When do you stow your fenders?

[BlueSkyNick]

At what point after leaving a marina berth, harbour or wherever, and get underway do you remove the fenders from the guard rail? As soon as you are away from the pontoon or wall? Once completely out to sea? Wait until you've got the mainsail up or out? What's your preference? And whilst you are stowing your fenders, how do you keep directional control of the boat?

Here's a hypothetical scenario - suppose your boat is in a marina enclosed by a lock. And from the lock to the main waterway are a series of piles each side of a dredged channel. Go outside them at LW and you are on the putty. Would you stow the fenders after leaving the lock or wait until you have completely passed all the piles? Bear in mind there is a cross tide too. Assume you have one other competent crew member on board.

Just asking, that's all. No particular reason.

<hr width=100% size=1>It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

 

[cameronke]

At the end of the season ;-)

You never know when you might need them!

Regards
Cameron

<hr width=100% size=1>Work to live, live to sail

 

[CliveG]

I would have the crew removing the fenders and making up the mooring lines as we go down the dredged channel.

I do like to clear the decks before hanging out the laundery.

A few fenders are not going to help if you are going to try knocking the piles over.

Nothing looks less seaman like than fenders all over the place as you head out to sea.

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[Becky]

It is easy- you wait until you reach the last stick, the big one with the pretty green cap thing, turn sharp left by 90 deg, put on the autohelm and walk round taking in the fenders, making sure they don't get wet, because they make excellent back rests in the cockpit when tied to the pushpit. Then before the next big stick with the green hat, you switch off the autohelm and steer down the channel. At least you can if your boat is afloat.

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[tome]

Stow them as soon as we are under control, before we clear the marina if we have crew available.

Fenders are known as 'Geoffreys' on Amaya for reasons I won't bore you with. 'Geoffrey Senior' is the last to be stowed and the first to emerge. He likes to roam.

Short handed we defer stowing Geoffreys until we have sea room to take to the decks, possibly using autopilot. In your scenario, I'd at least haul them on deck and then worry about stowing them when room allows. I've never set sail before tucking up my Geoffreys.

I don't regard Geoffreys as a defence against piles, but possibly an aggrevating factor (when damp and using them as seats).

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[Aja]

I suspect there is more to this post than meets the eye.......

Donald

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[Peppermint]

Re: If you know Shamrock Quay

I like to clear the marina before clearing away. If alone I would reckon to have the decks clear by the gravel dock and the main up as I go under the bridge.

I do the opposite on my return, though if the weather/stream allows I'll sail up the Itchen under headsail with my fenders and warps ready.

I always clear my anchor for use prior to leaving the dock and, because it's a strange continental anchor rig, I resecure it before sailing heeled over.

I leave my fenders out in the marina for the same reason I deploy them before entering one. It would feel strange to do any other.

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[jimi]

I think I'd let the competent crew steer whilst I stowed the fenders away!

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[BlueSkyNick]

Oh, really ????

<hr width=100% size=1>It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

 

[longjohnsadler]

....yep. Looks like you're right.

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[Aja]

Thought BIGNICK was doing a bit of fishing.....

Surprised at you Jimi rising to the bait like that.

Go on then - narrate.

Donald

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[longjohnsadler]

Perhaps if you were busy trying to access weather charts onto your laptop this would affect your stowing capabilities.

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[tome]

Sounds like a tale of two boats, one Geoffrey and a brutal test of a new rudder to me...

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[jimi]

Well Bignick's engine was f#cked and I very kindly towed him to Swannick yesterday evening so he could retreive the rest of the season ..

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[Aja]

......and?

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[jimi]

oh is that the time .. must dash ...

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[tome]

Pandora\'s Box

So far we know:

1) You were on the helm
2) An unexpected 'shite mon' as the pile loomed, possibly communicated via Brians bionic wizardry to your newly acquired SSB receiver via Goonhilly Down.
3) Your reactions, and the new rudder, were not able to avert the inevitable but salvaged with the help of a well placed Geoffrey guided by said crew who was in the process of stowing same.
4) BigNick, being on the blind side, was a useful after-event observer who doesn't quite understand the term 'pillow talk' and has come here today to question your good seamanship despite the huge favour.

Not a lot to go on, perhaps you could flesh it out a little?

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[nicho]

Nick,

As you know we operate from the same marina, usually with just the two of us on board. We have 4 fenders on each side, and as we are never sure which side we will end up in on the lock, they stay firmly in place until we have passed through into Southampton Water, and also through the channel piles (always sussing out wind and tide direction beforehand). Once turned towards Hythe Pier, wifey takes the helm and I then recover and stow all the fenders and lines in their respective lockers. Then, and only then, do we set about unfurling the sails. It's a routine we are comfortable with, and fully understand.

Cheers

Mike

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[nicho]

And there was me sucked in to giving a straight answer - might have known....!!

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[Aja]

Pandora\'s Paint Box

....also believe the colour red features somewhere.....

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