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08-14-2017, 07:01 AM
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#1
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Guru
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Sea Bear
Vessel Model: Kadey-Krogen 54
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 752
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Balls or Cylinders for Fenders?
Currently I have (4) 12x34 cylinder fenders hanging horizontally but have noticed all the larger boats seem to use the ball style fenders. Also I'm not super confident they provide enough push off the dock. Thoughts on what is better? I was thinking about going with (2) 18" balls midship and (2) 23"s one forward and one aft to match the curve of the boat.
Im often stuck on the outside docks due to my beam so good fenders is a must.
Thoughts?
__________________
Kadey-Krogen 54
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08-14-2017, 09:31 AM
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#2
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TF Site Team
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,681
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I think a lot depends on what you're trying to fend off of. The "cylinder" fenders are more versatile since you can hang them horizontally if your need to fend off a pile and they work good with fender boards.
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08-14-2017, 09:33 AM
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#3
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Guru
City: North Charleston, SC
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,870
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If the fenders you have now are doing the job, there's no reason to change. If they are not, you need bigger fenders.
In my experience, it's not the cost of larger fenders so much as the difficulty in storing them when underway.
As for cylindrical vs. ball fenders, on some boats, the ball fenders might fit the hull better but where I live, cylindrical fenders seem to be more common. A cylinder will work on different dock heights without adjustment while a ball may not.
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08-14-2017, 11:21 AM
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#4
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
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The big boats will frequently be stern too . among other Big boats.
The balls work well to fend off the boats on either side .
The cylinders are most useful if you usually measure your boat in feet , not meters.
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08-14-2017, 11:33 AM
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#5
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,146
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Both are good but for different reasons.
Cylinders are versatile and keep the boat a reasonable distance from the dock . They also provide more contact area for less rubbing of your finishes.
Round are good for providing diameter for times that is required.
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08-14-2017, 11:59 AM
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#6
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Guru
City: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Gumbo
Vessel Model: 2003 Monk 36
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,882
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I carry, and use, both.
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08-14-2017, 12:16 PM
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#7
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Technical Guru
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
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I like cylinders. Don't have to be so picky on elevation. Depends on what you are rubbing against.
Cylinders work better rafting up to another boat with different shape. Or stretching horizontally against a piling.
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08-14-2017, 12:39 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
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On my sailboats I almost always used cylinders. When we bought are current boat, it came with 7 cylinders and 1 large ball. I have found that the ball is very useful for putting forward where the hull starts to curve towards the bow. It isn't as convenient to store, but we have it just sitting on the foredeck. There it can't go anywhere nor can it be seen from outside of the boat (otherwise my wife would be unhappy as to our appearance).
The ball was very helpful last night as we were rafted up next to a very old fishing seiner.
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08-14-2017, 02:34 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,834
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For me, large cylinders (15" × 58") horizontally tucked under the rub rail are the way to go for docking and rafting up. Under the rub rail keeps them trapped so they don't work there way out or up.
Prefer large balls for Locking. They seem to fair better being dragged up the lock walls, maybe less contact area and no ends to hang up.
Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
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08-14-2017, 02:49 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Cleveland
Vessel Name: Irishland
Vessel Model: Chris Craft Corinthian 380
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 587
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve
I carry, and use, both.
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+1.
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08-14-2017, 03:18 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Adelaide
Vessel Name: Kokanee
Vessel Model: Cuddles 30 Pilot House Motor Sailer
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,218
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Often a larger diameter ball is handy to use nearest to the bow where the hull is not as wide. The outer edge of the larger fender will be kept in line with the others.
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08-14-2017, 04:19 PM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,185
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We have both. Use the balls when locking and the others most of the time.
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08-14-2017, 04:29 PM
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#13
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Guru
City: Tri Cities, WA
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,406
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We have five large ball type and 3 large cylinders and five smaller cylindricals. We mostly use the ball fenders when going through the locks, the cylinders when rafting up.
__________________
Mike and Tina
1981 Boston Whaler 13'
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08-14-2017, 05:25 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Miami River
Vessel Name: Gotcha
Vessel Model: Grand Banks. Heritage. 54
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,988
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Both have their proper uses, we carry both on our boat but we have twice as many cylinders as balls. That doesn't sound quite right but you know what I mean. LOL
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08-14-2017, 07:11 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Concrete Washington State
Vessel Name: Willy
Vessel Model: Willard Nomad 30'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,743
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AusCan
Often a larger diameter ball is handy to use nearest to the bow where the hull is not as wide. The outer edge of the larger fender will be kept in line with the others.
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I agree,
Fwd to aft, big ball, medium ball and then cylinders. Sometimes a fat short cylinder aft.
I like the big ball far fwd so I can make landings at a much wider angle. Much more flexability. Once the boat's tied up they can stowed but also come in handy swinging out in fwd gear w rudder pushing out the stern.
__________________
Eric
North Western Washington State USA
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08-14-2017, 07:39 PM
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#16
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Master and Commander
City: Vallejo CA
Vessel Name: Carquinez Coot
Vessel Model: penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 12,559
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We use five fenders per side. Three cylinder-types in the middle and round-types nearer stern and bow.
__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
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