|
|
10-17-2012, 06:42 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
City: Redlands
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 180
|
Fender Selection Help
I have purchased a 36' Marine Trader. Although it is fairly well equipped it did not come with fenders. I could use some help on the size and number to buy.
Since I bought the boat for the great loop I will encounter a wide variety of docks and locks over the next couple of years
.
Thanks,
Arch
|
|
|
10-17-2012, 07:04 PM
|
#2
|
Moderator Emeritus
City: Home Port: Buck's Harbor, Maine
Vessel Name: "Emily Anne"
Vessel Model: 2001 Island Gypsy 32 Europa (Hull #146)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,846
|
Four 8-10" dia cylindricals and for locks a couple of big ball types? Maybe also a couple of fender boards.
|
|
|
10-17-2012, 07:26 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
City: La Conner, WA
Vessel Name: Adelaide
Vessel Model: 1983 Tung Hwa Clipper
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 385
|
8.5" or 10"..... We purchased 8.5" off eBay and they fit our fender holders perfectly.
|
|
|
10-17-2012, 07:35 PM
|
#4
|
Guru
City: Miami Florida
Vessel Name: Possum
Vessel Model: Ellis 28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,307
|
I like hole through the middle type fenders. The sizes suggested are about right for your boat.
Big B Inflatable Vinyl Fenders
Buoys
Dwhattys suggestion on fender boards is a good one. I've used 2 X 6's to make them.
|
|
|
10-17-2012, 08:01 PM
|
#5
|
Scraping Paint
City: -
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 13,745
|
An advantage of round or ball fenders is that under compression (wind pushing you onto the dock) you have the diameter of the ball between you and the dock. A cylindrical fender can in some cases partly fold over the edge of a dock leaving only a few inches of air between your hull and the dock as protection.
But...... if your boat is going to be pushed against a dock for a long time--- over a winter season, for example--- by the prevailing winds, the area of contact between the ball fender and the hull is fairly small. So a lot of pressure concentrated in a small spot. This can cause excess wear on the gelcoat or paint on the hull.
We found this out the hard way this past winter when we were assigned temporary moorage on the guest dock in our marina while our "home" dock was being replaced. Because our temporary moorage would have our boat pushed hard against the dock by the prevailing storm winds we were concerned about having enough cushioning against the dock. This is when we were told about the advantage of ball fenders, so we added a couple to our lineup and they did a good job of keeping us well off the dock through the winter storms. But when we had the boat hauled for bottom paint in the spring we noticed that where the ball fenders had been, particularly the forward one, the gel coat had been worn down some.
Not an issue with shorter-term use or use in situations where the boat is not shoved and worked against the side of a dock for a season by storm winds. But something to be aware of nevertheless.
|
|
|
10-17-2012, 08:22 PM
|
#6
|
Guru
City: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Gumbo
Vessel Model: 2003 Monk 36
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,882
|
I have an assortment of ball and tubular type, most Taylor Made and a couple of Polyform. whichever you buy keep your reciepts the Taylor Made, it think the Polyform too have lifertime warranties, unconditional, if you snag a a bolt or nail in a lock or pier bring it back to the store and they (should) take it and give you a new one. I changed one several years ago no problem at W. Marine.
Steve w
|
|
|
10-17-2012, 10:03 PM
|
#7
|
Guru
City: Miami Florida
Vessel Name: Possum
Vessel Model: Ellis 28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,307
|
What do you guys think about fender covers?
|
|
|
10-17-2012, 10:13 PM
|
#8
|
Scraping Paint
City: -
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 13,745
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by HopCar
What do you guys think about fender covers?
|
They can help keep the fenders clean. Of course you then have to keep the covers clean. They can make a boat look dressy if that's important to you. Personally I'd just go with dark fenders if keeping them clean is an issue.
By the way, the best tip I ever got from TF is from Keith who suggested using GoJo to clean groundpower cords and fenders. We tried it and it works a treat.
Our theory is that the fenders are there to get beat up and dirty so our hull won't. Not sure we'd gain anything from putting covers on the fenders other than it would be adding more things to take care of.
|
|
|
10-17-2012, 11:02 PM
|
#9
|
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
|
Have ten fenders: five to a side. They are of four different diameters to help compensate for the varying distances between hull and dock. Have round ones toward bow and stern and cylindrical between. The bow fenders are primarily used for docking and aren't necessary after completing docking.
__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
|
|
|
10-17-2012, 11:15 PM
|
#10
|
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
|
My boat originally came with four tires for fenders.
__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
|
|
|
10-18-2012, 03:37 AM
|
#11
|
Guru
City: Diberville Mississippi
Vessel Name: KnotDoneYet
Vessel Model: 1983 42' Present Sundeck
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,450
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by HopCar
I like hole through the middle type fenders. The sizes suggested are about right for your boat.
Big B Inflatable Vinyl Fenders
Buoys
Dwhattys suggestion on fender boards is a good one. I've used 2 X 6's to make them.
|
Hopcar, our boat came with a fender board that was assembled with a short 2 x 6, and then formed rubber pads at the ends. I want a second set up but have failed to find the rubber ends anywhere. Have you ever seen them? Possibly they have gone out of business?
|
|
|
10-18-2012, 05:11 AM
|
#12
|
Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
|
If you do any portion of the Rideau or Richelu the fender situation becomes unique .
The boat will float to within a few inches to the top of the lock .
You will need fenders that are set to simply float alongside. And fenders for when you are down 7 ft.
The tubes seem to work best.Probably 1/2 dozen to lay next to the hull, and help up higher.
In the huge locks for commercial vessels , by far the best technique is to ride the pipe with a center cleat and a fairly short line.Seconds after coming alongside , your ready.
This works best with really large fenders , the big balls do great , esp if the hull has much flair like a sport fish.
Happily the big fenders have a plug that can be removed , so after the trip they can be kept aboard ,stowed flat.
These are expensive , but 3 or 4 would be grand.
Used fenders work fine on the rough concrete walls.
|
|
|
10-18-2012, 06:45 AM
|
#13
|
Guru
City: Hailing Port: Charleston, SC
Vessel Name: Moonstruck
Vessel Model: Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,276
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marin
.
Our theory is that the fenders are there to get beat up and dirty so our hull won't. Not sure we'd gain anything from putting covers on the fenders other than it would be adding more things to take care of.
|
Moonstruck has 10" dia. with hole through the center black colored fenders. The fenders have covers----not to protect the fender, but protect the hull from chaffing. Since we have mostly pilings here on the East Coast, the covers can get really beat up over a season. I would love to have a set of the heavy velour type covers, but it is hard to justify the expense. Fender covers are a small price to pay to protect a polished hull.
|
|
|
10-18-2012, 07:04 AM
|
#14
|
Guru
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,037
|
Quote:
Used fenders work fine on the rough concrete walls.
|
Yes I agree. We just spent allsummer in the erie and Canadian locks and used fenders found via dumpster diving almost exclusively.
But in my opinion tubular fenders work the best. 8 to 10 inch dia. Never had an occasion to use a fender board.
I saw several on the loop who were using poly play balls inside of heavy reusable shopping bags that were hung by the handles. Talk about a cheap way to fender for locks. I plan on trying some next summer.
__________________
Jay Leonard
Ex boats: 1983 40 Albin trunk cabin, 1978 Mainship 34 Model 1
New Port Richey, Fl
|
|
|
10-18-2012, 07:30 AM
|
#15
|
Guru
City: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Gumbo
Vessel Model: 2003 Monk 36
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,882
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Forkliftt
Hopcar, our boat came with a fender board that was assembled with a short 2 x 6, and then formed rubber pads at the ends. I want a second set up but have failed to find the rubber ends anywhere. Have you ever seen them? Possibly they have gone out of business?
|
Steve, I bought some rubber slip on end pads for a 2x4 fender board at West Marine early this year.
Taylor Made Products 2012 Catalog
I don't see them in the WM catalogue now, maybe discontinued?
Steve W
|
|
|
10-18-2012, 09:28 AM
|
#16
|
Guru
City: Miami Florida
Vessel Name: Possum
Vessel Model: Ellis 28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,307
|
I think the Taylor Made fender board ends are still available. I'll check when I get to the store today. I remember the bigger ones as well. They were made by another company that will come to me later. (The mind is a terrible thing to lose.) I don't think the big ones are made anymore.
|
|
|
10-18-2012, 09:52 AM
|
#17
|
Guru
City: Everett Wa
Vessel Name: Eagle
Vessel Model: Roughwater 58 pilot house
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,919
|
If you are going to move along a dock/lock that the ball fenders are best as they roll, where as the cylinder will tend roll up and maybe pop out. Therefore we have a combination of 3 balls and 4 cylinder per side and one 3 ft ball for the curve of the bow to protect when coming into the dock. and/or push the bow out/way. If the boat is going to be pushed up against a dock for a long period of time both the ball and cylinder will rub up against the hull. So you either have a round spot or a long strip.
A cylinder that can be tied at both ends, used horizontal if up against a piling. I keep the old deflated ones and hang them over the swim step when we have the dink/run about moored/tied to the stern, so even the old deflated can be used.
Buy fenders that are the length from the gunnels to the water line which will work for high docks/locks and low floating docks and a big ball that fits the curve of the bow. Better to have fenders to big then to small.
|
|
|
10-18-2012, 11:14 AM
|
#18
|
Enigma
City: Slicker?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,565
|
Greetings,
If I was to buy fenders the distance from the gunwale to the water line, I'd end up with fenders 4.5' long! As to fender boards, depending on length, 2x6 would be stronger than 2x4-no?
__________________
RTF
|
|
|
10-18-2012, 11:36 AM
|
#19
|
Guru
City: Everett Wa
Vessel Name: Eagle
Vessel Model: Roughwater 58 pilot house
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,919
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by RT Firefly
Greetings,
If I was to buy fenders the distance from the gunwale to the water line, I'd end up with fenders 4.5' long! As to fender boards, depending on length, 2x6 would be stronger than 2x4-no?
|
I was looking at Arch's boat. For a boat his size 18 to 21 inches is recomended. They make fenders up to 77 inches so you could buy fenders that long. The largest we have are 34 inches.
|
|
|
10-18-2012, 12:23 PM
|
#20
|
Guru
City: North Charleston, SC
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,870
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by HopCar
What do you guys think about fender covers?
|
I paid a guy to compound and wax my boat shortly after I bought it and he recommended fender covers to keep the fenders from scuffing the gelcoat. I use covers and it seems to help.
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Trawler Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|