Boat Fenders are a must-have boating accessory that can help protect your ship (and your wallet) in a docking mishap, unforeseen wind, or current motion. Boat fenders, also called boat bumpers by new or inexperienced boaters, act as a buffer between a dock and the boat, jetty, or any other vessel. Boat fenders protect the paint, varnish, gunwales, and overall hull of all boats, from motor yachts and sailboats to small runabouts.
Bumpers For Boats
Let’s look at the steps for properly rigging or tying the boat fender and the best boat fenders for your vessel-type boat.
Fenders for Boats: How to Use Them
When deploying, attaching, or installing ship fenders on your boat, three key factors are size, placement, and the number of fenders.
- Select the Correct Fender Size (s)
Your boat fenders should be sized to fit the type and size of your boat. The smaller the boat, the smaller the fender needs to be in diameter and length. However, a fender that is too small will not protect your hull and may even be smashed if attached to a too large boat.
A size chart of boat fenders can be helpful for generic vinyl fenders, and most fenders for sale will have an applicable range of sizes printed on the label.
- Determine the proper height and placement
The majority of people “hang” their boat fenders by evenly spacing them. The best place to put them is on the widest part of the hull, as this will likely touch things you’re docking next to first. There are, once again, some exceptions.
If you’re only docking your bow just next to a jetty, you’ll want to keep the majority of your fenders there. While backing into a slip, a fender may be required to avoid hitting the dock’s transom to the dock.
It would help you if you also thought about how high you want to hang your boat’s fender. The height of the fender is determined by the dock or piling that you’re using. Depending on the wave of the tide, fixed docks may pose a too high or too low risk to your boat.
Try tying fenders so that they’re much above the waterline is a reliable solution for floating docks. Examine the situation carefully, and if you need more time to get adjusted with your fender setup, re-evaluate until you’re ready.
- Use the Correct Number of Fenders for docking Your Boat
The number of boat fenders you’ll need depends on the way you intend to utilize them and the length of your boat—for most boats, it is two to four boat fenders per side, which should suffice.
You might also want to get an extra boat fender to use as a “roving fender,” which isn’t tied down but managed by one of your boat crew members and which can be placed wherever needed.
When using a roving fender, always use caution and never try to use any body parts (arms, hands, feet, etc.) to “stop” or “slow” the boat’s momentum when you approach the dock. This can result in serious injury.
How to Tie a Rope to a Fender on a Boat
There are two steps to tie the boat fenders:
- Tying a strong rope to a boat fender (a fender line)
- Tying the boat fender line to your sailing boat
The line is sometimes already attached which is tied or spliced to one end of a pre-packaged vinyl fender. They’re ready to use where boat fenders are hanging vertically along the hull.
If you have to tie a connection line to the boat fender yourself, the bowline is a good knot because it’s very strong and creates a loop that goes through one eye of the fender, and can be untied whenever necessary, even when the line is under a lot of strain. You’ll rarely be able to remove a line from a fender once it’s been securely attached.
The clove hitch is the right choice for tying a fender line to a boat (which you should do every time you dock)
- A boat fender line can be attached to a cleat on your sailing boat or on a dock for many boats at a strategic dock corner. In this case, tying a simple cleat hitch will simply put on and take off, even when the line is stiff from saltwater.
- Fender lines are frequently tied to the guard railing on powerboats, and this clove hitch is best suited as it can slide all along the rail just for adjusting the placement at the last moment if necessary.
- To avoid major damage to the all-over railing, fender lines should be tied to the bottom of stanchions, where the railing is mostly strong and has the lowest leverage point. This applies only to sailboats.
- A line can be tied to either end of a boat fender and used horizontally occasionally. This will wrap up a larger hull area, but it is most effective when defending against a protruding lateral piling.
Fenders for Boats of Various Types
There are mainly three types of boat fenders, and how you use them is determined by the actual size of your boat, the situation of docking, and other factors.
Fenders made of foam:
Foam fenders come in various shapes, mostly flat, so they don’t take up a lot of space in a tight slip, which is beneficial because fenders add width to your overall beam.
They’re difficult to store, especially when they’re large, and are also costly. Additionally, the foam can degrade over time, polluting the water and leaving a mark on your hull.
Fenders made of vinyl:
These are the most commonly used fender, and they can be found in almost every chandlery or marine equipment store. They come in an array of sizes and colors. White is the most bought color because it doesn’t scratch the gel coat of paint.
Vinyl fenders are usually cylindrical and inexpensive, but they can be heavily weighted if they are large. They become scuffed over time and are difficult to clean and store. However, these make up most of the fenders found in a marina and are almost exclusively used by small craft such as sailboats, bowriders, and pontoon boats.
Fenders that inflate:
These come in various materials, like PVC-like dinghies. Even massive things can be adjusted aboard because they can be deflated for storage.
They’re usually light and strong, but they’re also quite pricey. The majority of these are used by large ships which travel very long distances and require easy storage while on the move.
Additional Guidelines for Using Fenders in Specific Situations
Sometimes there are unusual circumstances that will necessitate individual judgement:
Ups and Downs
If possible, rafting up to another boat will require fenders on both boats. If those boats are at different heights, one set of boat fenders should be on the lower side and the other higher off the waterline.
Personal Watercraft and Smaller Boats (PWC)
These L-shaped boat fenders wrap around the hull/deck joint on small boats. A fitting on the deck or hull of some smaller boats or personal watercraft (PWCs) will allow you to “pop-in” a fender with a matching appendage at the very end of its line.
This is unusual, but it’s ideal because the boat fenders are pre-installed for maximum deck and hull protection and can be installed quickly, even by those who can’t tie a good knot.
Catamarans (or Boats with Less Curvature)
Boats with less hull curvature (such as catamarans) can touch down closer to the waterline, making adjustments necessary. Make sure the boat fenders don’t get tangled before leaving. If that’s the case, you would want to remove a few before leaving,.
Conclusion:
Finally, don’t forget to change your boat fenders purchased from RS Marine once you’re in water underway. Take up and stow your fenders when you’re ready to get back on the water. Many boaters risks having their fenders ripped off by a rogue wave if they cruise with them down.
They’re also the brunt of many of the experienced boaters’ jokes, as they’re dubbed “landlubbers washing their bumpers.” Remember to safeguard the boat fenders at the lowest spot and try to attach and closest to the widest beam point. Lifelines can be used if a lower spot, such as a cleat, is not available. For all of your docking needs, contact RS Marine.
