Do you use bumper boards?

[Project_Mayhem]

Boats don't have bumpers, so why would anyone want a bumper board for their car?

However, in some areas fender boards are useful especially when tying up to docks that do no have a flat surface, such as a pier with corrugated pilings or those silly docks on the Chesapeake where the pilings are outside the dock.

An option we often use is to hang the fenders horizontally. This helps to prevent the fender from rolling around or swinging clear of the piling.

I bought a hull hugger for my stinkpot. It guess that'd be the closest commercially available item to a fender board. Found out the hard way that it gets hung up on docks that aren't flat

As for horizontal fenders, I've been forewarned that they can up and out in heavy storms. Seems feasible in unprotected marinas

 

[Stu Jackson]

a stickler for correct terminology. I used to "pull her chain" by saying things like "I'm going downstairs" instead of "going below." She passed away a few years ago...I miss her.

Me, too, Peggie. Ceilings, kitchens, bedrooms, windows, the list is endless.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

You forgot to include bathrooms.

--Peggie

 

[jssailem]

Depends on the waters you sail and the piers you tie up to. Having them can be a real plus to help keep your boat from getting tarred by a piling.

 

[JBP-PA]

Mine are fairly short, perhaps 4 ft. so they are easy to stow in a cockpit locker. Definitely nice to have if you frequent marinas with poles.

 

[rgranger]

You forgot to include bathrooms.

--Peggie

and rope...

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

and rope...

Eh ? Ya gonna plug in the electric hose ?

That just has no use anywhere .

 

[rgranger]

Thanks all for the feedback. Here are a few key takeaways that (for me) seemed to extend beyond the day-to-day considerations

The pier often has an uneven surface.. or you need to bridge the gap between 2 pilings.

In an extremely tight docking situation, they can be used to save one's topsides from damage when pivoting on a piling, wood or steel.

places with big tides and commercial docks,

Very useful to fend off pilings, especially if said pilings had gnarly hardware protruding.
Mandatory for storm prep.

... help keep your boat from getting tarred by a piling.