Tips For Hanging Fenders When:
DOCKING Use at least three fenders, one on the aft, one on maximum beam, and one on fore. Three are sufficient in most cases, though if you feel the need to use more than three, theres no harm. Ensure that the fenders are hung vertically for smooth-surface or floating piers and horizontally when tying against docks with exposed pilings. Youre better off using a specialty fender for decks with cleats and other fittings.
RAFTING Rafting with other boats requires the fenders to be deployed on the anchored boat. Three standard fenders should be lined a few centimeters from each other along the maximum beam, while two round fender buoys should be hung at aft and fore to hinder the boats from crashing into each other.
Mission Boat Gear Sentry Boat Fender Bumper
If you want a boat fender that is especially made to offer ultimate protection for your most treasured vessel, then you have found the one. This is built with ingenious hanging system that allows easy placement on a dock or vessel providing protection both underneath and above the rub rail which is surely distinct than conventional bumpers.
Further, this is shaped in cross-linked closed cell foam which is definitely solid. In fact, this is recognized for its patented material that does not take in water and combats fading brought about by too much sun exposure. This is equipped with integrated strap that rapidly affixes to the vessel cleats and docks that guarantees quick installation.
This fenders strap is quite long. Hence, if your cleats are in an ideal place for hanging sentry, then it becomes a lot easier to trim the strap to keep things clean and organized.
- Comes in costly selling price
- Wont function with all vessel bodies
Where To Place The Fenders On A Pontoon
As discussed, you will need to have a minimum of 3 fenders along one side of your pontoon boat.
Obviously if your pontoon is longer, then you will need more as per the guidance in the previous section where I recommend one fender for every 10 foot of waterline.
If you decide to use hanging fenders, then let the bottom of the fender just touch the top of the water surface.
This will stop the dock from pushing the fender up and out of position and will also help to prevent the growth of algae on your new clean bumpers.
Tie the fenders to a solid anchor point such as a cleat or clip and as low as possible on the boat. This will keep them in position and ensure that arent exposed to stress and damage.
Handy Hint: Take a look some fender clips and hangers which will make using your correctly sized fenders so much easier.
Recommended Reading: Hydrofin For Pontoon
Are They Called Boat Fenders Or Boat Bumpers
If youve ever been to an amusement park then you have probably ridden on the bumper cars or bumper boats. The object of those rides is to bump into your friends and drive away laughing while trying to avoid getting bumped by the other drivers.
For obvious reasons we dont want to be playing a giant game of bumper boats with boats that cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
To get away from the negative connotations of bumper cars/boats the proper name for them is boat fenders. You are trying to fend off the impact from another vessel or the dock. You are trying NOT to bump into it.
What Size Fender Do I Need
Here are some tips for finding the right fender size for your boat.
- Forget buying a heap of small fenders, get the size right and have less theyll be more effective and easier to set up.
- As a general rule of thumb, for every 5 feet of a boats length youll need one fender an inch thick .
- Small vessels may require just two fenders, while boats over 40-feet may need over 6.
- When inflated correctly , a fender should feel like a footy when it is squeezed.
Also Check: How To Clean Vinyl Seats In A Boat
How Many Fenders Should I Get
A boat can never have enough fenders. But you will need to consider the space for these accessories. Not to mention the boats overall aesthetic, since it cannot look like a massive chunk of fenders while on board.
The rule of thumb on the number of fenders is that for every 10-meter vessel, it should at least have two fenders on each side. For boats over 10 meters in length, having 3-4 fenders per side would be sufficient.
Where Should I Attach My Fenders
The placement of these fenders is critical for boat owners. The areas where the impact may hit your boat are the optimal place for these fenders to be attached. Sites with high chances of damage like scratching and bumping are also recommended. They are usually attached to the handrails or railings. Sometimes, they are also clamped down.
Boat professionals also recommend using a single line intertwined along each fender. A durable fender line is also critical to keep them in place.
You May Like: Cleaning Mold On Boat Seats
What Size Fender For Boat Do I Need
- Researched By WN Team
When you have your own boat, it is essential that you keep it safe and secured for a long-lasting service. If you are not cautious enough while docking in or out, you might bump into another boat or docks and damage the edge, railings of your boat. Moreover, it is not always up to you even if you are careful enough, there is no surety that someone else will not bump against your boat and damage the body. Thats why boat fender comes first as safety accessories. But what size fender for boat do you need? That is one of the common questions.
Boat fenders are becoming more popular nowadays for your boats protection on the boats different sides. However, many of the boats come with built-in fenders and bumpers. But gradually, these tend to wear off, tear out, or be lost. Protect your boat from the sides will ensure your boats protection fully.
Boat fender sizes vary for different edges and angles of your boat. They are designed with an air-cushioned, inflatable feature in a different shape to withstand the pressure and bump from different angles and parts of the boat.
Nobody wants to see dents or scratches in any parts of their precious boat. That is why it is essential to keep it secured from any damage. You can buy them separately in different designs, specifications, and models suitable for your boats configuration specifically. You can also get different boat fenders for specific boats for better fit and design to avoid extra hassle.
Do You Want To Hang Them Horizontally Or Vertically
Center rope tube fenders allow you to hang the fender either horizontally or vertically using one line running through the centerline. A figure eight knot in the end of the line, or two figure eights at both ends of the fender are used to keep the fender from sliding.
Flat fenders are either modular or articulating and vinyl-covered. String together the modular style to create a custom-fitted system. Hinged vinyl-covered flat fenders wrap vertically around small boat gunwales, and are great for boats with tumblehome .
Don’t Miss: Best Cleaner For Mildew On Boat Seats
The Ultimate Boat Fender Buyers Guide
When I purchased my first boat, I wanted to make certain I did everything possible to protect the hull from damage. Being a new boat owner-operator at the time, I knew I would make a few mistakes while learning and wanted to make sure I never damaged the hull of the boat, especially when docking. As a result, I knew I needed to buy boat fenders for protection.
As a result, I started doing some research and let me tell you, the information about boat fenders was overwhelming! I was nieve and assumed all boat fenders were the same. Boy was I wrong.
Thankfully, you can skip over the learning curve and get the right fender for your boat from the beginning. In this buyers guide, I will do my best to explain what you need to know to make an informed boat fender purchase.
A boat fender is the marine equivalent of a car bumper. Although it doesnt come attached to the boat like the fenders on your truck, boat fenders do the all-important task of keeping your hull safe from dinks and knocks.
Ways To Make Sure That You Get The Right Fenders
Here are some things that you should consider to guarantee that you have the right fenders.
- The main step that you have to take to acquire the most suitable fenders is checking your boat size. You will see in the guide below what matches your vessel.
- It wont be much of a problem if you have some fenders that you use at the moment. Theres no need to switch if they work well. However, its still recommended to take references from the guide.
- The environment of the area where you usually dock has a role to play too. Small-sized ones can serve well in a calm marina while large fenders should be the option for choppy waters.
Here is a fender size guide for your reference.
Don’t Miss: What Is The Membership Fee For Freedom Boat Club
What Fenders Should You Buy
Ive spoken a lot about cylindrical fenders in this sizing guide, but in reality, you should choose specialist pontoon fenders which have been made for the specifics that a pontoon design has.
The best option by far are the Taylor Made pontoon fenders, and you can read more about them in my larger guide to pontoon fenders.
If you want to go buy them now, then take a look on Amazon as they have them in stock right now and tend to have very good prices compared your local marine store.
They have grooves and loops for securing them top and bottom to your pontoon.
They then wedge very neatly between the deck and the log, and work great, rather than having cylindrical fenders hanging down off the boat which can look very ugly.
You then get a nice and tight fit which will protect your pontoon whilst in dock. The straps ensure that it stays on tight and wont kick back and forth along the side of the pontoon like other standard fenders might do.
Heres a great video that shows just how simple they are to install.
What Is A Boat Fender And When Is It Used
A boat fender is an inflatable protective body that prevents scratches and other damage to the hull of a boat while manoeuvring through the marina and when moored to the sheet piling or during boat to boat contact. Fenders are available in different sizes and shapes depending on the size of the boat.
You May Like: How To Get Mold Stains Out Of Boat Seats
Should You Hang Your Fenders Vertically Or Horizontally
Based on where / how your boat will be docked, and the type of surface it will come in contact with, youll make the decision on whether to tie up the fenders vertically or horizontally with your dock line.
When tied up to a pier, bulkhead or floating dock, vertical placement is the easiest, most practical and preferred method of setting up your fenders.
When tying up to a dock or pier with exposed pilings, horizontal placement is the way to go. Center the fender on the piling and tie it horizontally.
If the waters are rough where you are docked, the space between pilings is large, or you will be leaving the boat unattended for longer than an hour or so, consider using a fender board as an alternative to horizontal placement to better protect your boat while docked under these circumstances.
What Size Fenders Do I Need
The general rule of thumb is that a cylindrical fender should have 1 of diameter for every 4 to 5 of boat length. See the sizing chart below for more specific sizing and type guidelines.
What size bumpers do I need for my boat?
As a general rule of thumb, for every 5 feet of a boats length youll need one fender an inch thick . Small vessels may require just two fenders, while boats over 40-feet may need over 6.
Recommended Reading: Is Banana Boat Sunscreen Gluten Free
What Style Do You Prefer
Round fenders are popular for larger powerboats with concave bows and larger commercial vessels . Orange round fenders are also used as low-tech mooring buoys.
Two eye cylindrical fenders have a molded-in fairlead or tab at each end. Tie a line to one end only and hang the fender vertically or tie both ends for horizontal deployment.
Transom mounted fenders protect a boats transom or swim step when docking stern-to in a marina.
Rafting Cushions are designed for rafting boats together, and can be tied to pilings using the two rows of center holes. Large surface area, six independent molded tubes, versatile mounting options, and they wont roll or ride up.
Low freeboard fenders sit high on the hull and hang inward over the gunwale. The smaller size protects boats that sit low in the water, like bass, fishing and ski boats. The larger size prevents bigger boats from riding up under high docks when the tide rises.
Tuff End fenders: rugged large diameter heavy-duty fender with good protection for flared, deep-V hulls. Theyre popular for large boats and commercial applications. Trivalve can be inflated easily with any kind of pump.
V-shaped Freedom Fenders with a self-centering shape will stay on a piling regardless of boat movement. Theyre sized for everything from small boats to mega yachts.
Attach our fender rack to a stanchion.
Knots To Secure Your Boat Fenders
Make sure youre using a strong boating knot such as a cleat hitch or clove hitch so your fenders will stay put on the cleat or railing.
To Tie a Cleat Hitch Knot
Step 1: Make a wrap around the base of the cleat. Begin your wrap on the edge furthest away from where the line originates.
Step 2: Make a figure 8 on the cleat. If the line is going to be under a lot of pressure, and the cleat is big enough, repeat this two or three times.
Step 3: Add a hitch to the final turn to lock it. Do this by making a loop with the tail end underneath, hook it around the cleat, and pull taut. The tail end should be pointing away from the lines origin.
To Tie a Clove Hitch Knot
Step 1: Wrap the end of the line around the post .
Step 2: Cross the line over itself and wrap it around the post again.
Step 3: Loosen the last wrap slightly and slip the end under, then pull it taut. This is a way of locking the knot.
Step 4: Give it a few tugs to make sure its secure.
Also Check: When Does Banana Boat Sunscreen Expire
How To Set Up A Fender Board
A fender board over two fenders is the best way to prevent them from slipping between the pilings and allowing your topsides to rub against the dock. A pair of cylindrical fenders placed vertically behind a two-by-four is as basic as it gets. The fenders protect the hull and the two-by-four takes the beating from the pilings.
Choosing The Right Size Fender
Take these factors into account when selecting the appropriate size for your fenders: Yacht Length Overall, Yacht Displacement and the anticipated mooring conditions
There is an old fashioned rule of thumb that will give you a starting point before making a final decision based on these three main factors.
Rule of Thumb 1 = 1 inch fender diameter or 2 inch round fender diameter for every 4 or 5 feet of yacht length overall.
The rule has been interpreted and converted approximately into modern metric equivalents in the table:
Boat Fender Size Guide| A6 |
Read Also: How To Patch Canvas Boat Cover
Determining Which Trailer Fender Size Is Needed
Question:
How do I measure for my trailer so I order the correct one
asked by: John M
Expert Reply:
Trailer fenders are classified by the diameter of the trailer wheels they’re compatible with. For instance, the fender you referenced works with 13 inch diameter wheels. If you’re unsure of the diameter of your wheels, the last two digits of your tires size will indicate the diameter of the wheel. For example, if your tire size is 185/80-13, 13 represents the diameter of the wheel. Choosing a fender appropriate for the wheel diameter is the most important factor.I’ve linked you to our selection of trailer fenders. At the top of the page, you can choose the wheel diameter, then you can use the filters on the left margin to choose the desired color, style, mounting method, etc.If you’re trying to match an existing fender, each product description of the fenders lists the length, width and height of the fender, which should make matching up with your existing fender a bit easier.
How Many Fenders Should I Have On Board
You can never have enough fenders on board. But as space is limited on any boat, the question becomes more critical – do I have the right number of fenders on board? For boats up to 10 meters in length, a general rule of thumb is to have two fenders for each side, with one or two replacement fenders at your disposal. On boats over 10 meters, you will be best served by having 3-4 fenders per side, with one or two replacement fenders as well. The side fenders should be in place for docking, but you may find yourself needing the spare fenders to help offset a rolling swell or strong breeze pinning you to the dock or sea wall. Here too, having more than one shape or type of fender will come in handy during many situations.
You May Like: Does Banana Boat Test On Animals
