HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT FENDER
While you shouldn’t be that guy cruising down the lake or Intracoastal Waterway with your fenders flapping for all to see, you should invest in the fenders that are best suited to protect your boat. Here’s what to look for in three different kinds of fenders and whether they are right for you. —Pete McDonald
BALL FENDERS Ball fenders are ideal for larger boats because, when properly inflated, they are harder to crush on impact. They are also better for boats with a lot of bow flare because they are wide enough to keep the lower hull sides from hitting the dock. The caveat? If left inflated, they take up more space, which makes them better for boats with large stowage capacities. What size should you get? For round fenders, West Marine recommends 2 inches of diameter for every 4 to 5 feet of boat length. So, a boat in the 30- to 35-foot range should use 21-inch-diameter ball fenders; a boat with a length overall of
50 feet or longer should use the larger 27-inch size.
MISSION SENTRY FENDERS
These new-style fenders were designed specifically for tow-sports boats, but they can work for any small-boat application. These fenders are made from closed-cell foam, contoured to offer protection both above and below the rub rail. They feature a built-in adjustable strap that locks in place when set to the right length for hanging off boat cleats or the dock. The contoured shape lets them provide protection above and on the rub rail. Below the rail, they angle inward to provide fender protection down to
the waterline. Because they are slender and don’t require additional lines, the Sentry fenders are easier to stow aboard smaller boats.
CYLINDER FENDERS
Traditional cylinder fenders are the most popular style available for boats of all shapes and sizes. What size should you get? West Marine recommends fenders with 1 inch of diameter per 4 to 5 feet of boat length. So, a 20- to 25-foot boat should use
at least 6-inch fenders; a 25- to 35-foot boat should use 8-inch fenders. Of course, the bigger the diameter, the more protection there will be between the hull and the dock, so get the biggest fenders you can stow. Cylinder fenders with a hole in the center will roll around a line inserted through them as the water level changes like a wheel on an axle, making them excellent for horizontal use in tidal water.
Make sure any deck hardware used to secure a fender is through-bolted into a backing plate to help distribute any pulling load.
Cylinder fenders can be hung two ways. Horizontal hanging is best when pulling up side-to at a dock or pier. Horizontal hangings work best for sections of the boat that will potentially rub up against exposed pilings.