mounting of fenders

[Ctskip]

Where does everyone mount their fenders while under sail? I see the holders and they seem to be for the rail only. I have lines running along side my boat. Id like to mount them along side somehow,close to where they will actually be used.I don't use a fender near the bow or the stern as this is where my rails are located. I use the fenders nearer the center of the vessel. I really dont even like hanging them off the life lines as this is not very secure. I hang the fenders low on the stantions. Is there a stantion mount out there that I'm not seeing? Whats everyone use to hold their fenders while underway? Thanks.Looks are everything,no? Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[Gary]

Keep mine in.....

the lazerette. Seldom use them. Use the cam type holders which hang from the top lifeline.

 

[Ross]

I have a rather high bulwork and just lay

them against that. Don't like them hanging over the side, looks too much like a tugboat.

 

[NautiDuck]

U-G-L-Y

Nothing looks much cheesier than a boat under sail with fenders hanging off the side. Boats with lines hanging in the water or outboards still in the water aren't much better.When we used fenders we would put them in the lazerette when underway. Then we switched to having three round buoys on a rope hung along our slip and eliminated the need for fenders (although we still carry several for rafting up, etc). This really simplified our lives and I recommend it.Friends don't let friends sail with the fenders hanging off the side of the boat.

 

[Ross]

U-G-L-Y I am thinking about getting some

old tires to hang on the side of my boat. That way I can dock the boat by feel and not hurt anything.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Our fender lines have simple hooks on them

and we leave them connected to the lower lifelines. Once underway, we simply flip 'em over the top lifeline and they stay on deck, easy to flip back when returning to the slip. When we race, we put 'em away in the lazarette. The hooks make them easy to move along the lifelines to position them, and easy to take on and off - no knots to deal with. We've used the plastic things, but they end up turning to mush after a while. When rafting up, we simply move them to the upper lifelines and they are high enough to match the gunwhale between boats.

 

[NautiDuck]

Ross, use whitewalls

That would be attractive. ;-)

 

[Ross]

RandyK, Great idea! Actually hitching over

a tire with 1/2 inch rope makes a very atractive fender but they are very heavy. On another forum someone suggested Cessna tires from the local general aviation field. Those are much lighter, fatter and not so large in diameter.

 

[Ctskip]

I use the fenders on my dock

while I'm in my home port.But now while out at anchor other boats come by and want to raft up. I don't mind doing that, but finding a fender and protecting my boat from their's is often a source of heartburn.And looking at their lines if often good for a couple of laughs too!So I got these new big (of course color matching)fenders and I was looking at the Stainless mounts and they sure are proud of them, let me tell you. Guess I'll just hang the fenders off the lower section of the stantions while rafting and store them in the lazerette the rest of the time. Thanks all for you comments and suggestions. Keep it up, Ctskip PS: I'd go with the wide white myself. Especially off the bow

 

[Calif. Ted]

Hang from base of stanchion, then flip up over

lower lifeline so they stand up leaning against the stanchion and supported upright by the line.

 

[NautiDuck]

Ross

You are on to something. I suggest that instead of using the tires that you use the inner tubes. Use dozens of them lashed to the side all around the boat. Not only can you run into anything without damage but it also adds positive flotation. You'll be able to completely run amok with no damage and no sinking! I should probably patent this idea before Hunter and Catalina get hold of it. ;-)

 

[Ross]

RandyK, In matters like this I follow

the great Ben Franklin; such wonderful ideas are much too valuable for the public use to expect to profit from them. This is just my contribution to the greater good. Sorry I can't give more. I gave at the office.

 

[Ctskip]

Calif.Ted

I most vote for your hanging the fenders from the base of the stantions. To me, it seems that the stantion would be able to take any punishment the fender and line might encounter. It is the strongest point to hang the fenders.I guess I'll just stow the fenders in the lazerette and come time to use them I'll hang em.I have fixed fenders in my slip and just love not having to deal with fenders come docking time. Now to find the best/easiest method of hanging them from the stantions.I'm also looking into hanging my wheel off the out board motor mount on the stern rail.Darn wheel keeps getting in my way. I really would love a folding wheel but can't justify the cost. And screening in the cockpit is going to be a challenge. Thank you all for your good and (fun) interesting views. Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[Tim]

Fenders on the stern pulpit

When we want them clear from the deck, we tie them on to the stern pulpit. This gets them out of the way, and is much less of a hastle then dumping them into a locker (that is already full of all that other boat stuff).

 

[Rick]

Fender storage

When underway, fendors and mooring lines are neatly stowed in the lazerette. Minimize the excess clutter on deck and keep a safe boat.

 

[Franklin]

Two ideas...one thanks to NautiDuck

I've learned the hard way that it's good to have a backup plan for everything you can think of because sooner or later, you'll need it. I heard of some going to great lengths to make their boat sink proof by building compartments inside the cabin that can be sealed off. Now I don't know if this would work but I'm not interested in tearing my boat apart and rebuilding it. However, NautiDuck has given me an idea that might work.If tubes could be inflated and tied to a line and that line ran under the boat to the otherside and to a winch, one might be able to winch it down under the water and cleat it off. Do this a few times and you might give yourself enough floatation long enough for repairs to be made while at sea.Just an idea. I wonder how much tubing one would need for a 8 ton boat. I've read of boats getting leaks and they try to make it to shore going several hours but fall short by a few miles and sink. Thoughts?ANOTHER IDEA I've been mulling over is some kind of electric timer. One that will fire off an alarm (that only runs for a minute) after a certain amount (adjustable setting) of electricity has been burnt. This can be used for two things: 1) if the alarm sound is adjustable, you can use it to remind yourself that it's time to charge the batteries. 2) to inform you that your bilge pump(s) have worked X hard...X being the number of amps you set the timer to. Lets say you have 3 pumps in the bilge (one primary and two secondary). You get a bad leak but the pumps kick in but you don't hear them and your on a heal that hides the discharge. You don't know you have a leak until the pumps fail (burn up or dead battery) and then your in big trouble. If you put this timer on and all 3 pumps kick in, then the alarm does off and you know about it and can fix the problem before it's too late. You could put a regular alarm on the second pump but that wouldn't tell you the first pump is running (what if the first pump can keep up with the flow). If you put the alarm on the first pump, the alarm will go off so much that you will be disabling it a lot because nobody would want to be woken up in the middle of the night for just a normal pumpout.Another advantage of this timer is that you will know how often your pump is running when your away because it would have a digital readout of the amps. As you see it increasing on each visit to the boat, you will know of progressing problems that will need attention soon or else This timer would also have a reset button on it of course so you may never hear the alarm.I would pay $100 for such a thing right now and I'm sure it would only take $5 to build one if mass produced. All we are talking about in a wire input with a wire output. A digital reading with a reset button and a amp setting (the timer) and the counting of amps going through the wire. Sounds simple huh?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Uh, Franklin, they make those already

1. bilge pump cycle counters, timers and alarms are commercially available2. The Link 10 montiors battery use and counts your amp hoursWhy reinvent the wheel?You might, however, have a good idea with floats.

 

[Franklin]

Stu

Because the current wheel (counters and high water alarms) is square. I want a round wheel.Counters: What if it's only one cycle we are talking about here....don't help any in this case.High water alarms: Doesn't help if the pump can keep up with the leak.Timer: I haven't ever seen one of these but I have a feeling it doesn't cover all the bases like my amp counter does that is connected to an alarm. Alarm is the key thing here because when we are sailing, nobody is paying attention to any counter.