Dock mounted fenders/bumpers

[Craigmconrad]

Hello all,

What are the best fenders/dock bumpers to prevent hull rash. My fenders currently have fleece covers which do a good job, but wanted to install dock bumpers (attached to dock, not boat) to use instead. Should I mount fenders horizontally with fleece covers? Any thoughts or what have you seen that works good? New floating dock going in right now.

TIA, Craig

 

[Rebel112r]

I use regular Polyform 8 inch fenders, tied horizontally to the dock above waterline. No problem with fender rash so far. Saves time when returning to home dock. Been doing it this way for 20+ years.

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

I use regular Polyform 8 inch fenders, tied horizontally to the dock above waterline. No problem with fender rash so far. Saves time when returning to home dock. Been doing it this way for 20+ years.

If I did dock fenders, this is what I'd do. No covers. Presuming the dock is a floater.

 

[Craigmconrad]

I use regular Polyform 8 inch fenders, tied horizontally to the dock above waterline. No problem with fender rash so far. Saves time when returning to home dock. Been doing it this way for 20+ years.

If I did dock fenders, this is what I'd do. No covers. Presuming the dock is a floater.

Why not cover the fenders?

 

[SKing]

No mater how soft, anything that constantly moves against your hull will scratch it or buff patterns in it. With that in mind arrange your fenders so that the one touching the boat is moving with the boat. Add a TaylorMade rub rail to the dock and still use fenders hung from the boat. Or better yet what happened recently to me was, I was able to move into a new slip that allowed me to spring the boat away from the dock and avoide all rubbing.

Taylor Made Products https://a.co/d/f2ItbZv 50ft for $370 if a great price. You don't need thicker than that either.

 

[Full_O_Fish]

If it's your own personal dock/slip I can't recommend highly enough the product by profender international. Myself and many others in my area have switched our docks over to them. Basically its a metal track which replaces the dock rub rail and a full length fender is wrapped in carpet and secured in it. Now I only carry a couple fenders for when visiting other ports.

 

[Rebel112r]

A cheap way to cover fenders is to buy xxl sweat pants from Walmart, really cheap, and in my case have daughter cut legs to fit and sew in elastic in the ends. Works ok and way cheaper than the marine ones that are 40 to fifty bucks.

 

[Craigmconrad]

If it's your own personal dock/slip I can't recommend highly enough the product by profender international. Myself and many others in my area have switched our docks over to them. Basically its a metal track which replaces the dock rub rail and a full length fender is wrapped in carpet and secured in it. Now I only carry a couple fenders for when visiting other ports.

This looks like a great product. I am going to see if I can get a sample of the carpet to see if its abrasive at all.

 

[Craigmconrad]

If it's your own personal dock/slip I can't recommend highly enough the product by profender international. Myself and many others in my area have switched our docks over to them. Basically its a metal track which replaces the dock rub rail and a full length fender is wrapped in carpet and secured in it. Now I only carry a couple fenders for when visiting other ports.

I submitted a request online for a swatch of their carpet to see how abrasive it was. 2 hrs later, I received a call from the owner and founder, Ross Cooney. He answered all my questions and told me to call him personally if I needed more information. I was impressed. Will be placing an order in the next 48 hrs.

 

[Almanac]

The guy around here that does ceramic coating also installed clear paint protection film like you would see on cars on the 2 spots on each port/starboard sides of my boat that fenders rub to protect the hull. Some of that automotive film is self-healing and pretty great and also can be replaced fairly easily. This could work for your dock and also while you're away. It's nearly invisible.

 

[Craigmconrad]

The guy around here that does ceramic coating also installed clear paint protection film like you would see on cars on the 2 spots on each port/starboard sides of my boat that fenders rub to protect the hull. Some of that automotive film is self-healing and pretty great and also can be replaced fairly easily. This could work for your dock and also while you're away. It's nearly invisible.

Yes, I watched the YT video posted by Channel Surfing, it looks impressive. I just don't want the hassle of pulling/deploying fenders every time I leave my home dock.

 

[Almanac]

The guy around here that does ceramic coating also installed clear paint protection film like you would see on cars on the 2 spots on each port/starboard sides of my boat that fenders rub to protect the hull. Some of that automotive film is self-healing and pretty great and also can be replaced fairly easily. This could work for your dock and also while you're away. It's nearly invisible.

Yes, I watched the YT video posted by Channel Surfing, it looks impressive. I just don't want the hassle of pulling/deploying fenders every time I leave my home dock.

Exactly. I do the same thing and leave fenders deployed at home dock. The paint protection film is always attached to my boat. No matter how I use fenders it works. Isn't this exactly what you need?

 

[Chimo]

The guy around here that does ceramic coating also installed clear paint protection film like you would see on cars on the 2 spots on each port/starboard sides of my boat that fenders rub to protect the hull. Some of that automotive film is self-healing and pretty great and also can be replaced fairly easily. This could work for your dock and also while you're away. It's nearly invisible.

Yes, I watched the YT video posted by Channel Surfing, it looks impressive. I just don't want the hassle of pulling/deploying fenders every time I leave my home dock.

Exactly. I do the same thing and leave fenders deployed at home dock. The paint protection film is always attached to my boat. No matter how I use fenders it works. Isn't this exactly what you need?

We have used this solution for 5 years now. Still the original 3M product. Talk to the installer and go for the best quality product. Make sure the corners get rounded. No brainer!

 

[S. Todd]

At Indianapolis boat show I just saw a product that I would install if I had a permanent dock. Dock or post mounted fenders that roll as you are pulling into or out of slip and need a little fender assistance. Their website is: www.sidekickconcepts.com
I have no interest in this company and did not price them, but the product impressed me as a better mousetrap.

 

[Craig]

Nomar bumper systems work great and are manufactured locally in Washington. We have used them for three years at our marina and work flawlessly. They leave no hull marks.

 

[Craigmconrad]

Ended up going with ProFender, https://profendermarine.com/products/profender-custom-dock-fenders. They are great so far.

 

[Craigmconrad]