Couldn't find prior wisdom on fender count and size

P

potter water

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Still Crazy was fenderless until I bought a 3pack of 8 inch fenders from West Marine. They look pretty big for my CD22. I'm thinking of trading them for 6 inchers.

What is the aggregate wisdom for us inland lake Doryers such as on Lake powell about fender size and how many? I've typically had four much smaller ones on my 19 foot sail boat.

Is there a rationale that size matters when it comes to DC 22 fenders? I did a "fender" search and didn't see any good threads on C-brats.
 
Right you are!

We are salt water users but we carry two 8 inch diameter units with covers from primary use and two 6in units for "other" needs. The covers on the two primary units keep the dock squeaks away and are priceless to us.

The 6in size seemed a bit small for bumpy landings and exposed pier tieups at jagged docks in our area.
 
we carry four six inchers, when we go into marinas we have two on either side as we don't always know the set up . We carry two more large ones on the roof for rafting up or if the marina has fixed docks so we can hang a big one side ways with a rope out either end and tied to the roof rail in two places so the bumper stays between the boat and the piling.
D.D.
 
We carry 4 of the 8", plus a larger round fender that comes in real handy if there is a tight fit coming in or leaving the dock. With the round one where the hull curves in (on our boat, right where the bow rail ends), I can come in to the dock and rotate on that fender. If we are boat-to-boat, leaving, we can take a loop with a line on the bow, rotate on that fender to 45º, let go of the loop, and back off... that round fender has come in handy many times. Also works well when rafting up.

JarviesCampE.jpg

RaftUpE.jpg

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
We carry four eight inch fenders plus sometimes two of the spherical orange fenders about 18" in diameter, I think they are size zero. We rarely use all at once but normally have three out in a marina. I think you'll find the six inch a little small. As to lake versus salt water, I don't think that has any bearing on fender size. You want to protect your boat from docks, lock wall, other boats, etc. and salt or fresh water doesn't matter. :lol:
 
I also use the 8" fenders and carry 4 of them. I have been meaning to get one of those round orange or white fenders for use as a pivot point, and rafting, as Jim suggests. Any of you Tom Cat owners have suggestions as to a good size?

Warren
 
JamesTXSD":2e17qqhs said:
We carry...a larger round fender that comes in real handy if there is a tight fit coming in or leaving the dock. With the round one where the hull curves in (on our boat, right where the bow rail ends), I can come in to the dock and rotate on that fender.
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How do you manage this fender for docking? It looks like the line comes off of a bow cleat - so I'm guessing that you either go forward on the side deck or possibly up through the bow hatch. I'd really like to get a teardrop in that location but I'm often single-handed so I'm reluctant to use the side decks and I think using the bow hatch would be a PITA. A retrieval line rigged to the bottom to throw it up on the side deck would obscure the sidelight.
 
I think if you are using the large round bumper up front as Jim has mentioned you would come up to the dock slowly but at an angle let the front round bumper make contact with the dock and then turn your motor to pivot off the round bumper to bring the rear of the boat parallel to the dock. Have a line on a the mid cleat and tie that fast to the dock first and then go about getting the bow and aft lines tied and and adjusted once you are fastened to the dock. We always tie the mid cleat to the dock first. If you have people on the dock that want to help you can just throw a bow line and the stern line and your done. Except for the spring lines to prevent boat from moving to much forward or to the rear. I'm sure others will chime in. Everyone does things a little different this works for us.

D.D.
 
Will-C":2oz83g29 said:
I think if you are using the large round bumper up front as Jim has mentioned you would come up to the dock slowly but at an angle...
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Yes - that would be my intention - I am finding that I'm coming in at a steeper approach angle than I am used to with my other boats and that a fender off the midships cleat (or cabin handrail) isn't quite forward enough. But it's not clear to me how to deploy (and retrieve) this fender conveniently and safely when single-handed. Any suggestions?
 
Center Island,

We have the same round fender as does Wild Blue. It just fits through the sliding side window on our 22'. We have pad eyes installed just below the window so we can just clip it there but it is also possible to tie it to the midships cleat just forward of the window.
 
colobear":1xu12tlo said:
Center Island,

We have the same round fender as does Wild Blue. It just fits through the sliding side window on our 22'. We have pad eyes installed just below the window so we can just clip it there but it is also possible to tie it to the midships cleat just forward of the window.
Click to expand...

We do the same thing though we have a loop in the fender whip that we secure to the cleat under the window.
When tied to the dock the eye of the round fender taps against the hull when secured this way. Now, while docked, we tie the fender to the bull rail to eliminate said tapping.
 
Kerri On has 3 fenders of 8 inch and 3 of 6 inch aboard for rafting and gales. She also has 3 sets of ground tackle ( anchors chain and rode) and 8 docklines. Also the lazarette has a bunch of rope in various sizes, I am a recent convert to the Dark Side from sail. Does it show much?
Where'd my waterline go? One dark night you just gotta have an extra fender or two and more rope.
George
 
I added a D ring hook under the sliding windows on each side of the boat and bought a flat foam fender from WM which just has a clip on it. I use this single handing and also those times when you plan for coming in on one side and at the last minute need to change to the other side, this just takes a few seconds to swap the fender to the other side.

When I am ties up then change out to regular fenders. This flat one stows easily, it also saves the wife from going forward to place fenders and makes her happier in docking situations, which means I can buy more toys! I will use this same idea when I ask for the windlass.
 
My feeling is to carry no more fenders than you really need. I need the storage for fishing gear, wine and food. Both the size and number of fenders I carried went down the longer I owned the 22'. Eventually I settled on four 8" fenders. Two on a side - one at the bulkhead and one near the front of the cabin. That was all I really needed.
 
On the Tom Cat we have 3 8" fenders and 2 6" fenders. The 6" both have tided on snap shackles which are used on the fold down "D" rings which I have put on the deck of any C Dory which did not have a cleat very handy to the window. (The D rings are rated at over 2500 lbs, so I also have 3/8" line to use as a spring when docking, which I can loop over a cleat, bull rail or piling when docking).

I have used the flat fender--instead of a fender board, but still prefer a real fender board--and if cruising in locks etc--will have a fender board ready to use.

I have also carried several large inflatable fenders (as I recollect 12" diameter and 30" long) Thes work very well for rafting.
 
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