Boat Fenders or Boat Bumpers. No Matter What You Call Them, This Guide Will Help You Select the Right Ones

Thanks to Captain Frank Lecardo, Owner & Instructor, Naples School of Boating, for submitting this article. The Naples School of Boating specializes in providing on-water training for new and inexperienced boaters and those who want to enhance their existing skills.

Boat fenders, the proper term, protect your boat from damage that docks and pilings can cause. They are also used as a cushion when rafting up next to other boats. They’re an essential item aboard every boat, and this guide will help you choose the right ones.

Types of Boat Fenders

First, let’s take a look at the different types of available fenders. The most popular fenders are the center rope tube fenders and two-eye cylindrical fenders. They will likely be your best choice for most situations, either at your primary dock or a transient slip. The critical difference between the two is how the rope is attached.

Center Rope Tube Fender

The rope goes through the middle of the fender and out the other side. This offers the convenience of using one rope to hang the fender vertically or horizontally by simply adjusting the rope.

Twin Eye Cylindrical Fenders

These boat fenders work equally as well in either a vertical or horizontal position but may require two lines, one tied at each end, when used horizontally.

Round Ball Fenders

Round ball fenders work well on boats that require wider fenders. They’re also useful when rafting boats together.

Corner Dock Wheel

Crosswinds and currents that flow perpendicular to your dock can cause challenges when docking, the greatest of those challenges being the corner of your dock. That’s where the corner dock wheel becomes your best friend, allowing you to pivot the boat on the corner of the dock and roll into the slip.

Specialty Fenders

Specialty fenders include those that are mounted directly to a dock or piling, swim platform or transom fenders, and pontoon fenders.

For the adventurous, Taylor makes a Mermaid fender. There is not currently a Merman version on the market, but we hear you loud and clear, ladies.

Selecting the Right Sized Fenders for Your Boat

The following chart offers a guide for the size of boat fenders you need based on the size of your boat.

Placement of Boat Bumpers

At your home dock or permanent slip, it is best and most convenient to have the fenders fixed to the dock and not on the boat. This will allow you to focus on docking the boat rather than deploying fenders and being concerned about their placement.

In addition to the fenders fixed to your dock, you should carry a sufficient number of additional fenders aboard the boat when docking in other locations. Fenders are generally placed from the midship position all the way back to the stern corner. They should be placed where impact is most likely to occur.

Fender Accessories

Although boat bumpers are pretty straightforward items, there are accessories involved, like so much of the boating life. The obvious accessory is fender line. Arguably not an accessory since fender line is clearly pretty essential to using boat bumpers.

While not essential, fender covers can help protect your boat’s gelcoat from becoming scuffed or damaged.

There are also some helpful gadgets like Dock Edge’s Fender Lok—a quick-release fastener. Also, fender storage racks can help keep you organized, and Seachoice’s Automatic Fender Adjuster makes placing your fenders at the right height a little easier.

Hopefully, this article helps you to make the best fender selection decisions. While fenders are not very complex, selecting the right product and placing them correctly is important to protect and secure your boat. Shop PartVu.com for all of your docking and boating essentials needs.