ICW - Fender Boards?

[Roger Long]

I carried my fender board to Canada twice without using it and only used it one place this trip. However, I absolutely needed it there and would have had to find another berth without it.

Question: Is it worth taking is south of Maine on a trip down the ICW to FL/GA?

 

[kloudie1]

Probably a good thing to have along.. The further south ya get the more commercial stuff you'll encounter.. No way of knowing if ya going to have to moor alongside a barge or some rusty steel stuff .. Not much space for some piece of mind.. Happy sailing, Roger !

 

[Bill1565]

Look at it this way. Lying on the cabin top, it's out of the way won't have any measurable effect on boat speed or diesel mileage, and it will be there 1000 miles from home when you need it.

 

[med2463]

I carried my fender board to Canada twice without using it and only used it one place this trip. However, I absolutely needed it there and would have had to find another berth without it.

Question: Is it worth taking is south of Maine on a trip down the ICW to FL/GA?

I hate fender boards, they are heavy and hard to deal with. But, I suspect we'll take one on our long cruise coming up. Wd be nice if they could be made out of lightweight material.

 

[Bill1565]

right you are

I hate fender boards, they are heavy and hard to deal with. But, I suspect we'll take one on our long cruise coming up. /quote]

YES, we will.

 

[Roger Long]

I've found a fairly painless way to carry a good sized fender board so I guess I'll keep it on board.

Picture taken in Lunenburg, N.S.

 

[Jim Seamans]

Roger,
After last years cruise to the Bahamas and back, I only found one occasion that I would have needed a fender board. Did well without it...

 

[RichH]

If you are going through to de' islands ... ditch the boards and get some LARGE inflatable fenders for the few times that you get 'pinned' to a dock/slip by strong NW'ers, etc. It looks like another LaNiña year is developing ... cool/cold, blustery and STRONG easterlies.

I try to 'bypass' south Florida and especially Volusia County as much as possible by running the coast for several days at a time. Marathon / Boot Key FL is still a good place to go but is mostly all moorings, which are quite reasonable on a weekly/monthly basis. Instead of SE Florida where they are become definitely 'boater unfriendly', simply 'pass on through' as quick as possible and go to the Bahamas, etc. - expensive entry fees but a nice place with quite friendly people.

In FL be SURE that your holding tank seacock is locked, and dont think of swimming (with your head underwater) without a 'divers flag' ... its all about 'revenue'.

 

[Cherie320]

So, how do you make a fender board? I always assumed it was a 4-8 foot length of dimentional lumber 1-1/2" thick by 8 - 12 inches wide. What works best?

 

[Roger Long]

In FL ...... its all about 'revenue'.

I've pretty much decided that I will never take Strider into Florida. I never liked the state when I drove there and everything I hear makes me think I won't like cruising there. I just remembered that they gave us "W" and that's reason enough for me to keep my boat and money out of the place.

 

[Roger Long]

So, how do you make a fender board?

Can you drill (4) 3/8" diameter holes? Sounds like you've got the rest of the problem solved.

My storage method works well and keeps it out of the way. I cut the board to the length that just fits between the pulpit and the first stanchion. The upper lines, long enough to tie to the toe rail when using as a fender board, lash around the pulpit and stanchion. Shorter lengths tie around the bases to keep it from flopping. I provides a bit of extra protection against sliding under the lifelines on that side. It's never in the way and the only downside is a bit of additional weight on the bow and not being able to look out of the "V" berth port.

 

[med2463]

Gonna see if my husband will go for making a fender board out of PVC. Would be lighter for me to handle. Here is link to instructions. http://www.tropicalboating.com/boating-equipment/fenderboards.html

 

[JerryA]

Anyone ever try a section or two of vinyl fencing for a fender board? I've thought of that for my P23, but not sure how well it would work with a larger/heavier boat.

JerryA

 

[RichH]

I've pretty much decided that I will never take Strider into Florida. I never liked the state when I drove there and everything I hear makes me think I won't like cruising there. I just remembered that they gave us "W" and that's reason enough for me to keep my boat and money out of the place.

The only real problem areas are S/E florida, where "W" didnt get many votes at all.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Fender boards are a necessity in any canal lock. But they are a pain to make, store and hang. What we could have used are those long inflatables that you hang horizontally, like a fenderboard. A number of times we had to tie to docks with pilings, especially fuel docks. Even horizontally my big fenders were insufficient for that.

 

[Bill1565]

Gonna see if my husband will go for making a fender board out of PVC.

The two most powerful words in the English language.

Yes Dear!

 

[Buck420]

I've pretty much decided that I will never take Strider into Florida. I never liked the state when I drove there and everything I hear makes me think I won't like cruising there. I just remembered that they gave us "W" and that's reason enough for me to keep my boat and money out of the place.

Rodger,
Not all of Florida is to be avoided.... just the "Gold Coast", where everything is expensive and the locals are not terribly friendly.
Most everywhere else, the opposite is true... unless you're a "boat bumm" trying to anchor your derelict and live for free.
Don't avoid all the nice places just because there are a few areas that try to gauge (sp?) you.

BTW, I've carried 2 fender boards on the fore deck for the past 10 years and maybe used them 5 or 6 times during that whole time. Like others have said, I have also found that they are generally more trouble than they are worth.
Large fenders, w/ inexpensive fender covers that keep the fenders, themselves, relatively clean, and (the cloth covers) can be thrown away every 2-3 years as they get dirty and torn/worn, have worked well for me.

 

[med2463]

Fender boards are a necessity in any canal lock. But they are a pain to make, store and hang. What we could have used are those long inflatables that you hang horizontally, like a fenderboard. A number of times we had to tie to docks with pilings, especially fuel docks. Even horizontally my big fenders were insufficient for that.

Friends who teach a USPS cruising class use the long inflatables instead of fender board. I like that idea best.

 

[Ross]

A 1x6 piece of white oak fence board would be more than adequate, rough sawn from the mill and painted any color you like. The rough texture holds paint forever and you expect it to get scuffed anyway. 75 cents a foot here. The stock length is 16 feet so you get two for 12 bucks.

 

[Rick486]

I also carry 2 fenderboards made from 2"x8" lumber cut to 4 ft lengths. 4 ft is stowable in my lockers and most others I'm sure. I also carry 4 large inflatable fenders so when I need to make up to pilings or some dirty rough surface I attach the soft fenders in two groupings at the appropriate positions along my length and hang the boards over them to contact the pilings. Works fine for me and no need to carry extra long boards if you carry 4 or more fenders.