 

[Searush]

All this fuss about fenders, you'd think that they were on permanent display or summat.





Oh, err, perhaps on MoBos in Marinas they are . . .

 

[jfm]

I would if all I had was a Bertram 23!

What an amazing comment Malaprop. To any poster on here, let alone to a guy who has contributed loads on here and runs a much revered classic brand of boat