Fender attachment

R

reags8

New Member
May 17, 2010
5
Maine
Boat Info
1995 175R
Engines
3.0LX
OK - New to the board but have owned my 185BR since 2003 and am fairly competent on engines etc.

My question is:

Does anyone have a clean way of attaching your fenders to the cleats and leaving them on the boat ? I mainly boat on our lake in Maine and leave the fenders hanging off at all times because we dock quite a bit wether its to swap out skiiers, tubers, go to the local store etc . . . . I would like a clean way to attach the fender with enough line to tie it off.

Options and pics welcome.

Scott
 
Fenders hanging off while underway is just one of those things that I don't like the look of. It also has potential to come off while underway. I know many people run with them on while underway, but to me it's a no-no. I just stow them
 
On a 185 they will be slapping in the water, I have forgot mine a couple times and had them come up above the side of the boat, especially the one on the stern cleat, stop and take them off like I should have done in the first place. They aren't that hard to hook up when needed. It really does not look good either as Todd said. Should they come off with a skier behind you it could cause a problem for the skier also.
 
I agree with Todd - but, hey, to each his own on that subject.

I think you answered your own question, with regards on how to cleanly attach it to the cleat. Like you said, just tie it onto the cleat. Or, splice a loop into the end of the rope and attach the typical way (through the base and around the horns). However, that doesn't allow you any height adjustment.
 
Nehalennia said:
Fenders hanging off while underway is just one of those things that I don't like the look of. It also has potential to come off while underway. I know many people run with them on while underway, but to me it's a no-no. I just stow them
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Agree. On our lake the sheriff will assume you were too drunk if you're underway with dangling fenders or extended swim ladders. Good excuse to stop you.
 
As far as I know it's a common practice to stow lines and fenders for several safety reasons, so having them hanging might be a good sign to experience boaters that you’re a newbie. I’m sure that the frequency of your stops doesn’t justify having them hanging off. So, as others suggested stow them.
 
Alex F said:
As far as I know it's a common practice to stow lines and fenders for several safety reasons, so having them hanging might be a good sign to experience boaters that you’re a newbie. I’m sure that the frequency of your stops doesn’t justify having them hanging off. So, as others suggested stow them.
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Lets not go crazy here - I'm sure I have just as many hours on the water as over 3/4 of you here and I'm positive I have enough knowledge of the boat (motor and drive).

Unlike many of you who launch for the day I have the luxury of being able to go out from our dock on the lake for small clips at a time 10 mins, and completely stowing everything on the boat for a ~.5 mile trip across the lake to grab some 'supplies' at the store isn't high on my list. All I need to do is pull off a little extra slack and pull the fender over the side into the boat.

All I was looking for was good clean ideas for clips, quick ties, fender lines that were good looking and functional getting me away from completely unhooking/untieing my fender from the cleat when I have a skiier or tuber on.

For those of you with valid ideas and no assumptions I thank you in advance and all ideas are welcome.

Reags
 
reags8 said:
Lets not go crazy here - I'm sure I have just as many hours on the water as over 3/4 of you here and I'm positive I have enough knowledge of the boat (motor and drive).

Unlike many of you who launch for the day I have the luxury of being able to go out from our dock on the lake for small clips at a time 10 mins, and completely stowing everything on the boat for a ~.5 mile trip across the lake to grab some 'supplies' at the store isn't high on my list. All I need to do is pull off a little extra slack and pull the fender over the side into the boat.

All I was looking for was good clean ideas for clips, quick ties, fender lines that were good looking and functional getting me away from completely unhooking/untieing my fender from the cleat when I have a skiier or tuber on.

For those of you with valid ideas and no assumptions I thank you in advance and all ideas are welcome.

Reags
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I was only trying to help and not critisize or underestimate level of your experience. Based on additional info you've provided it looks like you're storing them, but leaving the lines attached. I thought at first that you leave them hanging overboard, which is very different.

I use exact the same mathod as Scott shows in the picture and it does take only few seconds to attach the line. But, for .5mile quick trip what you're doing could be just fine.
 
I don't think anyone intended to offend or insult your intelligence, we were just trying to help. For myself owning a 185 I do not see anyway to do what you want to do. I have a sunpad over the engine compartment that would prevent the stern fender from swinging over the side and into the boat for temp storage, the center cleat location would put the fender in the passengers seat or in the way at best. Off hand I cannot think of a way to effectively do what you want.
 
Not offended in the least just simply wanted an answer to the question I had.

There are a lot of hooks out there for larger boats just nothing that I can find that fits the smaller BR's where all we can use are the cleats. . . .

Reags
 
I think you read too much into what Alex said. He didn't say you were inexperienced. He said having fenders flying about looks like something an inexperienced boater may do. Either way, everyone is trying to help. And, quite honestly, you didn't provide much information in the first post for us to provide more help. You only mentioned attaching them to the cleats, but in your next post you added more information - which is helpful.

OK, enuff said... Take a look at the 4th and 5th type of fender hooks in this video - they are both very popular, inexpensive, easy to use, and last a long time. Plus, by using these, you don't use up valuable space on a small cleat. Hope this helps.

http://petersmarine.blogspot.com/2009/03/boat-fenders-and-ways-to-hang-them.html
 
reags8 said:
Not offended in the least just simply wanted an answer to the question I had.

There are a lot of hooks out there for larger boats just nothing that I can find that fits the smaller BR's where all we can use are the cleats. . . .

Reags
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My first boat was a 24' VIP which is was a little bigger than what you have but it had buttons on the fenders that slipped into a slot on the sides of the boat. This made it very quick and easy to attach or retract the fenders for circumstances like you mentioned. I made the mistake of leaving my fenders handing by the buttons the first time I ever took the boat out and lost one of them so this will not work for running with them hanging.
 
Bridog said:
Dennis, great video. I think you missed your calling. But, what's up with that ugly Baja in the background?
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Thanks, but I hate it - hate watching myself! That boat is an absolute BLAST! Even starting it is fun - turn a key and 425 ponies coming roaring and rumbling to life... then you still get to turn another key!
 
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