Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-14-2017, 07:01 AM   #1
Guru
 
Arthurc's Avatar
 
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Sea Bear
Vessel Model: Kadey-Krogen 54
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 752
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
Arthurc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2017, 09:31 AM   #2
TF Site Team
 
Larry M's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,681
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.
Larry M is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2017, 09:33 AM   #3
Guru
 
rwidman's Avatar
 
City: North Charleston, SC
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,870
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.
rwidman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2017, 11:21 AM   #4
FF
Guru
 
FF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
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.
FF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2017, 11:33 AM   #5
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,146
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.
psneeld is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2017, 11:59 AM   #6
Guru
 
Steve's Avatar
 
City: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Gumbo
Vessel Model: 2003 Monk 36
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,882
I carry, and use, both.
__________________
Steve W.
https://mvgumbo.blogspot.com/
Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2017, 12:16 PM   #7
Technical Guru
 
Ski in NC's Avatar
 
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
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.
Ski in NC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2017, 12:39 PM   #8
Guru
 
dhays's Avatar
 
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
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.
__________________
Regards,

Dave
SPOT page
dhays is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2017, 02:34 PM   #9
Guru
 
O C Diver's Avatar
 
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
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.

Click image for larger version

Name:	2017-08-12 18.20.06.jpg
Views:	108
Size:	49.8 KB
ID:	67679

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.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
O C Diver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2017, 02:49 PM   #10
Guru
 
hfoster's Avatar
 
City: Cleveland
Vessel Name: Irishland
Vessel Model: Chris Craft Corinthian 380
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 587
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve View Post
I carry, and use, both.
+1.
hfoster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2017, 03:18 PM   #11
Guru
 
AusCan's Avatar
 
City: Adelaide
Vessel Name: Kokanee
Vessel Model: Cuddles 30 Pilot House Motor Sailer
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,218
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.
AusCan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2017, 04:19 PM   #12
Moderator Emeritus
 
Comodave's Avatar
 
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,185
We have both. Use the balls when locking and the others most of the time.
Comodave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2017, 04:29 PM   #13
GFC
Guru
 
City: Tri Cities, WA
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,406
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'
GFC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2017, 05:25 PM   #14
Guru
 
Bigsfish's Avatar
 
City: Miami River
Vessel Name: Gotcha
Vessel Model: Grand Banks. Heritage. 54
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,988
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
Bigsfish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2017, 07:11 PM   #15
Guru
 
Nomad Willy's Avatar
 
City: Concrete Washington State
Vessel Name: Willy
Vessel Model: Willard Nomad 30'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,743
Quote:
Originally Posted by AusCan View Post
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.
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
Nomad Willy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2017, 07:39 PM   #16
Master and Commander
 
markpierce's Avatar
 
City: Vallejo CA
Vessel Name: Carquinez Coot
Vessel Model: penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 12,559
We use five fenders per side. Three cylinder-types in the middle and round-types nearer stern and bow.
__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
markpierce is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:47 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012