Anyone using dock bumper/dock guards in place of fenders?

K

koresample

New Member
Mar 24, 2012
26
Vancouver, British Columbia
Boat Info
1998 270DA 'Cloud 9"
7.4 MPI BIII
West Marine 260 dinghy
Lowrance HDS-5M Gen 2
Wet Sounds Electronic
Engines
7.4 MPI
Just bought our first Sea Ray, a 98 270DA (traded our Maxum 2400scr) and love the boat. Our new slip is in an old marina (but in a sweet location- False Creek downtown Vancouver for those that are familiar with the area) and the slips are not very wide. I have about 10 1/2 feet at the narrowest point between me and my neighbors sailboat and my beam is 9' 2". I was considering attaching dock guards along the length of the slip as opposed to hanging out my fenders but am not sure if they are skookum enough to prevent damage to the hull. Anyone done this or have any experience they could share? I have some small 6" diameter fenders from the Maxum that I will hang between the sailboat and ours but am concerned about the dock side.
 
Lol. Ya that's a Canadian saying eh?

I'd say don't do the dock thing. You have room for bigger fenders. Go for the 9 1/2 inch ones and do 3 on each side. They're also great for rafting.

The issue with the dock guards is that they rub the length of the hull. That means more rubbing and waxing in the spring. Fenders only rub at the friction point.

That my 2 cents!


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I have a dock wheel at the end of my slip and I added the guard along the entire length. I still use fenders but with guard I can leave the fenders at the dock when I head out for the day and I don't worry about dinging up the boat when I'm docking. I just hang the fenders after I am tied up at the end of the day.
 
Ah yes, another canuck that understands the slang :smt038

thanks for the advice; I will try some smaller fenders and just back in each time so I can see both sides better. I will probably just back close to the dock and then bring it in by hand when we are close enough to step off. I'll go to West Marine and get just a corner guard and once I figure out my contact points, permanently tie some smaller fenders on the dock.

We got a pretty good deal on the boat as it was a donation boat to the disabled sailors society. We looked at it last year before we bought the Maxum but they were asking $39k and it had been neglected. We ended up swapping straight across (the Maxum was worth about $19k) and did a bunch of work to it. New manifolds and risers, power steering pump/pulley, hydraulic steering, new camper back canvas, etc. etc and a bunch of smaller misc repairs plus a bunch of 'toys'. We invested about $5k in total and now the boat is pretty much mint! Can't wait to get out and enjoy the water!

AMFM3 said:
Lol. Ya that's a Canadian saying eh?

I'd say don't do the dock thing. You have room for bigger fenders. Go for the 9 1/2 inch ones and do 3 on each side. They're also great for rafting.

The issue with the dock guards is that they rub the length of the hull. That means more rubbing and waxing in the spring. Fenders only rub at the friction point.

That my 2 cents!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
 
Congrats on your new to you boat!

We love our 1999 270DA Sundancer. They are great "little" boats.

You have some beautiful cruising areas up there, enjoy!
 
If you have the ability to tie off on all four corners fenders are not necessary. The dock lines should be set as to hold the boat in the middle of the slip without rubbing on either side. The only danger is entering and exiting. Dock edge is more than sufficient.
 
On our dock we permanently attached four fenders. It gets us past the friction issue of using continuous guard. Our dock is also only used part time because of the tides. We use the dock mostly for loading and cleaning. Having a set of fenders attached permanently is a real time saver.

Henry
 
I like having something permanently attached to the dock. 99 times out of 100 it's never needed - but it's a nice insurance feeling just in case. Fenders are fine once you're in position (if you're not able to tie up the boat properly to where the lines, alone, keep the boat away). But fenders can roll out of the way while you're backing in, get hung up above the dock, or just not be in the right place at the right time.
 
Lazy Daze said:
I like having something permanently attached to the dock. 99 times out of 100 it's never needed - but it's a nice insurance feeling just in case. Fenders are fine once you're in position (if you're not able to tie up the boat properly to where the lines, alone, keep the boat away). But fenders can roll out of the way while you're backing in, get hung up above the dock, or just not be in the right place at the right time.
Click to expand...

Agree 100% and this is why I use the dock guard and deploy the fenders after I am tied up. Everyone's slip situation is different so there won't be a perfect solution for everyone. For me, it's nice to have the protection of dock guard when I'm departing and docking and the fenders protect the boat when it's floating in the slip and not in use.
 
I have installed my own corner fender on the finger and the marina will be installing the "firehose" edging in the next few weeks.
 
Because I am new to all this I wanted to be sure I didn't mess up the boat so I put the dock edge on and added a wheel to the end of the slip.
When I tie up I have 2 fenders with covers so the boat stays off the dock.
If you check ebay I was able to find both taylor made dock edge and the wheel for half of what WM wanted.
so far the wheel has saved me each time I have docked so it's money well spent, hopefuly there will be a day where I won't need it.
Oh I also used screws so I could remove it next winter
 
Yes, I can definitely find cheaper than WM on e-bay but when I then add shipping to Canada, it becomes about the same price. I ordered a new carpet kit from snapin carpet though and that was super cheap. $1500 up here and only $610 shipped for their kit.
 
Where exactly did you get your carpet from?
I have been looking and can't seem to find any good deals
 
those look nice but I don't have a dock on either side which is my problem. The wide a$$ sailboat beside me is what gives me the grief. To get a 30' slip here that doesn't have someone beside you (where we want to be) is $10-$15k/year plus power for moorage.
 
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