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Needing new fenders?

 
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Storm Dog



Joined: 06 Jan 2020
Posts: 51
City/Region: Biloxi
State or Province: MS
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Mae-C
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 11:05 am    Post subject: Needing new fenders? Reply with quote

My photo album shows the state of my fenders. It's kind of embarrassing! Do I need to replace these? Recommendations ?
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ssobol



Joined: 27 Oct 2012
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City/Region: SW Michigan
State or Province: MI
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C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: SoBELLE
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 11:43 am    Post subject: Re: Needing new fenders? Reply with quote

Storm Dog wrote:
My photo album shows the state of my fenders. It's kind of embarrassing! Do I need to replace these? Recommendations ?


Fenders can be cleaned. If water and detergent doesn't get them clean try alcohol or MEK.

Looks like they also need air. For the cylindrical ones you need an inflation adapter (~$3 ea) to allow using a tire or bicycle pump to inflate them. Like your car tires, fenders slowly lose some air over time. You only need one adapter, not one per fender.

Never had a ball fender, so I don't know how they are inflated. There is a way to do it, because when you buy them they are shipped deflated.
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Marco Flamingo



Joined: 09 Jul 2015
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 11:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just bought a boat with fenders in that condition and chose to clean them up. NAPA waterless hand cleaner will get rid of creosote. SoftScrub will get rid of most of the rest. I had mine in a big tub and finished by letting each one sit in bleach for a few hour. Rinsed them off and good to go. Not perfect, but they will do the job. Larger fenders have a place where you can refill them with a basketball needle and air pump. Mine needed that.

More importantly, I replaced all of the old lines.

Mark
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BTDT



Joined: 07 Jan 2011
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City/Region: Grand Lake Oklahoma
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 12:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I finally gave up on cleaning white fenders and went to black fenders. Problem solved Very Happy
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Storm Dog



Joined: 06 Jan 2020
Posts: 51
City/Region: Biloxi
State or Province: MS
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Mae-C
Photos: Mae-C
PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 12:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I finally gave up on cleaning white fenders and went to black fenders. Problem solved Very Happy


I've been thinking on the logic of this! Future purchases should be black or c-dory green. Thumbs Up
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hardee



Joined: 30 Oct 2006
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 12:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have seen and heard that putting your fenders into the dishwasher and running a couple of cycles can do them wonders. I think you have to do that when the admirable is out for a hair salon appointment Laughing

Recommendations: Taylor Made brand, from West Marine. Between those to warranties you will never have to buy new fenders again.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon


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Wandering Sagebrush



Joined: 21 Jan 2005
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 4:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

TSP, Bleach and Borax will clean them up, you should find the mix quantities on the web. Inflate any that have the valve that accept a needle...
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JamesTXSD



Joined: 01 Mar 2005
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 5:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I take a Clorox Wipe to mine once in a while - that has worked for me for years.
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Catman



Joined: 30 Oct 2003
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 5:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Poor things. Yes, do like the guys have suggested and soon your freshened soldiers will at attention protecting your valuable marine fortress. Peace
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thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 6:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Be careful using some chemicals, such as acetone, lacquer thinner or MEK. They have a tendency to make the surface sticky.

I use a citrus based mildly abrasive hand cleaner, Such as "Go Jo". With a scotch green or white pad if bad. Then I cover them with 303 aero space protectorate to help restore the plasticizers. The fenders are all treated with 303 each year, even if they just need a little soap and water to clean.

You can get fender covers--easier on the boat, and cheaper than fenders. Some fenders carry a life time guarantee.

Filling with air--either the needle valve or some have a plug you screw out, and a taper fitting as in an air gun (no High pressure), just enough that they provide a "cushion".

Clean after each major use--or trip. Should last a long time. We found one 36" round fender which had floated over 1000 miles on The Atlantic. Since we had plenty of time on passage, we scraped off the foot or so of barnicals and marine growth. Cleaned with the hand cleaner, and used for a number of years. The surface was faded, but worked fine.

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Thataway
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ssobol



Joined: 27 Oct 2012
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 6:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

thataway wrote:
Be careful using some chemicals, such as acetone, lacquer thinner or MEK. They have a tendency to make the surface sticky.
...


The stickiness goes away when the solvent evaporates. I just put the solvent on a paper towel and wipe the fender down.
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Robert H. Wilkinson



Joined: 26 Jan 2011
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 10:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

thataway wrote:

You can get fender covers--easier on the boat,


I read once how you could cut the legs off of sweat pants and use them as fender covers. Think you sewed one end, then turned it inside out and sewed elastic into a hem on the other end. Could be removed for cleaning.

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thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 10:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ssobol wrote:
thataway wrote:
Be careful using some chemicals, such as acetone, lacquer thinner or MEK. They have a tendency to make the surface sticky.
...


The stickiness goes away when the solvent evaporates. I just put the solvent on a paper towel and wipe the fender down.


I have not found that to be the case with some fenders. They will remain "sticky" and become far more contaminated. Just my experience--and yours may vary. But I don't use the organic solvents after several 'failures".
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Storm Dog



Joined: 06 Jan 2020
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City/Region: Biloxi
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C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Mae-C
Photos: Mae-C
PostPosted: Wed May 06, 2020 2:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks a lot for all the great info!

Glenn
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