fender basket placement.....

[CliffA]

i am planning to install baskets on the bow rail this WE to hold my four 10" fenders....i have seen pics of boats with the baskets mounted inside of the rail and outside of the rail...my first thought is that mouting them outside of the rail opens up the flat deck space for walking and eliminates any tripping hazzard...

anyone have an opinion as to why one mounting method is favored over the other?...

thanks...
cliff

 

[Do Over]

I'm sure the outside mount would open up space but I wouldn't like the look of that (never seen it before)...I decided against doing fender baskets...every one I saw was wobbly and not very sturdy.

 

[JimG]

The problem with mounting outside the rails, is while rafting up with some boats your baskets are into their rails (or their baskets). Obviously it depends on mounting location and the other boats.

Mine are mounted on the inside.

 

[CliffA]

The problem with mounting outside the rails, is while rafting up with some boats your baskets are into their rails (or their baskets). Obviously it depends on mounting location and the other boats.

Mine are mounted on the inside.

ah, good point Jim about inteference when rafting with other boats....did not think of that...

thanks...
cliff

 

[BillK2632]

Inside.

 

[CliffA]

I'm sure the outside mount would open up space but I wouldn't like the look of that (never seen it before)...I decided against doing fender baskets...every one I saw was wobbly and not very sturdy.

i am only going to use the baskets because i don't have a good place to store the fenders otherwise....they won't fit into the transom locker and i have other 'stuff' in there anyways....i have tried placing them between the bow rail and the side windshield and while this works OK i don't like how it looks and it blocks access to the bow....

cliff

 

[BillK2632]

Cliff - So here is something to think about. I never liked the baskets because you had to go out on the deck to put the fenders in them and take them out - and of course on the older SDA's there is no walkthru windshield. Kind of a PIA especially when you have the canvas up. I always kept mine in a row under the aft bench seat, used one of those bungie nettting things to keep them in place. It was easy to get to them, I could hang the midship ones on the rail from inside the boat and of course the aft ones on the cleats.

Or you could just leave them hanging - always love the sigh of a nice cruiser running along with the fenders flying all over!

 

[rcknecht]

We jam our in between the rail and windshield... I like it there because I just reach over the glass and flip it out when I dock... I don't have to leave the helm.. the baskets will block your view over the bow...

 

[CliffA]

Cliff - So here is something to think about. I never liked the baskets because you had to go out on the deck to put the fenders in them and take them out - and of course on the older SDA's there is no walkthru windshield. Kind of a PIA especially when you have the canvas up. I always kept mine in a row under the aft bench seat, used one of those bungie nettting things to keep them in place. It was easy to get to them, I could hang the midship ones on the rail from inside the boat and of course the aft ones on the cleats.

Or you could just leave them hanging - always love the sigh of a nice cruiser running along with the fenders flying all over!

unfortunately my fenders will not fit under the aft seat in the cockpit...i might be a true southern red-neck but i don't have to show the whole world i am one by leaving my fenders flapping in the wind....:thumbsup:........

cliff

 

[CliffA]

We jam our in between the rail and windshield... I like it there because I just reach over the glass and flip it out when I dock... I don't have to leave the helm.. the baskets will block your view over the bow...

yea Rod, i do like the convienience of having the fenders there, but they do block access to the bow and the Admiral gave me a 'subtle' (sarcasam) hint that she was not crazy about how they looked there....

cliff

 

[Bucit]

I have 2 double basket set ups on the bowrail and they are inside the rail. Unless you're short they don't block my view enough that I'd worry about it.

 

[CliffA]

thanks for the replies....think i will start with an inside mount and see how it goes....i am 6' 1" tall so maybe i won't have too much of an issue with blocking my view...

cliff

 

[Gofirstclass]

I had double fender baskets on my 330 for about half a season. I removed them because they blocked my view forward and I felt I was compromising safety by having them there. I bought slightly smaller fenders that would fit beneath the stern seat in the cockpit.

 

[CliffA]

I had double fender baskets on my 330 for about half a season. I removed them because they blocked my view forward and I felt I was compromising safety by having them there. I bought slightly smaller fenders that would fit beneath the stern seat in the cockpit.

thanks....i hope i don't have to go that route...i have spent over $200 on the fenders and over $300 on the baskets and hardware....hate to loose $500 on something like this...i could probably sell them but would likely only recoup a fraction of the original cost....

maybe i should have thought this out more and planned a little better...

cliff

 

[BritLady]

We have double fender baskets inside the rail with no trouble at all:

 

[dpmulvey]

I'm 6'4" and they block my view. I tie mine between the stanchions midship.

 

[Creekwood]

I bought baskets and used them year one inside the rails, but fount they blocked the view forward (maybe a late 90's 330 issue). Next year tried them outside and forward far enough that they would not interfere with rafting. Still blocked the view though. Then last year I took the baskets off altogether and went back to putting the fenders between a stanchion and the cockpit side on the walkway. This year, who knows. I wish I had the space to stow them somewhere. I use the 10" ones for safer rafting so they are rather large.

 

[dwna1a]

I just read a nice article about fender basket placement. They found that most folks place them in a spot that blocks the nav lights. After checking mine the other night I found that mine did just that. I moved them today. I just thought I should add that

 

[reelnauti]

I also tried to store in baskets on the rails. They blocked my view under certain situations an they came loose running inlet. I ,now store in the cabin under the stairs, held,in place with bugee cords. This is not the most convenient, but was the best solution for me

 

[BritLady]

thanks for the replies....think i will start with an inside mount and see how it goes....i am 6' 1" tall so maybe i won't have too much of an issue with blocking my view...

cliff

My husband's 6' 1" too, so I think you'll be fine. Our son and son-in-law are an inch shorter and they don't have any issues either. I sure wouldn't sell them, they sound llike a good set up you bought.