Just how many fenders do you need ?

[baz]

When you look around in a Marina the number of fenders hanging from boats varies a great deal. Some of these make sense to me while others do not and seem very much as an over-kill for protecting the boats side.

We have and use 2 fenders (Taylor life time warranty - 8.5" x 26") for each side of our R-25. We do also have 2 large red Tuff-ends fully inflated and ready for use in the event we raft or as extras to hand hold under dire conditions such as 'locking'. The Tuff-ends are kept hanging over the stern in the belly of our transom mounted dinghy.

I've noticed that some TugNuts have as many as 4 fenders on each side. There are TugNut Album photos that show this.

For larger models such as the R-29 and larger I can see the need for maybe 3 fenders for each side.

A 3rd fender for our R-25 only makes sense to me for providing redundancy in the event one fender deflates.

However, from my perspective and my typical use in docking etc I see there's no need for more than 2 fenders for the R-21, R-25, R-25SC and the R-27.

Over the past 4 years I've found my 2 fenders per side is more than adequate. Normally we dock with our starboard side against the dock. If there's ever a need I can always borrow a fender from my Port side to come to the rescue for the Starboard side.

On our R-25, once underway, the forward fender is retrieved (by helmsman) and tucked between the cabin wall and the rear most stanchion and the stern fender is simply retrieved and dropped into the cockpit side. If I were to have a 3rd fender amidship it would be difficult to retrieve once under way. It would require a delicate excursion along the freeboard ledge to retrieve and secure the fender with one hand. Some people use a line attached to the bottom of the midship fender that has its end attached to a cockpit location so that the fender can be hauled in/up and out of the way without having to leave the cockpit.

How many fenders do you require for your Tug and why ?

Thanks... 🙂

 

[JamesTXSD]

I think the proper answer to the question of "how many fenders" would be: as many as the owner deems necessary. We have docked at locations from Florida to the Pacific Northwest, California to the New York Canal System. We've had the wonderful floating docks like you see all the time in the PNW, and pilings with docks you have to get to by standing on top of the boat. We been rafted on one side, and rafted on both sides; bigger boats along side, smaller boats along side. We've been in slips where the neighbor "parks by braile"!! :shock:

Gererally, we carry 5 fenders on Wild Blue - 4 of the "sausage" type and one round one that we move from side to side at the bow. That handles most situation for us. When at home, we keep fenders on the dock, so we don't have to deploy them from the boat. We're now in Friday Harbor. I plan to put two more rectangle shaped fenders on the dock (where the metal connections protrude from the wood rails). The round one allows me to pivot on the dock, sometimes using spring lines (Wild Blue doesn't have those handy thrusters like your tugs).

We had a slip in a marina where the less-than-competitent-often-inebriated boat driver next to us would thump our boat every time on the way into his slip. I made a fender-board that we hung on that side to keep the idiot from whacking us... and got a different slip as soon as one came available. In that circumstance, 50 fenders on one side of the boat might have been enough.

The prudent boat operator doesn't consider fenders a "crutch," rather, they are necessary, functional piece of equipment for the safe operation of the boat. And each owner needs to make the "numbers" decision.

There was one time in the Florida Keys when we stayed at a working boat yard that had "an open slip"... it looked like something out of a Mad Max movie, with metal bits protruding all over. One of the few times I wish I carried more fenders (we were mostly anchoring out during the several months we were there).

Yep, as many as you care to carry.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

 

[RProffer]

Have you ever seen a MidwayUSA commercial? You can always use just one more fender. 😉 😀 :lol:

 

[Ainokea]

I would suggest 3 large ones. One just forward of helm station where now starts to curve in, 1 mid ships and 1aft. Don't use the smaller fenders as these are inadequate

 

[Ainokea]

Sorry replace now with bow.

 

[Gin]

Not sure if it is true of all the models, but the R27 doesn't have a mid-ship cleat. At least, I think I'm right about that. For those who hang a mid-ship fender, where does it attach?

Gini

 

[baz]

Gin:

I have just installed two midship fenders (port & Starboard) on my R-25. I attached a Fendergrip® Fender Adjuster (WM at http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product1_11151_10001_20147_-1#.UZMnmJW9P4M) to the handrail running along the cabin roof just above the eyebrows. The Fender line is then hung from there. While underway I have the fender secured on the roof such that I can release it from the cockpit by reaching my hand to its safety line and allowing it to fall into place. The Fendergrip® Fender Adjuster can be used to easily and quickly position the fender up or down to the desired position. I tie a knot in the end of the fender line so it cannot run out of the Adjuster as a safety precaution. 🙂

Sample photo for the Fendergrip® Fender Adjuster copied from the WM site.

 

[sleepyboat]

Barry,

How did you resolve the problem of line chafe on the window brow? I was doing the same thing but quickly noticed that the line was chewing at the finish of the brow. I ended up hanging the line on the next rail forward between the two brows. I wanted mid ship but settled for less damage.

John

 

[avpilot]

Concerning the Taylor Made Tuff End Buoys (ie, the round fenders referenced in the originating query in this thread) - What size round fender is considered "large" and adequate for a R-25? These fenders come in a variety of diameters - 9", 12", 15", 18", 21", and greater.

We are in the process of outfitting our new R25SC and we would appreciate tapping into the knowledge and experience of the group. Thanks.

Gregg and Kathy
Santolina, R25SC

 

[Gin]

Barry, I have seen Fendergrips before, but never used one. Thanks for the tip. The chaffing of the eyebrow, per John, is concerning though. Might have to settle for it being not perfectly midship. Our last boat was much smaller (20) but otherwise very similar in configuration to an R25 or R27. It had a midship cleat that we used extensively, not only for hanging a fender, but equally importantly to easily control the boat when the first mate steps initially steps on to the dock. A midship line together with the bow or stern line generally made easy work of controlling the boat in just about any wind or current.

I assume one is not on the Rangers because it would prove such a toe-stubber going forward and aft on the side rails. Looks like there is a solution for the fender. Does anyone do anything to create the equivalent of a midship line for dock handling?

Gini

 

[baz]

Concerning the Taylor Made Tuff End Buoys (ie, the round fenders referenced in the originating query in this thread) - What size round fender is considered "large" and adequate for a R-25? These fenders come in a variety of diameters - 9", 12", 15", 18", 21", and greater.

We are in the process of outfitting our new R25SC and we would appreciate tapping into the knowledge and experience of the group. Thanks.

Gregg and Kathy
Santolina, R25SC

I use the 18" Tuff End buoys if I recall and find they are adequate. I will check their diameter later today and post back. Taylor fenders have a lifetime warranty and WM makes no fuss if you ever walk in with a defective Taylor fender as they simply tell you to go over and pickup another one from the shelf. So far none of my Taylor fenders have failed with 4 years of use.

 

[baz]

Barry,

How did you resolve the problem of line chafe on the window brow? I was doing the same thing but quickly noticed that the line was chewing at the finish of the brow. I ended up hanging the line on the next rail forward between the two brows. I wanted mid ship but settled for less damage.

John

Yes... I was concerned about this and spent a fair bit of time trying to figure out a hanging method to avoid this 'chafing' issue.

I found that the Fendergrip® dimensional format allows its side corner to rest on the cabin roof just inboard of the eye brow fiberglass when deployed and the line from the Fendergrip® hanging down to the fender aligns/angles itself just outboard of the eye brow. The line angles out away from the cabin wall because the fender is up against the boat's hull which is more outboard than the eye brow. I think this technique should work to avoid the line from chafing the eye brow... hopefully. 🙂

I will take a photo later and post it here that should depict what I mean by the above.

N.B. If you have a Wallas stove be sure not to position the midship fender where the Wallas stove's very hot exhaust gases exit through the hull. The gases are hot enough to deform/melt a fender and could in fact cause a fire hazard presumably. I measured the exhaust gases a year or so back with an IR temp sensor and it was 270ºF to 310ºF. :roll: See my post at http://www.tugnuts.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=635&p=4321&hilit=ir+temp#p4321

 

[Bruce Moore]

Does anyone do anything to create the equivalent of a midship line for dock handling?

Gini

I had a few of these rings made up by Bolton. They manufacture many of the stainless components for Ranger Tugs. The ring sits securely in the slots meant for the two-step ladder used to access the topside. The line from the bottom of the fender is secured to the grab rail on the back of the cabin. They're easy to move as needed. We just use rail loops and half-hitches to secure lines wherever we want them. Quick and easy to adjust.



Cheers,

Bruce

 

[baz]

Bruce: That is/was a clever approach especially the fender retrieval line technique.

For me, I always have the 2-step ladder attached securely on my starboard side as I find storing it is troublesome. I always try to dock stern in with a Starboard side tie, otherwise its bow in with Starboard side tie. I did try attaching my midship fender from the ladder but found it was to far back from the midship position and was a fixed location, so I abandoned that idea.

Another goal for me was to figure out how to stow the midship fender tiredly when not in use. I concluded the best way to accomplish this was to have the fender lay on the cabin topside alongside the eye brow handrail and close to the Bimini attachment to the topside. BTW my midship fender is white and blends into the white cabin topside nicely and isn't that obvious/noticeable to the eye. I will always stow this midship fender before leaving the dock otherwise stowing when underway would be too difficult for me. So far I've got along just fine having just the stern and bow fenders. The midship fender IMO is there for 'just in case' scenarios. 🙂

 

[baz]

Concerning the Taylor Made Tuff End Buoys (ie, the round fenders referenced in the originating query in this thread) - What size round fender is considered "large" and adequate for a R-25? These fenders come in a variety of diameters - 9", 12", 15", 18", 21", and greater.

We are in the process of outfitting our new R25SC and we would appreciate tapping into the knowledge and experience of the group. Thanks.

Gregg and Kathy
Santolina, R25SC

I measured my Tuff Ends and I came up with 16". Looking at the WM web site (Model #161703) I see they must be the 15" ones as 18" was way off my measurement. Hope that helps. 🙂

 

[baz]

Barry, I have seen Fendergrips before, but never used one. Thanks for the tip. The chaffing of the eyebrow, per John, is concerning though. Might have to settle for it being not perfectly midship. Our last boat was much smaller (20) but otherwise very similar in configuration to an R25 or R27. It had a midship cleat that we used extensively, not only for hanging a fender, but equally importantly to easily control the boat when the first mate steps initially steps on to the dock. A midship line together with the bow or stern line generally made easy work of controlling the boat in just about any wind or current.

I assume one is not on the Rangers because it would prove such a toe-stubber going forward and aft on the side rails. Looks like there is a solution for the fender. Does anyone do anything to create the equivalent of a midship line for dock handling?

Gini

Gin: Here are some photos showing my Fendergrip on Starboard side. I position it so it's at right angles to the overhead luggage bar. This then allows the fender line to be outboard of the eye brow by about 1" with the fender hanging down nicely. I'm in the process of making the right angle a little more permanent but have not come up with a suitable design yet. Currently it's held at right angles by securing it this way using the unused portion of the fender line. Good enough for now.

I tuck the white fender as far back as possible toward the cockpit so I can reach it and deploy it when necessary. It is secured with a small white nylon line that is easily untied when the fender needs to be lowered just before docking.

The fender and line is purposely White so that the fender and its line is as much as possible unnoticeable. 🙂 ...and tidy looking. 😉

 

[pleeson]

Just a quick comment on an alternate or additional use of the adjustable fender grip product. I use the sausage style fenders and attach a second light 3/8 dock line to the lower anchor point of the fender. When leaving the dock pull this line through the self locking fender grip to bring the fender up to a horizontal position just below deck level. Out of the way, and a quick press of the release drops the fender vertical again for the next docking event. I can reach the forward fender release from the cabin windows, and the cockpit easily accesses the rear grips. Just use your railings for these anchor points. No fender storage worries, and only a slight adjustment required on what is now the semi-permanent upper line when dealing with widely abnormal situations of dock heights. Assuming your fenders are hung middle of the road between waterline and deck level, this issue should arise very rarely indeed.

 

[Gin]

Barry, thanks for posting the pics. Helpful!

Gini