Better Fenders, Taylor Made or Polyform?

[MonacoMike]

I am ordering new fenders for the boat and was comparing Taylor Made to Polyform. The 27" buoy style I want are about $160 on sale at WM, or $210 for the Polyform. I have not done my final price searching as of now, but wanted to decide on my target first. Polyform has a lifetime warranty while the Taylor Made has a one year warranty.

What have your experiences been with these brands? My Taylor Made Big B 8" performed well for me.

Also, The Admiral wants all black fenders for looks, I fear they will be too hot to handle in the summer sun. Is black a problem?

MM

 

[superwa]

Haven’t had any issues with my taylormade ones. Also make sure to check defender.com they tend to have great prices. And about black, maybe just black covers?

 

[Korkie]

+1 on the Taylormade w/ Black covers

 

[Stee6043]

Don't do it!!!! Buy them from Amazon. I bought a set of Polyform 27's from Amazon for sub $100 each delivered. I just checked and it looks like they are still in the $90 ballpark, each.

I've gone 3 seasons now with the buoy style fender and will never go back. Two 27's is the perfect setup for rafting or tying to a wall. The only pain is in storing them...and you'll still want a couple cylindrical fenders onboard for floating dock scenarios.

I think black would look sharp but I too would be concerned with temp. Unless you deflate/inflate every time you use them (not likely) they will always be outside somewhere. Mine live in or near my dingy 90% of the time.

 

[Stee6043]

$89.99 Amazon prime...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HXDJZAS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Taylor made “Big B” fenders do have a lifetime warranty

 

[Blueone]

Taylor made here, no covers and black... I have no issues with them and they don't get hot in the sun.

I just picked up 4 of these Taylor post bumpers as I do a ton of side tie to vertical boards and the regular fenders are a pain to keep aligned with the board. They work really well and they don't take up much room

 

[sbw1]

We have black fenders for our boat Mike. Never noticed heat being an issue. Had not even considered the potential for a problem until reading this thread. We boat in similar temps so you should be fine. Buoy style is the way to go.

 

[CliffA]

i use black 10" Taylormade 'Big B' fenders and have no issues with heat.....

cliff

 

[Woody]

Taylor made here, no covers and black... I have no issues with them and they don't get hot in the sun.

I just picked up 4 of these Taylor post bumpers as I do a ton of side tie to vertical boards and the regular fenders are a pain to keep aligned with the board. They work really well and they don't take up much room

View attachment 68374

I've been carrying 4 of those post bumpers for 10-12years. Don't use them all the time but they sure come in handy for some situations.

 

[MonacoMike]

$89.99 Amazon prime...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HXDJZAS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My prices were for the A5, not A4.

MM

 

[MonacoMike]

Taylor made “Big B” fenders do have a lifetime warranty

They do, but their other fenders and buoys do not have a "lifetime" warranty, generally only one year. I have heard so many good things about the buoy style I want to try them.

MM

 

[MonacoMike]

For a 40' boat are the 27" buoys overkill? Are the 20" enough protection against steel walls when tied up for an afternoon in a busy harbor?

MM

 

[sbw1]

For a 40' boat are the 27" buoys overkill? Are the 20" enough protection against steel walls when tied up for an afternoon in a busy harbor?

MM

You can almost never have a fender too large. It is common to have a fender too small. Sort of like having a dock line that is too short.

 

[b_arrington]

Re: the Polyform fenders. I have a set that came with the boat 13 years ago. They still look great and perform well. Zero issues with them.

 

[Boatingnut]

Black is not an issue, in some ways, I like them better, they never look dirty. I have Polyforms now, and they are fine, I would buy them again in a heartbeat. Not sure you will find anyone who has a complaint with either brand.

I keep 5 of the Polyform HTM-3 on board, along with two 18" buoy style. The buoy style really comes in handy.

 

[MonacoMike]

Black is not an issue, in some ways, I like them better, they never look dirty. I have Polyforms now, and they are fine, I would buy them again in a heartbeat. Not sure you will find anyone who has a complaint with either brand.

I keep 5 of the Polyform HTM-3 on board, along with two 18" buoy style. The buoy style really comes in handy.

I was ordering 4 of the HTM-3 and 2 21" buoy style. Sounds like it will be a good plan.

MM

 

[JVM225]

I’ve got 4 white Polyform HTM 3’s with Navy Blue covers on them. I like the covers because it’s easy to throw them in the washing machine every once in a while to keep them looking good, and the fenders always stay nice and clean.
Even if the fenders were a dark color I’d probably still put covers on them to keep them nice.

 

[Boatingnut]

I was ordering 4 of the HTM-3 and 2 21" buoy style. Sounds like it will be a good plan.

MM

You sir, will be very pleased with that setup!

 

[ZZ13]

For a 40' boat are the 27" buoys overkill? Are the 20" enough protection against steel walls when tied up for an afternoon in a busy harbor?

MM

Polyform F5. That's what I use on my 44' boat. Love them. Seem to last forever. Nice and big but not too big.