Where to hang my sausage?

[wragges]

Hi All,

Having recently converted from a mobo, to a slo-mo I feel the need to ask what is considered the best place/practice for storing fenders (sausage type) on a 34' yacht.

Have looked through about 2 years worth of PBO and YM and can find very little evidence of what people do with these things whilst under way. My inclination would be to tie them to the top rail of the pushpit, this would obviously put a load on the rail and they would swing around.

Or, move the liferaft from its stern cockpit locker and put it on the pushpit instead, therefore making room for the fenders in the locker. This would put load on the pushpit from the liferatft and make quick access to the fenders moor time consuming/difficult.

Or, fit fender baskets to the pushpit, and again forward of the mast to take the forward fenders. However, for some reasons baskets don't appear to be common on yachts, why? ...is it not 'good form' or are we all too tight?

Or, don't bother carrying any and let other peoples fenders do the job instead...(joke!)

Ta muchly,

 

[Evadne]

I doubt there's a standard way of doing things as all boats seem to be different. FWIW I keep the smaller ones in one of the cockpit lockers (under the seats) and tie the two big ones to the pushpit. I wouldn't store them forward of the mast in fender baskets (a) 'cos it looks too mobo-ish /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif and (b) because they'd be forever getting caught by the genoa sheet, in the way of the sails and anchor, danger of floating off when well heeled, etc..

 

[StugeronSteve]

We usually stick a couple in the anchor locker and, on shorter passages, dangle the rest off the pushpit. For longer trips they all get stowed away properly in the cockpit locker.

 

[sighmoon]

I remember an otherwise humourless skipper of a 100 year old gaffer having fits of laughter at a mobo's fender baskets. He never explained what was so funny, but that was the only time I saw him laugh on a 2 month trip.

In my old tub, there's a space behind the tiller where they happen to fit neatly.

The thing is, the average sailing boat has a lot less freeboard than the average mobo, so you can get away with chipolatas rather than the giant bratwursts you're used to, so there will be space somewhere.

 

[michael_w]

Stow 'em out of sight.

IMHO fenders left dangling off the pushpit look pretty slovenly. Might as well leave them attached to the guardrails all the time as a defence against incoming jetskis.

 

[pcatterall]

The ones we hardly ever need are in the bilges. Those that we need in a hurry are in lockers.

 

[billcowan]

Where do I STOW my SAUSAGE!!!!

Geez, since you ask, I dress to the left.

 

[ex-Gladys]

We got a pair of older model plastimo 3 fender baskets and have attached thenm to the inside of the sides of the pushpit. They are the single basket for 3 fender jobs not the buy three singles and bolt them together. GL has no real external "dirty" type stowage where fenders would fit.

 

[Silverado]

Do you think that stowing the liferaft in a stern locker is a good idea? How quickly do you think you can get it out in a panic? I have sailed a 34ft yacht since 1991 and we always keep our liferaft on the coachroof centered between the mast and the companionway with a hydrostatic release and stowage strap. Fenders always are kept in a stern locker.

 

[webcraft]

Re: Liferaft stowage

Definite thread drift . . .

But I reckon I can get our valise liferaft out of the locker pretty fast in a panic - 30 - 60 seconds. How quickly are you planning to sink?

Just because you have done something one way for 15 years doesn't mean it's the only way or indeed the right way . . . how many times in that 15 years have you deployed the liferaft?

- Nick

 

[Silverado]

Re: Liferaft stowage

We have always stowed our fenders in the stern locker, not the liferaft. We have had two drownings in our locality (S. Ireland) a few weeks ago over liferaft problems. Are you planning to not have your liferaft immediately available? A 34ft yacht can easily stow its liferaft on the coachroof and make room for its fenders and warps aft.

 

[webcraft]

Re: Liferaft stowage

We have a 27ft yacht with a 4-man valise liferaft. Stowage on deck is neither practical nor (IMHO) desireable.

The MCA do not require on-deck stowage for coding - a dedicated locker for a valise is sufficient.

Undoing deck lashings can take just as long as lifting a raft from a cockpit locker. I would not advocate stowing a liferaft below decks however.

Sorry to hear about your liferaft related drownings - perhaps you could supply more information?

- Nick

 

[Silverado]

Re: Liferaft stowage

I thought we were discussing G1XOW's fender and liferaft stowage, not yours. Could I suggest that you investigate liferaft quick release straps with a hydrostatic release fitting.
Our local drownings resulted from a 15m fishing vessel sinking quickly and the liferaft could not be released properly and in time. There was one survivor who managed to get it off and inflated.

 

[webcraft]

Re: Liferaft stowage

[ QUOTE ]
I thought we were discussing G1XOW's fender and liferaft stowage, not yours.

[/ QUOTE ] I was discussing it - you on the other hand were being unduly prescriptive and saying there is only one way of doing things.

Stowage of the liferaft on the coachroof of smaller boats is often difficult or undesirable due to restriction of visibilty, impingement on sprayhood, garage hatch, kicker etc. Stowage mounted on the pushpit is not perfect either as liferafts have been lost from this location when the boat is pooped.

All I was saying is that if dedicated locker stowage above deck is good enough for the MCA then it is good enough for me and is a viable alternative to a canister mounted on the coachroof. Obviously as far as you are concerned there is only one correct way to do anything, and that is your way.

G1XOW, I apologise for this thread having turned into a minor spat between myself (who should know better) and a newbie who I feel sure is going to make his presence felt in future on these fora for better or worse.

Stand by to abandon thread . . . Lauch, cut, close, stream . . .


- Nick out