Sweatpants fender covers

dvx216

dvx216

Well-Known Member
GOLD Sponsor
Feb 1, 2012
2,696
Catawaba Island/Orrville,Oh.
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2001
Engines
8.1s 370 v drv.
So last year my old scratched up stained slip fenders made a mess of my hull. So over the winter I bought a pair of large sweatpants for 5 bucks at the thrift store. I stretched them over the fenders and secured them with some wire at the bottom. They covered up my tired looking fenders and did a great job without marking up my hull or squeaking over night.After a season of use they still look great and I will be using them next season.
 
Sailrite sells "boat blanket" fabric which holds up well, and is soft on the boat.

They have several videos on how to fabricate if you have a sewing machine. For a few bucks, you can have a professional fender cover that will last. For the DIY'er, it is something fairly easy.

 
MonacoMike said:
I was under the impression that once they get dirty they "sand" the hull. Is that not true?

MM
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I would say that holds true with anything dirty against the hull. I'm sure that the guys with black hulls have more to deal with, but for white....I'm happy with fender covers. Just keep them clean.
 
PMC said:
I would say that holds true with anything dirty against the hull. I'm sure that the guys with black hulls have more to deal with, but for white....I'm happy with fender covers. Just keep them clean.
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Do you take them off and wash them regularly.

MM
 
Well I'm not sure how they would get dirty maybe in salt water or if they were in the water I have a floating dock so they stay out of the water. I didn't have an problems with dirt and no signs of any scratches in my hull.
 
dvx216 said:
Well I'm not sure how they would get dirty maybe in salt water or if they were in the water I have a floating dock so they stay out of the water. I didn't have an problems with dirt and no signs of any scratches in my hull.
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It gets dirty just like your boat does and if not washed periodically the dirt grips to the fabric and sands your hull. So I have been told.

MM
 
I have used this trick for many years. Nice thing is that they may get dirty, but they rinse off easily. Trick is to not let them sit in the water and they stay pretty good. I get about 2 years out of them and no hull scratches.
 
66pony said:
I have used this trick for many years. Nice thing is that they may get dirty, but they rinse off easily. Trick is to not let them sit in the water and they stay pretty good. I get about 2 years out of them and no hull scratches.
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The Admiral has been wanting me to get them. Thanks all,

MM
 
Might be worth it just for getting rid of squeaks.
 
sbw1 said:
Might be worth it just for getting rid of squeaks.
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I agree, however would add that fenders that touch the boat should not be part the home tie up scheme. This is not to imply they cannot be set as a safety, just not a primary, the lines should keep the boat off the dock. We mainly use fenders when traveling.

MM
 
MonacoMike said:
I agree, however would add that fenders that touch the boat should not be part the home tie up scheme. This is not to imply they cannot be set as a safety, just not a primary, the lines should keep the boat off the dock. We mainly use fenders when traveling.

MM
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The only time we use fenders is when we travel and can't get a four way tie. We spent a miserable night on the east dock in Harbor Springs this past summer. Had a strong east wind and spent the night going up and down with fenders squeaking all night. Getting rid of the sqeak would have added a small measure of comfort at least.
 
sbw1 said:
The only time we use fenders is when we travel and can't get a four way tie. We spent a miserable night on the east dock in Harbor Springs this past summer. Had a strong east wind and spent the night going up and down with fenders squeaking all night. Getting rid of the sqeak would have added a small measure of comfort at least.
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What type fenders do you carry? Where do you stow them?

MM
 
MonacoMike said:
I agree, however would add that fenders that touch the boat should not be part the home tie up scheme. This is not to imply they cannot be set as a safety, just not a primary, the lines should keep the boat off the dock. We mainly use fenders when traveling.

MM
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Mike ---in a case like mine where my home slip is against a seawall and I don't have the luxury of a four corner tie up, I have no choice but to use a fender to keep my rubrail from rubbing thru the dock.

I pull head in and along the port side. the starboard corner has nothing to tie to except the seawall on the port side, and unfortunately you cant rub up against a seawall like you can a piling.

And at this point I will add that I have been using fenders with socks over them for more than twelve years and have not had any damage whatsoever from my fenders. Any fender scratches I have received thru the years has always occurred during raftups.
 
I carry four large fenders 10 inch by 24 inch , stored in bilge up against fuel tanks.

And like everything else on my boat they get cleaned way to often.
 
Sublimetime said:
Mike ---in a case like mine where my home slip is against a seawall and I don't have the luxury of a four corner tie up, I have no choice but to use a fender to keep my rubrail from rubbing thru the dock.

I pull head in and along the port side. the starboard corner has nothing to tie to except the seawall on the port side, and unfortunately you cant rub up against a seawall like you can a piling.

And at this point I will add that I have been using fenders with socks over them for more than twelve years and have not had any damage whatsoever from my fenders. Any fender scratches I have received thru the years has always occurred during raftups.
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I should have acknowledged there are exceptions. Is there no way to anchor in a cleat on the wall?

MM
 
MonacoMike said:
What type fenders do you carry? Where do you stow them?

MM
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We use the large cylinders when traveling in the USA and the ball type when in Canada. Store them under the starboard L seat. Lots of room there.
 
MonacoMike said:
I should have acknowledged there are exceptions. Is there no way to anchor in a cleat on the wall?

MM
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Picture yourself pulling port side up to the gas dock. tie a line to bow and a line to port/stern corner. wher you would normally cross the stern lines and run a line to opposite sides/ when up against a wall you cant tie to anything to pull the boat away from the dock where the port corner now touches unless you ride on a fender there.

also keep in mind this is a flush seawall - no pilings to rub like at most gas docks.
 
I carry four fenders, and all are covered. The covers get washed in the machine at home at the end of the season.
They stay pretty nice during the season if I keep them out of the water.
If they do get wet becauseva well meaning assistant ties them a bit low, they get rinsed with the hose when I get back to the dock and dry in the sun.
 
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