Arthur Beale POP Fender
This is not a conventional fender. It’s not pneumatic, but is rigid although not solid, and works like a spring, writes Katy
Stickland. Its ends are telescopic for ease of stowage, which would be useful on smaller boats where space is a premium. It’s suitable for use on boats up to 26ft/8m.
During the recently windy weather, the POP fender has done what it says on the tin and successfully fended nine tons of boat off the pontoon. This is the first telescopic fender available in the UK, and telescopes from 250mm to 620mm.
At £109 it is expensive compared to conventional fenders, but as far as its claims to be non-marking and nonsqueaking, I can confirm that these claims hold water; for those spending nights on board during rough/windy weather, the lack of squeaking would be a real plus.
Due to its construction, however, I’m not sure it could be deployed quite as flexibly as a conventional fender, for example horizontally or in a chain of multiple fenders. It is also smaller in diameter than
a conventional fender and therefore does not mix and match well.
For boat owners concerned about their environmental impact, the POP fender is made from Santoprene Thermoplastic Vulcanizates (TPV) which contains non-toxic PVC and no plasticizers; it’s this lack of plasticizers which eliminates squeaking and reduces streaking. It can’t burst and will always float, unlike conventional fenders which, when deflated, sink. It can be washed in a dishwasher at 65° too–a bonus for those who like to keep their boats shipshape!
ARTHUR BEALE POP FENDER
Price: RRP £109 Contact: www.arthurbeale.co.uk