Retrieving fenders

[baz]

At the Bremerton Rendezvous I noticed several boats having light-weight small diameter lines attached to the bottom of their fenders. I assume this line is to make it easier to retrieve the fender by pulling on this line rather than hauling the fender up using the line attached to the top end of the fender. Do I have this correct ? If so, just how much easier is it and does the extra line cause any issue with fender storage when underway ?

I can see that this technique for fender retrieval would or could be a good solution for our R-25's port side front fender. My 1st mate does have trouble pulling up this fender as she has to lean out the front port side window and heave up the fender and jam it into the vertical rail too secure it. However, I'm struggling with how much easier it would be if there was a small diameter line attached to the bottom of this fender as it seems there's one more line to store and secure and there's no relief for her having to lean and stretch her arm out the window!

More often than not, I simply jump over to the port window while kneeling on the seat and heave in the fender quickly and secure it. The extra line attached to the bottom of this fender seems to me to be rather superfluous and more of a hindrance than being beneficial.

Comments welcomed. 🙂

 

[Ram]

I've devised what I think is a very clever fender-retrieval system. My wife loves it, and it is a boon to single-handing. I've attached a line to the top end of the forward fender that is tied to the bow railing just above the aft stanchion (just outside the drive/pasenger windows). There is another line attached to the top of the aft fender that is tied to the handhold where you enter the cockpit. Then, there is a third line tied between the bottoms of the two fenders.

When I want to pull up the fenders I go into the cockpit and pull the aft fender into the cockpit. This causes the forward fender to flip up and onto the side deck. If I want to I can reach out and squeeze it into the space between the bow rail and the cabin side, but I only do this if I'm out on a long cruise and might encounter rough weather. Normally it stays on the side deck just fine. Deploying is just the reverse - drop the aft fender over and give it a little flick to release the forward fender.

I have this setup on both sides of the boat (total 4 fenders). I can adjust the height and position of the fenders pretty easily just by reaching out the window and sliding the attachment of the forward fender forward and aft on the bow railing. A side benefit is that it holds the fenders up at a slight angle which keeps the bottoms above the waterline while still having good coverage of the topsides.

 

[Newtugnut]

An interesting retrieval system. I take it you still have your regular fender lines tied to their typical positions on the rail fore and aft.

Not sure what the retreiving line is doing from the fwd fender to the wheel house area (unless you just wnat to flip that one in alone)

I take it that puling the stern retrieving line flips the stern fender into the boat, and at the same time (by virtue of the line connecting the fender bottoms) flips in the front fender.

Again, neat system/idea