Weekender fenders

[umop_apisdn]

What do you all do about fenders on your Weekender? I bought some that are 4 or 5 inches in diameter, I think, and they turned out to be pretty useless.

(I'm going to trip myself up on terminology here, I know) The angle of the side of the boat (topsides? sheer? what is it?) is so steep, that the fender wasn't fat enough to keep the rail away from the dock. So the rub-rail is doing its thing, rubbing against the dock, while the fender hung uselessly below it.

I tried hanging the fender higher, from the shrouds, but the fender wouldn't hang straight, so it just got pushed aside. And on the back, there isn't anything to hang it from at all.

Now those of you who have SEEN my boat, know that this is mostly an academic discussion. :wink: But I am curious if other people have had a similar problem, and how they solved it. (aside from buying fenders the size of a garbage can)

Noel

[Sailor3356]

Have you tryed hanging them from the dock. I had the same problem with mine so I hung them at an angle from the dock and stopped the problem.

[Charlie Jones]

A tad of terminology-

Topside- that portion of the hull 'twixt wind and water. In other words, between the water line and the edge of the deck. NOT up on deck. Does not necessarily end at the chine. Chines can be underwater and then are a part of the "underbody"

The ANGLE of the topside is called "flare"

Sheer- the line the deck edge makes as it sweeps from bow to stern. Along that edge, under the deck, attached to the hull side, is the "sheer clamp" Normally, and on the Weekender for sure, the rub rails follow the sheer.

Deck is just that- a part on top that you walk on.

As to your fendering problem, don't know, except perhaps hanging them from the dock.

[Dave R1]

I have had some luck hanging one on the aft shroud with a rolling hitch but I haven't found a good solution for a second one aft of that one.

The rolling hitch on the shroud makes it easy to adjust the height after it is tied, it'll stay put but is quick to remove.

[Phil Gowans]

It is hard to see much in this picture, however I usually tie (with a constrictor knot) 2 fenders, one to each end of my grab rail. The fore one falls right between the shrouds. I raise them as high as possible so that they still hang down. With a dock rope on the bits and the aft cleat it usually works quite well. I have spent the night tied up to a dock without any problem this way.

[PAR]

I'd like to add to Charlie's clarification of some terminology. The decks are the parts you walk on, unless they are in the cockpit or other wise "below decks" when they're called soles (like the bottom of your shoes). Interestingly enough, the removable boards that make up the sole are called floor boards.

Weekender has nothing but flare in her topsides, which is described as concave curve flowing outboard, away from the boat's centerline when viewed from the ends. Some folks have incorporated some tumblehome into the stern quarters aft, by twisting the topside planking there. The transition area, before this forced in tumblehome, may include some flam (convex curve) in the topsides.

Fenders used on boats with a lot of deck overhang should be big as you can get. They should also land partly on the sheer, where there is a rub strip mounted. This portion of the hull is very strong and should be asked to bear the brunt of the fending efforts, not the topside planking. I like the "B" models that have the hole all the way through them, so a lanyard and knot can place them right where they will serve the most good. Many salty types cover them with a canvas sack or three strand line in a decorative pattern, which looks very nice and is soft on the boat. A hunk of carpet around a 2x6 will serve quite well, but look a bit lubberly. A shippy, if workboat style, would be a worn out Honda Civic tire or two (white wall facing in is proper dress), though stowage aboard may be an issue, possible a reasonable use for one of those "space saver" spares that never seem to die a worn out death. I've often wondered if a used Honda Civic tire would qualify as a throwable PFD.

[Kidd]

Wish I woulda read this yesterday before I ordered fenders! Oh well, I will make do with what I get.

[Craig]

I started with the 6 inchers and people felt sorry for be and gave ne BIGer ones I have one 12-14" and a couple of 8s. I tie to the after cletes, grab rains and aft shroud. It is a real problem here where barnicles cover everything!

[Frank Hagan]

I used the little 4" diameter fenders, but tied them off so they were horizontal against the topsides, between the rubrails, rather than vertical. It worked really well for my local launching place.

[umop_apisdn]

At the Oly wooden boat fair I saw a number of boats using horizontal fenders. I'm gonna try that next time I need to tie up to a dock. That should also satisfy the requirement to keep most of the force on the sheer rather than the topsides.

[Guest JamesG123]

I've seen "pool noodles" (foamed plastic tubing insulators turned into a kids toy/floatation device) with a line run down the center or tied and hung just over the deck to protect the widest part of hull.

Not only can you get them in assorted colors, but they make for fun when swiming!

First post here BTW.

[Tony Pratt]

I made some fenders out of pool noodles and they work great, I used three strand soft poly rope the noodle is about 18 inches long and in the middle of the noodle I tied all the strands 5 of them with nylon string to keep them from pulling away, cut the 3 strand rope to the length you want and push it through the hole in the noodle and tie it at the bottom then melt the strands together and you have a fender.