Fenders

[chucktro]

I am preparing to purchase three fenders for my new 26M. My question is the recommended size. What size do most of you have? I was thinking about either 5 x 20 or 6 x 23. Any recommendations?

[r.fairman]

I have two fat two small. This allows the curve of the hull to be turned into a flat surface to align with a dock wall

[chucktro]

What an excellent idea. Would you provide the size of your skinny and fat ones?

[Highlander]

Fatty & Skinny went to bed Fatty rolled over & now Skinny is Dead ,

J

[Highlander]

What an excellent idea. Would you provide the size of your skinny and fat ones?

So what are we shopping for here ! boat fender's , Hooker's , or a future Admiral !

J

[Mistral]

These are the fenders I use in addition to the medium round one. I find these far more usable.
http://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemd ... lutePage=1

[puggsy]

I have four of the white FAT ones. But there can be a problem with docks and jetties that have vertical piles [poles] set a bit too far apart. As the boat moves with waves of passing traffic, there is bound to be some forward and backward movement. the 'sausages' tend to roll away, leaving the gunnel exposed to damage. One solution is to hang two or more [round] fenders off the rail, then hang a long plank of wood on top of them...the plank can rub on the jetty and the fenders keep the hull safe from the plank. the plank can be thick but of light pine wood or similar.

[Terry]

I don't know the exact measurements off hand but there was an alpanumeric designation on mine, G3, I found these to be woefully inadequate even though the dealer assured me they were fine. I have since been replacing them with the G4 size and find these to be much more substantial, eventuall I will have all of them replaced but so far I believe I have three of the G4 and I now use the G3 on the other side of the boat to protect from the guy next door bumping me when he docks.

[Highlander]

Terry Says

so far I believe I have three of the G4 and I now use the G3 on the other side of the boat to protect from the guy next door bumping me when he docks.

I'm glad I don't have that problem lots of room & a nice view across the river from my slip

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010036.jpg

I have 6 of the " BIg B " fenders 8"x20"

J

[parrothead]

We also have been using 8"x20" Taylor "Big B" fenders (the line runs through the center, instead of tying onto one or both ends). Last season we added a Taylor "Survivor" fender of the same dimension. It's essentially a "Big B" with reinforcing ribs to stiffen it and a little built-in air pump... pricey, but we got it on sale. It works really well.

[Terry]

I have 6 of the " BIg B " fenders 8"x20"
J

We also have been using 8"x20" Taylor "Big B" fenders (the line runs through the center, instead of tying onto one or both ends). Last season we added a Taylor "Survivor" fender of the same dimension. It's essentially a "Big B" with reinforcing ribs to stiffen it and a little built-in air pump... pricey, but we got it on sale. It works really well.
We also have been using 8"x20" Taylor "Big B" fenders (the line runs through the center, instead of tying onto one or both ends). Last season we added a Taylor "Survivor" fender of the same dimension. It's essentially a "Big B" with reinforcing ribs to stiffen it and a little built-in air pump... pricey, but we got it on sale. It works really well.

So where do you guys store those honkin big things when underway?
I hang mine just under the traveller. (keep your mind out of the gutter John)
I installed a flat aluminum bar across the two bolts that connect the companionway ladder to the traveller. I have those cheap aluminum carabiners stamped with "not for climbing" connected to the ends of my fenders. Now when I get underway I simply use the carabiners to fasten the fenders onto the bar under the traveller and they are out of the way.

[tangentair]

I carry these 3 in a home made rack and seldom use them since I trailer. However when I do tie up I drop one foreward and one aft vertically, this allows them to roll along the hull and the midships one I string horizontally about 1/2 way between the rub rail and the water line depending upon what I am tied up against, I also have several "small" ones that are in the tub with the kid sized life jackets that are occupying time and space but doing little else - I think they were left over from an old power boat.
If I were to do much rafting or locking through etc, I would get a total of 8 of the ones I currently use and put them in the same config but use 2 horizontal amidships instead of the one.

on edit: I keep the rack in the area under the cockpit along with the tubs of life jackets, spare lines, buckets and cleaning suppies and tools. Frank C had a neat way of organizing that area but I just toss the tubs back there and take them out for winter storage. The rack is a couple of 2x4s for a base with a 2 x10 cross members that have half moons cut out to hold the fenders and a length of line running from one side to the other to hold everything in (sorta mosta da time) crude and I plan to make it nice - one of these days.

[parrothead]

So where do you guys store those honkin big things when underway?

I store a pair for "transient" usage under the V-berth - they don't often get deployed. The pair that we use in our slip, stay at our slip.

[pokerrick1]

These are the fenders I use in addition to the medium round one. I find these far more usable.
http://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemd ... lutePage=1

$39.95 Over my dead body

Rick

[pokerrick1]

So where do you guys store those honkin big things when underway?

I bought two size large blue MESH fender holders from WM and hang them (come with velcro) from the safety lines on either side of the boat. Looks great and are easily accessable to both leave and approach A dock. I got them 3 years ago and I think they were a little pricey but I don't remember how much. I think they are in the WM catalogue.

They are certainly not as expensive as the stainless fender holders and they fit the size and decor of a Mac better than stainless. I think the stainless fender holders belong on bigger boats.

Rick