For marinas with sharp low docks (like Galveston) I am trying foam noodles on long long rope, from front tow hook 2 ft from water to rear corners. SEE PICS. I tried a few rope paths (see pics) including real low, to see what is possible given hull curves and where rope would stay, and went with medium height. A 2nd even higher could be added. Bigger noodles would be better. Can pull this up when sailing. I wish someone sold cushiony rope. I used 6 46 inch noodles, rope is over 20 ft. Overall it seems to work and is better since it sorta replaces 5 vertical bumpers with a single classy 1. D
H260 long foam noodle bumper/fender, fm front to back, anyone else tried
- Thread starter Davenport
- Start date
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 24,598
Interesting idea. Please share what it is you are protecting against.
Most hulls are widest at their deck level. If you have boats entering the slip next to you then it would likely be more protective of your topside to hang several fenders (4-5) long vertical with larger diameter to the bow and stern and 2-3, equally spaced near to the middle of your boats widest point, that are slightly smaller diameter. That way you protect the whole side of your boat with a cushion of 5-7 inches. Also hanging them within 5 inches of the water provides coverage even for the low slung speed boats.
Pool noodles really do not handle UV exposure well.
Most hulls are widest at their deck level. If you have boats entering the slip next to you then it would likely be more protective of your topside to hang several fenders (4-5) long vertical with larger diameter to the bow and stern and 2-3, equally spaced near to the middle of your boats widest point, that are slightly smaller diameter. That way you protect the whole side of your boat with a cushion of 5-7 inches. Also hanging them within 5 inches of the water provides coverage even for the low slung speed boats.
Pool noodles really do not handle UV exposure well.
Yeah! Great idea. Sort of modern take on fender boards.
I'm imagining the noodle won't hold up very long in a storm with constant chafe. Maybe you could get some old fire hose material and stitch it to the outside of the noodle.
There is a similar comercial product but it is $pendy
I'm imagining the noodle won't hold up very long in a storm with constant chafe. Maybe you could get some old fire hose material and stitch it to the outside of the noodle.
There is a similar comercial product but it is $pendy
A gust of wind can push boat into cement nonfloating dock, can't reduce all risk. It's why even good drivers use seatbelts. For the maybe quarter of people with nonfloating docks at high water levels a bumper hanging 1.5 feet off the edge doesn't cover the bottom 1.5 foot, this quarter at very high tides have nothing there and it's scary coming in at high water. Experiments are helpful. And now know it's possible given the ok rope curve GIANT foam noodles could be found for sale somewhere in the big world. Cheap rope and $1/ft foam noodle means 20 ft is $20, so seems cheaper than $500 20x3 giant inflatable, 25x cheaper. I used the thickest rope possible, so rope adds to cushion. What is the thickest spongiest rope for sale in world? Hmmmm, could even loosen rope and drop rope into water to float, which might help even when darn cement dock is submerged an inch. Floating docks are awesome, but not all have em. Happy summer!
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Never put fenders horizontally. They can roll up the sides and pop out. I imagine the same goes for a horizontal noodle
I once had a 19' boat in a 30' slip. I tied a line from one side to the forward center and same for the other side. In otherwords, it formed a V. What this allowed me to do is motor in, leave the motor in gear and have the lines keep it there. It also helped when I came in hot once or twice. I had ablative bottom paint and the line did smear it a bit. A pool noodle over that line wouldve helped
I once had a 19' boat in a 30' slip. I tied a line from one side to the forward center and same for the other side. In otherwords, it formed a V. What this allowed me to do is motor in, leave the motor in gear and have the lines keep it there. It also helped when I came in hot once or twice. I had ablative bottom paint and the line did smear it a bit. A pool noodle over that line wouldve helped
eyeballing it, and wow the h260 sides are fairly perpendicular so bumpers can be low and still be nicely far from centerline. for other boats a low bumper would be less helpful
I use my bumpers the 1 minute I come into the dock slip and the wind is pushing the boat all around, after this 1 minute I have my ropes tight and boat is safe. so I don't need the bumper to be tough. I also use the bumpers when my old old motor dies halfway out the marina and I am gonna scrape a bit as I curse and try to manage.
I added some more foam noodles to front 5 ft... Yes I know this is excessive bumper levels but I wanted to experiment on how safe can a single person make docking. After Sept I will remove and be boring again. There are thicker noodles so it could be done better using them. See pics. - D
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jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 24,598
I do understand the desire to protect your boat. Covering her in noodles is like wrapping a child in bubble wrap to prevent scraped knees and elbows.
I have shared this video because it it’s easy to learn and it really works. I learned the skill from commercial fishermen. The video is just easier to understand if you don’t have a friendly fisherman to share seamanship.
I posted this back in 2017. It is still my go to approach to docking.
The only modification I have added is when in Canada, and docking involves bull rails, I utilize a grappling hook. That is a skill to share for another time.
You can learn a skill that will make you safe in all your docking single or with crew.
I have shared this video because it it’s easy to learn and it really works. I learned the skill from commercial fishermen. The video is just easier to understand if you don’t have a friendly fisherman to share seamanship.
I posted this back in 2017. It is still my go to approach to docking.
Following the dream
Hi, folks-name is Stephen. I retired from the Army in 2009 after 43 years and now it is my turn. All my sailing experience has been on day sailers, especially wood since I found a love of working with precision joinery and construction. I originally pursued Basic Keelboat in the late '90s to...
forums.sailboatowners.com
The only modification I have added is when in Canada, and docking involves bull rails, I utilize a grappling hook. That is a skill to share for another time.
That's a very wide berth but the exact type that I had when I setup the V lines in my post above. It worked very well. It saved me from hitting the dock a few times and made it easier to dock. Polyethelyne foam compresses too much to provide any real protection in my opinion, especially when it's a hollow tube. It may be gentler on the gelcoat than bare lines
In middle of foam noodle is a thick rope I barely managed to pull thru, so that adds to the cushion. Honestly that the rope drapes in a nice low line is cool discovery. Hmm, maybe have 2 rope-noodles side by side even. Cost wise, at about $1 a foot of noodle this is $20 per side for 1 line, pretty cheap!!! Noodle-rope bumper seems a cool opion, maybe just on ugly boats owned by unfancy people. To everyone saying just be better a boating, wind gusts and also motors dying are unpredictable.
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I know this is extreme bumper experiment but it is interesting.
The docks here are non floating, so sometimes water is very high so boat dock edge 1 feet above water line. I use to be at Galveston with nonfloating scratchy concrete dock with at best 1 foot above water and sometimes freaking submerged 2 inches. If you came in wrong angle at medium speed it was gonna be awful scratch. What an awful position to be in with no tool to help.
My personal wish is for protection BEFORE tying docking ropes. Like if my motor dies or wind gusts pushes boat front into post or wall at 30 degree angle, in that total accident of ugly stupidness what can save me? My current old marina isn't nice soft plastic but old wood at best, with chunks of wood in bad places, so a couple inches at the front diagonal hitting points would be nice. . .. .
I admit for ocean berths the docks tend to be high, so a hanging normal bumper is enough, but wow at LAKES the docks are very low so people seem to just accept their boat will scratch a bit I guess. It almost seems wise to have a bumper floating in the water? Hmmm.
What's the biggest Hunter sailboat that people manage single handed coming in to dock. My Hunter 260 in medium winds isn't easy for me, sometimes I jump out into the 4 foot mud and walk it in. I have no natural boating skill. Happy summer!
The docks here are non floating, so sometimes water is very high so boat dock edge 1 feet above water line. I use to be at Galveston with nonfloating scratchy concrete dock with at best 1 foot above water and sometimes freaking submerged 2 inches. If you came in wrong angle at medium speed it was gonna be awful scratch. What an awful position to be in with no tool to help.
My personal wish is for protection BEFORE tying docking ropes. Like if my motor dies or wind gusts pushes boat front into post or wall at 30 degree angle, in that total accident of ugly stupidness what can save me? My current old marina isn't nice soft plastic but old wood at best, with chunks of wood in bad places, so a couple inches at the front diagonal hitting points would be nice. . .. .
I admit for ocean berths the docks tend to be high, so a hanging normal bumper is enough, but wow at LAKES the docks are very low so people seem to just accept their boat will scratch a bit I guess. It almost seems wise to have a bumper floating in the water? Hmmm.
What's the biggest Hunter sailboat that people manage single handed coming in to dock. My Hunter 260 in medium winds isn't easy for me, sometimes I jump out into the 4 foot mud and walk it in. I have no natural boating skill. Happy summer!
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jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 24,598
I've found that Hunter boats are generally easy to manage, with quick turning ability. My boat is 35 ft, and I sail it often solo, even when guests are aboard.
You just need to remember not to approach a dock at a speed greater than you are prepared to let the boat strike the dock. There is no shame in abandoning a docking and trying again if it appears to be going wrong. Don't be like Captain Ron unless you are fully aware of the capabilities of your boat and all of them are at your command.
You just need to remember not to approach a dock at a speed greater than you are prepared to let the boat strike the dock. There is no shame in abandoning a docking and trying again if it appears to be going wrong. Don't be like Captain Ron unless you are fully aware of the capabilities of your boat and all of them are at your command.
