The Ultimate Fender: From this months Motor Boating Magazine

[Morpheus]

Has anyone seen/read this months Motor Boating Magazine particulary the article on "The Ultimate Fender"

Has anyone made one of these (specially us 240SD owners).

Over the Memorial weekend I had a misshap with a concrete dock ($200 gelcoat repair) where fenders wouldn't of helped but this idea of the Ultimate Fender seems like a really nice idea and may of been what I needed to save me the $200.

 

[chuck1]

No did not read it. What did it look like :huh: Sorry to hear about the Gelcoat damage. :smt089

 

[Morpheus]

No did not read it. What did it look like :huh: Sorry to hear about the Gelcoat damage. :smt089

It's no big deal that's what repairs are for. I was more aggravated at myself for doing it more then anything. But the wind was way up and I was trying to dock on a old concrete dock. Funny thing is I did it 4 times prior to the day I rubbed the front left side on it.

First I'll describe the dock which I rubbed so you get an idea how I think this would of helped. Imaging a 12-15 foot concrete dock with only 3 poles in front of it nothing on the concrete and only old rubber protection strips on the poles. The poles are at each end corner and 1 in the middle. The first 4 times I docked was was able to put he boat against the poles fenders handing over really didn't work much. The time I rubbed the wind blew the front of the boat into the dock :smt013

This ultimate fender basically you hang your bumpers over the edge as normal but across the front of them you hang additionally lumber or pvc pipe on the outside of the bumpers but spaning cross both bumbers basically making 1 large bumper between the boat and the dock and the dock poles.

I guess I need to scan in the images. Their website doesn't even have July's issue on it yet was hoping they may have the article online.

 

[Larry&Leisa]

I have'nt seen the article either .. but I remember seeing these.. something along this line? http://www.boatersworld.com/product/366974491msk.htm

I had to have some gelcoat work done myself after last season.. :smt009

 

[Morpheus]

Actually that looks better (easier to stow)

That's the general idea though

hand 2 fenders then hand pvc or wood in front of those spanning the 2 fenders creating what would be a very long fender like your link. Your links folds up, pvc and wood doesn't fold well :smt001

might need to buy one of them for those special occasions where I don't think single fenders will protect and the dock has no protection of it's own (or learn to dock better in the wind). $50 fender in the link might saved me $200 gelcoat fix

Thanks

 

[Sea Gull]

Uh, you guys are talking about fender boards. These are standard equipment and have been around since the Vikings (the Nordic people not the boat brand).

Mine are home-made of 2x4 pressure treated lumber about 4' long. You need 2 of them and 4 fenders. 2x6 would be better, but the weight of the 2x4s is easier to deal with. There is no better way to dock against pilings.

 

[Morpheus]

Uh, you guys are talking about fender boards. These are standard equipment and have been around since the Vikings (the Nordic people not the boat brand).

Mine are home-made of 2x4 pressure treated lumber about 4' long. You need 2 of them and 4 fenders. 2x6 would be better, but the weight of the 2x4s is easier to deal with. There is no better way to dock against pilings.

:smt038 yes exactly that. Being new to all this I didn't know they had a real name :huh:

I don't mind the weight of a 2x6 if it's gonna save my gelcoat the only issue is stowing a couple of 2x6's on a 240SD. If the front floor storage and rear floor storage went all the way through (why the hell doesn't it?) Then it would be no problem, I was gonna keep my fishing pole out the way down there but it's to long :smt009

But yes fender boards. Anyways Motor Boating's July issue has an article on how to make some out of wood or pvc.

 

[RT 240SD]

Not to highjack, but on the fishing rod issue, go get some Ugly Sticks that fit in the midship locker. I have two of them in my locker and they fit fine.

 

[Sea Gull]

Morpheus:

If a 2x4 will work on my boat I am sure it will be beefy enough for yours. You might also get away with 2-3' long ones or figure out a way to cut in half and assemble when needed.

 

[osd9]

Here's a set of fender boards, made from a 5/4 X 6, deployed from my 380 last year in preparation of Tropical Storm Ernesto.....they work great....and as stated above.....they are the ulitmate way to tie against pilings.

The ones below are for the home dock. I have a smaller set that I made for travel.....

 

[Morpheus]

That's exactly it thansk for the photo.

 

[Larry&Leisa]

ahhh.. I see now why that's better for those type of instances.

 

[37 Dancer]

yes......... fender boards work well.....I use them whenever we have a storm tide.

inexpensive to make.......and it saves the gelcoat.

 

[osd9]

Here is a great idea for a set of light weight, easily stored, boards for travel... http://www.tropicalboating.com/boating-equipment/fenderboards.html ..I think I'll make a pair....

 

[Larry&Leisa]

good link osd9. :thumbsup: I'm gonna make a pair as well. I don't have such piers but I've had some issues with high winds at our dock and had to have some abrasions in the gelcoat repaired after last season. This should just be the ticket to ending that worry. :smt038

 

[HavingFun]

This link looks like a great solution. If I could make one change would be a way to quickly attach and unattach the pipe. That would save on storage space.

Do they make strong plastic clips that would go on the ends of the rope? I could use metal but I'm afraid they would scratch the gel coat.

Thanks

 

[Asureyez]

Make up of Fender Boards

I carry two 4 foot fender boards made up and ready to use. There are white vinyl HD encaps for 2x4 that are available at all the marine supply dealers, One maker is Taylor the bumper people.

You use lengths of 2X4 and attach these end caps to prevent the lumber from scratching your glass if they get hung up on a piling. Then using a 5/16 wood bore I drilled through the 2" face down through the 4" width getting a path to rig 3/8 inch line to whih I've secured 8 feet of line on each end. I keep these in the lazzerette and they are ready for use with a moments notice. I use larger bumpers with center holes which allow me to change to using the bumber in a verticle manner vs. a horizontal set up. When the bumpers are hung as in the above photo, the fender boards ride on concrete or rough pilings or pilings covered in running tar/creosote etc. The fender boards earn their cost in just one use and then are free for the life of the boat.

Boards can also be useful in raft ups when two large boats need to spread the loads of being tight alongside over a wider area of the hull. Both boats hang bumpers and sandwich the boards between their bumpers.

Smaller boats might find these boards hard to stow ... but at least have one in the boat box to take along whern you know your headed for a gnarly marina. I always use these in Miami Beach Marina as the docks are always in unpredicable state of repair and are of 10 inch corse concrete pile.