Bumpers on the dock

T

twoiner

New Member
Mar 8, 2008
17
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
I just got a Sundancer 260 and next week I am planning to prepare the dock. When I had a smaller 19' open bow I used the round beach ball type of bumpers. I am looking at setting up this slip with 27" - 30" fenders on the sides and on the back for protection. Can anybody tell me if this is the best way to prepare the slip to add the most protection.:smt009
 
twoiner
first of all, you may offend some of the snobs around here by calling them "bumpers." the correct term is "fenders." but off the record, i call them bumpers too!!! :grin:

if your boat has a blue hull, i'd do everything in my power to tie the boat so that you do not need bumpers at all. i realize this is not always possible, but it's fairly easy if your marina is sheltered (no boat traffic wakes), you back in and esp if you have floating docks. i havent used a bumper at my slip in 7 years, although last year i mounted one on the finger you see on the port side b/c a noreaster raised the boat up, slackened the lines and the finger busted the three engine room vents on the port side. (note you cant see the vents b/c they are PERFECTLY in line with the finger dock).

springs keep the boat off the dock aft while criss-crossed transom lines and well set bow lines keep the boat from banging the finger dock. we have fixed docks which is bad, but only about a 9 inch tide swing, which is good.

inslip.jpg
 
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You guys called them bumpers too! :smt043:smt043:smt043
That's a good one! :lol::smt043:lol::smt043:lol::smt043:lol:
Sorry, I couldn't help myself. :huh:
 
hey mike
i'm glad you added that "posted by mike..." thing. for the longest time i thought you were the only female on the board!
 
rondds said:
hey mike
i'm glad you added that "posted by mike..." thing. for the longest time i thought you were the only female on the board!
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I think it is funny when people respond to Julia. :lol:
But not as funny as people calling them bumpers! :smt043:smt043:smt043
Sorry, couldn't help myself again. :huh:
 
rondds said:
twoiner


if your boat has a blue hull, i'd do everything in my power to tie the boat so that you do not need bumpers at all. i realize this is not always possible, but it's fairly easy if your marina is sheltered (no boat traffic wakes), you back in and esp if you have floating docks. i havent used a bumper at my slip in 7 years,

[/IMG]
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quote snipped for space.....

That's the best advice.....

I leave lines on my slip that are tied off so that my boat CANNOT reach either side of the slip or back of the slip.

That being said, I still occasionally throw a few bumpers, yes bumpers,:lol::lol: along the side if I'll be away for awhile. The point being, the bumpers/fenders should never touch the slip either.

JL
 
Thank you all for the feedback. I am not sure what the correct answer is other than I leaned they are fenders. I won't call them bumpers again. Yes my hull is blue and the bottom has the bottom paint.
 
twoiner said:
Thank you all for the feedback. I am not sure what the correct answer is other than I leaned they are fenders. I won't call them bumpers again. Yes my hull is blue and the bottom has the bottom paint.
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Keep in mind you will be making contact with the dock while docking. You should make sure you put rub strips on the dock and shield any sharp metal areas with a fender attached to the dock if that is allowed. Any softening of your slip will be much appreciated while docking.
 
With my blue hull, the fenders made some awful scratches:smt089... I have since lined my slip with this http://www.boatcovers.cc/cgi-bin/catalog.pl?item_id=105 and I tie the boat up so it does not rub, but this bumper looks sort of like fire hose material and has not scratched the hull... you of course need to keep it clean, so whatever is on it does not scratch.

Hope that helps!

Ryan
 
I'm on a face pier with posts, so I have 2 fenders (soon to be 3 I think) between the posts and the soon to be scratched blue hull. I have Taylor Made covers on them, but we'll see how it works. Am considering putting on some dock shocks, not sure about that though.

The other alternative is to skip the fenders and rely on post "bumpers" like Ryan offered - the posts have rubber versions of the same but you can feel when the boat taps them - not much give.
 
I've installed a couple of small fenders at the end of my slip (floating type) where the swim platform will make contact with them if I am backing into the slip and don't get the way off her quite quick enough. Otherwise, I don't use fenders when in the slip, unless a helluva blow is forecast. I also try to make sure I check the lines prior to any storm.
 
ed
those rubber post fenders are probalby the best thing b/c they will rub ONLY on your rub-rail, which is exactly what it was designed for. with posts like those, your only other alternative is a fender-board but that still creates friction where the fender rubs on your hull, which is NEVER a good thing.

side-to docking is probably the most damaging to a boat, esp in areas where there is passing boat traffic (no-wake zone or not!)

fenderboard-5.jpg
 
I have used that piling mounted bumper material that Ryan posted at my summer dock. The problem with it, and any other rubber stuff on pilings, is that it will rip your rub rail right off the boat if you have any vertical movement (like from wakes). The rub rail sinks into it a little and so it does not slide up and down... Just an FYI...

I know because I had a guy dock his 30' Sea Ray (brand spanking new at that) at my dock and just snugged it up to the pilings thinking that was good enough and it tore his rub rail off in 3 spots...
 
Keep in mind you will be making contact with the dock while docking.
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i'm in a 17.5' wide slip with a 12.5' wide boat. even a knuckle head like me with gas engines, no torque and no bow thruster can get in without touching a pole. 'round here we call that a "swish.":thumbsup:

my only problem is making sure i dont crack up a boat across the fairway from me (i've got about 60 feet to spin a 35'8" + anchor LOA).
 
Gary - what would you recommend in my situation, with wakes, wind putting me on the pilings etc. Moving isn't a primary option. Goals- not rip off parts of the boat, not scratch the blue hull beyond which my detail guys can repair in bi/tri annual waxing etc. Let's start at $1000. Lots of folk just tied up with fenders, but they have White hulls.
My fenders are not popping out of the piling area so I haven't really gone to fenderboards yet. I suppose they would lessen the per-fender hull pressure though.
 
I would go with fleece fender socks. I got a set of those this year and they are very nice. They are the Taylor Made variety and I think I got them from Defender. The fleece is much softer/easier on the finish. I used to have nylon socks but they would get trashed after one season of rubbing pilings. I have the 10x26 Big B fenders with the hole-thru design and have fleece covers on them. If you are going to leave the fenders at the dock, you may want to go one size bigger, put the fleece socks on them, and put a fender board out... my 2 cents.
 
Gary - thanks. Was afraid of the fleece "rotting" but as you described, my nylon is already wearing. So they are annual replacements either way it appears. I do want to leave dockside permenant accomodations to decrease underway prep. I have plenty of voyaging fenders. If only 2c could buy something for the boat!
 
Ryan,

I just check out the link you gave for the soft fenders. They don't list a price do you remember how much to do a 30' slilp. Also I am looking at flat blue fenders and was wondering if anybody has every uesed them. Thanks again for the advice.
 
Guys

In the interest of better communications, let's define some terms.

Bumpers:
DSC00767.jpg

59eldorado-gp-front01.jpg

Fenders:
i016790sn02.jpg

Swish:
527px-RuPaul_by_David_Shankbone.jpg
hint

Hope that helps.

Best regards,
Frank C
 
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