Interested in finding the best place to store fenders and lines once under sail. I dont have a huge layout (24') so I don't have a lot of options. Further, I don't always want to throw the slime covered fenders in the galley. Any neat clamps or holding devices for lines? Thanx in advance, Tony
Where do you store your lines
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Clove hitch
Usually I put them in the aft cockpit locker, however, sometimes I will tie them to the aft-most part of the lifeline or the aft rail using a clove hitch followed by a half hitch. Check out the Boat/US or West Marine site -- they have a couple of fender holders that may work for your boat. BTW, your fenders may be hanging too low if they are getting slime on them.
Usually I put them in the aft cockpit locker, however, sometimes I will tie them to the aft-most part of the lifeline or the aft rail using a clove hitch followed by a half hitch. Check out the Boat/US or West Marine site -- they have a couple of fender holders that may work for your boat. BTW, your fenders may be hanging too low if they are getting slime on them.
Anchor Locker?
If you have one, the anchor locker is a reasonable place to store the dock lines and fenders. You just need to make sure that the anchor and rode are still available for immediate deployment in event of an emergency. Oter than that. the lazarrett is where most people store these items. Steve Alchemist C-320
If you have one, the anchor locker is a reasonable place to store the dock lines and fenders. You just need to make sure that the anchor and rode are still available for immediate deployment in event of an emergency. Oter than that. the lazarrett is where most people store these items. Steve Alchemist C-320
Fenders
I tie my dock lines to the railing, fore and aft. Looks fairly neat, keeps them out of the way and ready for use. Fenders, if just day sailing, I leave them tied up to the toe rails. Otherwise I put them in a cockpit locker. I also use a five gallon bucket for line storage. Keep extra anchor rode, ( 150' ) in there, along with some extra dock lines etc. I also use the bucket with a lid on is as a cockpit seat. My cockpit seating is fine for the evenings, but too low to be comfortable when sailing. Have a dog food bucket that has a little foam cushion top on it. Works wonderful when wanting to sit at the helm on a long day.
I tie my dock lines to the railing, fore and aft. Looks fairly neat, keeps them out of the way and ready for use. Fenders, if just day sailing, I leave them tied up to the toe rails. Otherwise I put them in a cockpit locker. I also use a five gallon bucket for line storage. Keep extra anchor rode, ( 150' ) in there, along with some extra dock lines etc. I also use the bucket with a lid on is as a cockpit seat. My cockpit seating is fine for the evenings, but too low to be comfortable when sailing. Have a dog food bucket that has a little foam cushion top on it. Works wonderful when wanting to sit at the helm on a long day.
Tie them to
a length of lifeline strung between two toe rail bolts in your aft locker. Get about three feet of old lifeline, loosen one bolt, wrap the lifeline around the bolt, tighten the bolt (might need a large washer)then do the same to the other end. If you want to get fancy you can swage a loop in the lifeline to go around the bolt. The lines are then out of the way (against the inside of the hull), don't take up a lot of room in the locker and are easily accessible.
a length of lifeline strung between two toe rail bolts in your aft locker. Get about three feet of old lifeline, loosen one bolt, wrap the lifeline around the bolt, tighten the bolt (might need a large washer)then do the same to the other end. If you want to get fancy you can swage a loop in the lifeline to go around the bolt. The lines are then out of the way (against the inside of the hull), don't take up a lot of room in the locker and are easily accessible.
Fixed to my Dock
I recently attached my fenders to the floating dock - no need to ever adjust or move them!
I recently attached my fenders to the floating dock - no need to ever adjust or move them!
small boat fender storage
My fenders hang from the bottom of 2 stanchions when in use. I've tied nylon clips to the bottom of the fenders and just flip them up and hook them to the lifeline when underway or at anchor. It makes life really easy when single-handing, alleviates anxiety in my knot-phobic crew, and takes up no storage space.
My fenders hang from the bottom of 2 stanchions when in use. I've tied nylon clips to the bottom of the fenders and just flip them up and hook them to the lifeline when underway or at anchor. It makes life really easy when single-handing, alleviates anxiety in my knot-phobic crew, and takes up no storage space.
Great minds think alike
Congratulations, Tricia, you made my day by mentioning your nylon clips because I did the very same thing on my Catalina 25. I often singlehand and this seemed like the best way to deploy quickly and avoid tying them up on the top lifeline, which is bad for the stanchions. (On my current boat I'm using those plastic jam cleats that attach around the stanchion; you pull the line into the groove to hold it and then pull the end into a slot to lock it in place). I'm using the fenders with the hole that runs all the way through the center because you don't have to worry about which end of the fender the line is on. I store my fenders in the cockpit locker, and will one day finish my plan to attach a wooden peg-rack across the lip of the locker under the seat so that when I open the locker the bitter ends of fenders and lines will be right there without hunting. For docklines I've been using those vinyl line holders that hang from the bow and stern railings, but they haven't been reliable (they let the line start to fall out and trail into the water).
Congratulations, Tricia, you made my day by mentioning your nylon clips because I did the very same thing on my Catalina 25. I often singlehand and this seemed like the best way to deploy quickly and avoid tying them up on the top lifeline, which is bad for the stanchions. (On my current boat I'm using those plastic jam cleats that attach around the stanchion; you pull the line into the groove to hold it and then pull the end into a slot to lock it in place). I'm using the fenders with the hole that runs all the way through the center because you don't have to worry about which end of the fender the line is on. I store my fenders in the cockpit locker, and will one day finish my plan to attach a wooden peg-rack across the lip of the locker under the seat so that when I open the locker the bitter ends of fenders and lines will be right there without hunting. For docklines I've been using those vinyl line holders that hang from the bow and stern railings, but they haven't been reliable (they let the line start to fall out and trail into the water).
Line storage
My home dock lines stay tied to the dock. I have large eyes that I just drop on the boat's cleats. Seldom do I ever adjust them. My "away" lines are stored in the aft corner cockpit locker on Ronstan line hangers. BTW- I mounted Moonlight Marine rail mount cleats low and outside on the stanchions to hang fenders when in use. The're stowed in the large cockpit locker when under way.
My home dock lines stay tied to the dock. I have large eyes that I just drop on the boat's cleats. Seldom do I ever adjust them. My "away" lines are stored in the aft corner cockpit locker on Ronstan line hangers. BTW- I mounted Moonlight Marine rail mount cleats low and outside on the stanchions to hang fenders when in use. The're stowed in the large cockpit locker when under way.
fender positions and slime
A few years ago Hurricane Bob was coming through and several of us were on the docks making sure our boats weathered it ok. The hurricane was east of us by 40 miles so we saw around 55 knot gusts. These are floating docks. Boats were rocking and rolling so badly that most of them with fenders not touching the water had their fenders pop up above the dock rendering them useless. Many boats were grinding away on the small rub rail on the dock. We spent the night putting fenders back in position and helping protect our and neighbors docks. My opinion is that the fender should be hanging well in the water with slack in the line so there is room for the boat to move before the fender moves. Better chance of the fender staying engaged. It is easy to clean the slime and barnacles off the fenders if done regularly (weekly or every 2 weeks). Other comments? Dave
A few years ago Hurricane Bob was coming through and several of us were on the docks making sure our boats weathered it ok. The hurricane was east of us by 40 miles so we saw around 55 knot gusts. These are floating docks. Boats were rocking and rolling so badly that most of them with fenders not touching the water had their fenders pop up above the dock rendering them useless. Many boats were grinding away on the small rub rail on the dock. We spent the night putting fenders back in position and helping protect our and neighbors docks. My opinion is that the fender should be hanging well in the water with slack in the line so there is room for the boat to move before the fender moves. Better chance of the fender staying engaged. It is easy to clean the slime and barnacles off the fenders if done regularly (weekly or every 2 weeks). Other comments? Dave
fender storage
I keep mine in my cockpit locker, but have seen interesting attempts to store them otherwise. One method is to tie a line through the bottom eye of the fender closest to the bow. Run this line through the eyes of the other fenders. Simply pull on the line and they all come up close to the gunwhale. Just tie them off somewhere aft. Not too pretty, but it works for self-handling and keeps them out of the boat. I have also seen these in use, if you don't mind spending cash. Check out this link to WM.
I keep mine in my cockpit locker, but have seen interesting attempts to store them otherwise. One method is to tie a line through the bottom eye of the fender closest to the bow. Run this line through the eyes of the other fenders. Simply pull on the line and they all come up close to the gunwhale. Just tie them off somewhere aft. Not too pretty, but it works for self-handling and keeps them out of the boat. I have also seen these in use, if you don't mind spending cash. Check out this link to WM.
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