Needing new fenders?
- Thread starter Storm Dog
- Start date
Storm Dog":2tyn8s8i said:
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.
Marco Flamingo
Active member
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
More importantly, I replaced all of the old lines.
Mark
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 :lol:
Recommendations: Taylor Made brand, from West Marine. Between those to warranties you will never have to buy new fenders again.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Recommendations: Taylor Made brand, from West Marine. Between those to warranties you will never have to buy new fenders again.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Wandering Sagebrush
Free Range Human
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...
eace: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.
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.
Robert H. Wilkinson
New member
thataway":1gd469g2 said:
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.