Introduction
Boat fenders act as necessary equipment for any boat to protect its hull from contact with piling, docks, and other ocean vessels. There are various types of fenders to suit different situations. In general, cylindrical and sausage double eye fenders are an excellent choice for small and light vessels. In contrast, round, center-hole, and hybrid cylindrical-round fenders are suitable for large and massive vessels. There are even some specialty fenders with a square shape like Quick boat fender for quick docking of the boat.
There are many specialty fenders suited for limited usage. When you have low free-board, there are fenders developed to protect the gunwales and rub rails of your boat. Many unique fenders add protection to your boat at minimal charges. Whenever you decide to buy bumpers for your boat, the most important thing is that they withstand the berthing energy of your watercraft. If not chosen correctly, your ocean vessel may suffer damages even with fenders mounted. Therefore, it is recommended to buy quality products. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
Here is a brief description of the buying options and available features that will help you choose the right boat fender.
1. Fender Types
There are several different designs, and each one is great for a specific purpose. The most common one being is the cylindrical double eye fender. It can be hanged vertically and can also be positioned horizontally, too, by tying few knots. When mooring against flat structures like docks, vertical fender works best. Some products sold in markets can be hybrid between the cylindrical and round type. It can be useful for specific boats. In general, rounded fenders, center hole cylindrical fenders, and combinations are suitable for heavy and large ships.
2. Size
The size of the fender depends on three things, i.e., the length of the boat, the weight of the ocean vessel, and mooring conditions. It is a different experience to moor your boat in calm and choppy water. If conditions are harsh, you should buy large fenders than the weight, and the length of the boat indicates. It is a universal rule that people follow, it says that you should have a 1-inch diameter of the cylindrical fender and 2inch diameter of the round fender for every 5ft of boat length.
If you buy a boat fender that is too small, it will get easily flattened by the weight of the vessel, and large size will make it very annoying to mount.
3. Storage
Boat fenders go along with you when you head out to the sea. You will have to store them carefully somewhere out of the way so that you can have free space to move around. There are various places to put them, and it depends on the size of the fender and the size of the boat. Some can be placed in the storage bin while others can be tucked away under the seat. You can also tie the fenders in the inner railing. There are also special racks available for these frames too. They are sized differently and can be permanent or foldable to store when not in use.
4. Cleaning
Fenders can get pretty dirty as they are outdoors and in contact with various surfaces. It cannot be delightful when visible. For cleaning, you should use water with mild detergent soap. To remove the stains, avoid using aggressive cleaning substances. It can likely cause damage to the material and make the fender rupture or deflate. There are also unique covers available just for fenders with which you can cover them and enhance their longevity. They are also easy to remove and wash.
5. Color
The color is not very significant practically, but it can still be very appealing visually. Many products come with fantastic color variants, so you can easily find a color that could complement your boat.
6. Accessories
Boat fenders come with different accessories that make their use much convenient and easy. The first in the list are the covers and the storage racks. The inflatable fenders will require a hand pump. A regular hand pump is sufficient as these frames have simple valves. It is very convenient when some manufacturers provide the pump along with the frame. Products like polypore have different valves that require a specialized pump adapter. The height of the fender is also vital to consider as sometimes it requires you to tie several knots to position it correctly. Height adjusters are designed for this purpose only; they easily allow you to adjust the fender vertically.
Final Words
It is good to protect your investment. It would be better for you to spend on small amounts of quick boat fenders than paying a high cost of boat repairs.
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