Fender Covers

[Ted Osborne]

I don't remember reading about protection for fenders. A couple of yrs ago I went to a thrift store and purchased several pair of sweat pants. Cut the legs to fit the length of the fender and had my wife sew in a shoe lace around both ends. Pull it onto the fender and tye both ends. (If the bottom leg has elastic use that at the top of fender) This keeps the fender clean all the time and when the cover gets dirty toss it into the wash or just throw it away. Particularly good around the creasote that is used on a lot of old docks.

[Catman]

Gotta like a boat name like yours, Ted.

Hey, two of my fancy fenders wear blue Polyform synthetic covers. Like 'em. Removable and washable. Plus, they don't make noise at night when they bump against a fiberglass hull.

[rogerbum]

I've always wondered about fender covers.... seems to me that something designed to protect something else that was designed to protect something else is a little unecessary. Maybe that's because I use my boat for fishing so much that I'm a little less particular about looks... But if my attitude changes, I think I'd want fender covers for the fender covers....

[CAVU]

I'm with you Roger on the fender covers. I read a tip in a magazine about dealing with the noise of squeaking fenders at the dock. They advised rubbing a little dishwashing liquid on the noisy fender. I haven't tried it yet but I have been at docks where the squeaks would drive you crazy.

[Catman]

Hey, listen you guys. You get bumped around in life, no? Wear anything?

[rogerbum]

[Captains Cat]

[k3nlind]

Discussing fenders... where to store them... Has anyone found a decent place? Mine are in double fender baskets at the bow... can't see a 900 foot sea crate carrier coming. Obviouslt need a better place.

[Captains Cat]

Mine go nicely between the fuel tanks. On my older CD22, I don't have the starboard covers, just a naugahyde cover over the whole tank area. They leave plenty of room to drain the cockpit back to the bilge pump sump.

Charlie

[KenG]

[quote]Discussing fenders... where to store them... Has anyone found a decent place? Mine are in double fender baskets at the bow... can't see a 900 foot sea crate carrier coming. Obviouslt need a better place.[/quote]

hang `em over the side like I do mine .... just make sure to tie `em on tight.

[Captains Cat]

Sorry KenG, no disrespect intended but, hanging fenders over the side when underway is considered unsailorlike , at least by this swabbie and his 32 years with the USN.

Charlie

[Sea Wolf]

Yup, definitely considered bad form by the Yacht Club Gang in blue blazers and white pants!

In Southern California, they refer to the over the side fenders while underway as "Del Ray Racing Stripes"!!!

But do you care what they think???

For me, it kinda depends upon where I'm at. Out by myself in some remote cove or anchorage, I can' care a hoot.

But when returning to a quality marina where proper etiquette equals seamanship (HA!), I tuck 'em inside the boat.

Situational Ethics, I guess. Joe.

[k3nlind]

[Not For Hire]

I am one of those that put a board across the motor well (and later on a shelf on top). On the back side of the board I mounted some z-gripper cleats. I tie two large round and one smaller cylinder fenders to the back side of the board, with room for one more? Tying them on short leads keeps them from interferring with motors, bounding around, etc. They are out of sight and I think are a good lightweight but bulky item to store back there.

A picture or two in my album someplace.

Mark

[Kent Richmond]

My wife sewed our fender covers from terry-cloth towels. They work really well and were very inexpensive. I've seen fenders eventually wear dust scratches in the gel coat of a boat. With the covers, you don't have to worry about it.
Kent Richmond