Anyone have any experience with Fender Hangers like the Boat Saver Fender Hanger or Taylor equivalent. These attach onto vertical stantions. Designed to attach and adjust fenders without tying knot.
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Our first boat came with fender hangers that...
clipped onto the life lines. Being new to boating and the PO seemed to like them I used them without any issues; they seemed to work okay. Our new boat did not have them, but it does have the traditional extruded aluminum toe rail. Since its' displacement puts considerably more pressure and stress on fenders when docking I decided to clip (using SS carabiners) the fenders onto the toe rail for greater strength. I use the tubular type fenders with a line through the center with the bottom of the fender about two inches off the water. This has worked for us in 90% of our docking even though the line is a fixed length. Rafting up is about the only time I hang them from the life lines, placing the fenders where I need them. I carry extras of the same kind of fenders but with a longer pig tail so that I can place them where needed if the fixed length fenders will not work. In that case I make a small loop, push it through the toe rail hole with the bitter end through the small loop. This locks the fender in the right position and it is easy to release. Terry
clipped onto the life lines. Being new to boating and the PO seemed to like them I used them without any issues; they seemed to work okay. Our new boat did not have them, but it does have the traditional extruded aluminum toe rail. Since its' displacement puts considerably more pressure and stress on fenders when docking I decided to clip (using SS carabiners) the fenders onto the toe rail for greater strength. I use the tubular type fenders with a line through the center with the bottom of the fender about two inches off the water. This has worked for us in 90% of our docking even though the line is a fixed length. Rafting up is about the only time I hang them from the life lines, placing the fenders where I need them. I carry extras of the same kind of fenders but with a longer pig tail so that I can place them where needed if the fixed length fenders will not work. In that case I make a small loop, push it through the toe rail hole with the bitter end through the small loop. This locks the fender in the right position and it is easy to release. Terry
Well ---
Last summer I bought some fender hangers that clamped to the vetical stantion. It was made of plastic and opened wide enough to surround the stantion and then closed and was finally secured with one or two small bolts to keep the hanger from slipping down the stantion. The ends that were brought together resembled a clam cleat and the top of the hanger had a depression that looked like a shallow hook. The fender line came up from the bottom of the hanger, wrapped around the stantion and layed over line in the shallow hook. The whole thing is abour 4 in.h x 3 in.w x 1 1/4in. thick. It easy to put the fender on or take off. I have no idea the brand or name of the hanger, but I did find it at Boat US. So far, I like it.
Last summer I bought some fender hangers that clamped to the vetical stantion. It was made of plastic and opened wide enough to surround the stantion and then closed and was finally secured with one or two small bolts to keep the hanger from slipping down the stantion. The ends that were brought together resembled a clam cleat and the top of the hanger had a depression that looked like a shallow hook. The fender line came up from the bottom of the hanger, wrapped around the stantion and layed over line in the shallow hook. The whole thing is abour 4 in.h x 3 in.w x 1 1/4in. thick. It easy to put the fender on or take off. I have no idea the brand or name of the hanger, but I did find it at Boat US. So far, I like it.
Difference
Life lines and stantions are there to protect the crew from falling overboard. A crew member that slips or grabs a life line is putting 200 pounds of force on the life line (depending on their weight)and that is not a steady or constant force. With the fenders attached to the stantions or life lines you would have a force on them that is constantly working up and down putting pressure on and off the stantions and life lines. If the fenders are attached to the toe rail the force is spread out over a broader area than being on a stantion plus the force would be lower on the boat where there will not be as much leverage like it would be on a stantion. In my case I have 6 tons of boat against the fenders when we are going through locks or when the current and wind have me pinned tight against a pier. Just think about how much force that would be on the stantions or life lines compared to a crew member falling against them or grabbing them. On my earlier reply I did say this would cause damage over a period of time not right away. Your crew member is not hanging on to the life line constantly like the fenders would be. Tom
Life lines and stantions are there to protect the crew from falling overboard. A crew member that slips or grabs a life line is putting 200 pounds of force on the life line (depending on their weight)and that is not a steady or constant force. With the fenders attached to the stantions or life lines you would have a force on them that is constantly working up and down putting pressure on and off the stantions and life lines. If the fenders are attached to the toe rail the force is spread out over a broader area than being on a stantion plus the force would be lower on the boat where there will not be as much leverage like it would be on a stantion. In my case I have 6 tons of boat against the fenders when we are going through locks or when the current and wind have me pinned tight against a pier. Just think about how much force that would be on the stantions or life lines compared to a crew member falling against them or grabbing them. On my earlier reply I did say this would cause damage over a period of time not right away. Your crew member is not hanging on to the life line constantly like the fenders would be. Tom
Tom , I hope that the force affecting the boat
through the fenders is not by way of the attaching line. But is instead between the lock wall and the hull. With the rope just holding the fender at the proper level. There are many systems designed to absorb a load repeatedly without deterioration. Example the suspension on your car. For years and thousands of miles it deals with the bumps in the road without failing but if you hit a really big pothole you need repairs. In the same manner the stanchions and lifelines are designed to handle a normal load for many years without failure but when a crew falls against the stanchion, that can be an overload equal to the big pothole. There is a design level that the builders work to for what they expect to represent "normal " use and when you stay within those parameters your boat will not be damaged.
through the fenders is not by way of the attaching line. But is instead between the lock wall and the hull. With the rope just holding the fender at the proper level. There are many systems designed to absorb a load repeatedly without deterioration. Example the suspension on your car. For years and thousands of miles it deals with the bumps in the road without failing but if you hit a really big pothole you need repairs. In the same manner the stanchions and lifelines are designed to handle a normal load for many years without failure but when a crew falls against the stanchion, that can be an overload equal to the big pothole. There is a design level that the builders work to for what they expect to represent "normal " use and when you stay within those parameters your boat will not be damaged.
We use simple bronze clips at the
end of the lines to the fenders. Makes it easier to move, remove, rearrange, stow. No knots, no fancy, expensive, plastic breaky thingys.
end of the lines to the fenders. Makes it easier to move, remove, rearrange, stow. No knots, no fancy, expensive, plastic breaky thingys.
Safety
Ross I see your point with the example of the supension system on your car but over a period of time it wears out and fails. Everything man made at some point wears out. What my concern is that hanging the fenders on the life line will speed up the normal wear over what the intended perpose of the life lines are and cause them to fail when they are most needed. One of my pre-sailing check list items is to check the life lines and make sure there isn't any problems with them. I believe that either way has it good and bad points and it is up to the captain of the boat as to how they like it rigged. I have been enjoying this discussion. I always like to hear other people's view points. My problem is that my spelling and grammer isn't always too good. Tom
Ross I see your point with the example of the supension system on your car but over a period of time it wears out and fails. Everything man made at some point wears out. What my concern is that hanging the fenders on the life line will speed up the normal wear over what the intended perpose of the life lines are and cause them to fail when they are most needed. One of my pre-sailing check list items is to check the life lines and make sure there isn't any problems with them. I believe that either way has it good and bad points and it is up to the captain of the boat as to how they like it rigged. I have been enjoying this discussion. I always like to hear other people's view points. My problem is that my spelling and grammer isn't always too good. Tom
Tom, your spelling and grammer are good
enough. I will use the correct spelling in my replies but won't complain. Another way to consider is with the loading of a small truck. If the truck is rated 1/2 ton and you never exceed that, the suspension will probably last as long as the engine. But if you pile it high with oak firewood day after day and then drive too fast on rough roads. You know the results.
enough. I will use the correct spelling in my replies but won't complain. Another way to consider is with the loading of a small truck. If the truck is rated 1/2 ton and you never exceed that, the suspension will probably last as long as the engine. But if you pile it high with oak firewood day after day and then drive too fast on rough roads. You know the results.
be careful Ross
somebody will probably verbally abuse you for implying their boat is a truck full of (teak) firewood
somebody will probably verbally abuse you for implying their boat is a truck full of (teak) firewood
Don, I have a pretty thick skin and nasty bite
I think I can handle it. I was once commenting on the quality of black locust as fire wood and and some one screamed that I was burning it. I asked if he would feel better if I threw it into the dump? I was at a B&B years ago and they got all of the scraps from the local boat shop. Our hostess said that one night she was feeding the fire with teak scraps and a guest nearly had a heart attack.
I think I can handle it. I was once commenting on the quality of black locust as fire wood and and some one screamed that I was burning it. I asked if he would feel better if I threw it into the dump? I was at a B&B years ago and they got all of the scraps from the local boat shop. Our hostess said that one night she was feeding the fire with teak scraps and a guest nearly had a heart attack.
Change of subject
Ross This is a change in subject. I hope nobody minds. I see your from MD. I was wondering if you ever went to the Annapolis Sailboat show. I have wanted to go but never had the time to get there. It is a long drive from Nashville TN. I didn't take it you were saying my boat was a truck of firewood. Tom
Ross This is a change in subject. I hope nobody minds. I see your from MD. I was wondering if you ever went to the Annapolis Sailboat show. I have wanted to go but never had the time to get there. It is a long drive from Nashville TN. I didn't take it you were saying my boat was a truck of firewood. Tom
Tommy, Yes I have been to the boat show.
But I live about 60 miles north of Annapolis so it isn't a big deal to get there. My wife's parents lived in Erwin, Up in the NE corner near Johnson City so I know the trip from here to there and back. A hard day each way. I didn't think that you had a boat load of teak and if you did that isn't a bad thing. That durn stuff is worth a bunch of money.
But I live about 60 miles north of Annapolis so it isn't a big deal to get there. My wife's parents lived in Erwin, Up in the NE corner near Johnson City so I know the trip from here to there and back. A hard day each way. I didn't think that you had a boat load of teak and if you did that isn't a bad thing. That durn stuff is worth a bunch of money.
time to wiegh in Ross vs tommy
I do pretty much what Tommy does and avoid using the lifelines as a tying point. I will use a stanchion, but only at its base. In my early years of sailing/cruising on Lake Michigan, I was often forced to tie up to docks that had a lot of surge - sometimes so much one could not sleep on board. In those condition, a lot of strain can be put on life lines and on a fender tied to the top of a stanchion. Now days, most docks are better protected and a boat will not be moving up and down nearly as much, so the majority of the strain on the fender is between it and the dock and the hull. A lifeline tie will probably work just fine. Even so, old habits are hard to break and I still avoid using the life lines or the top of a stanchion.
I do pretty much what Tommy does and avoid using the lifelines as a tying point. I will use a stanchion, but only at its base. In my early years of sailing/cruising on Lake Michigan, I was often forced to tie up to docks that had a lot of surge - sometimes so much one could not sleep on board. In those condition, a lot of strain can be put on life lines and on a fender tied to the top of a stanchion. Now days, most docks are better protected and a boat will not be moving up and down nearly as much, so the majority of the strain on the fender is between it and the dock and the hull. A lifeline tie will probably work just fine. Even so, old habits are hard to break and I still avoid using the life lines or the top of a stanchion.
I have occassion to use fenders rarely as we tie
up in our slip port and starboard and spring the boat away from the dock at the stern. I set fenders for docking at a transient dock and when along side another boat. Therefore I have not encountered a situation where the fenders were in more or less constant contact with the dock structure. If that were my situation I think that I would seek alternatives to fenders hung on ropes, perhaps small used aircraft tires hitched over and hung from the dock.
up in our slip port and starboard and spring the boat away from the dock at the stern. I set fenders for docking at a transient dock and when along side another boat. Therefore I have not encountered a situation where the fenders were in more or less constant contact with the dock structure. If that were my situation I think that I would seek alternatives to fenders hung on ropes, perhaps small used aircraft tires hitched over and hung from the dock.
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