Fender overkill!
 

I ran across this pic recently, and am still trying to figure out what the operator of the boat was trying to protect him/herself from . . . :nonono:

Ready for a raft-up party?

They even have fenders on the flybridge. There are more pictures of the boat, and the fenders, on their charter site:

https://dev.sonnencharter.de/product/laurabuc-fr/

New girlfriend asked to drive the boat

Sorry, I don't understand...

speed bumps...er...kayaks

Maybe they are all gifts from their marina neighbors given out of self interest.

Cheaper than boat handling training?

I’m reminded of a friend of mine who grew up in Southeast Alaska, as a child lived aboard boats, worked for various government agencies where operating skiffs and other small boats was necessary, took the obligatory boat training more than once..who to this day has the strategy of crashing her (small but heavily built aluminum center console) boat into the dock in a controlled collision. Probably played into her and her husband’s choice of boat? He just shrugs.

This looks like many a holiday rental boat on French canals. There is no requirement in France to have any boating knowledge, license or training whatsoever in order to rent a 50' boat like this for a week. Trust me, the ridiculous number of fenders you see in the picture is necessary. On the positive side, I can say these rental boats provide a fairly constant source of entertainment for other boaters while cruising the canals...if one can maintain a safe distance ;-)

Did a little research on the name on the bow. It's, indeed, a town in France. And you can rent this boat or a sister on a weekly basis here:
https://www.boataround.com/se/bat/ni...fly-c-laurabuc
I imagine they even come with spare fenders, just in case some are lost in transit ;-)

I could have used that setup on a few ugly dockings in crosswinds.

While overkill, the fenders are for going thru locks.

I can't say we saw any with fenders on the flybridge, but we saw many last summer with a lot of fenders kept permanently out. Also, a lot of rafting of the rental boats due to shortage of dock space. May look strange, but practical.

Have seen somewhat similar in the US on houseboats and have seen many rental houseboats on the TN and Cumberland Rivers for which it would probably be a good idea. When you get in a lock and one enters and can't get tied and soon is facing the wrong way and finally the lockmaster gives up and tells them to just tie as they are and worry it at the other end, letting everyone else exit the lock first.

That is hilarious.

That overkill of fenders is also commonplace on the UK waterways as well. Not sure what it says about the boat-handling skills of many Europeans, but there is no denying there must be a cogent reason for it. :D

Wayfarer got a new boat?
Sorry swamp commander...I suppose you don't keep quite that many fenders over the side. :rofl:

Hi,

Chaos in canal

https://youtu.be/9gScVOM4OjY

NBs

Niagara falls attempt?:D

I've always thought a canal cruise in Europe would be a fun vacation someday. Youtube is convincing me otherwise.

I just want a boat with that amount of storage.