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.
Boat Length | Cylindrical Fender Diameter | Round Fender Diameter | Flat Fender Size |
Under 10' | 3" | NR | Small |
10'–15' | 3"–4" | 9" | Small |
15'–20' | 5"–5.5" | 12" | Small |
20'–25' | 6"–6.5" | 15" | Medium |
25'–35' | 8"–8.5" | 18" | Medium |
35'–50' | 10.5"–12" | 21" | Large |
50'–60' | 12" | 27" | Large |
60'–72' | 15"–24" | 27" | Large |
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.
4 comments
Hey there! Thank you so much for writing this article because I’m pretty sure my boss really needs it. He told me last week that he plans to get a fishing boat this summer. Hence, I appreciate your explanation on how wide-fender boats should better use round ball fenders to prevent external damage. I’ll share this info with him, if you don’t mind, when he purchases some equipment together with it later.
What will truly impress everyone is its component. The body of these flat fenders is made of three layers of marine-grade covering. There are double thermal-bonded seams for sealing.
Our bouys are just ragged and sad-looking. One even developed a hole last summer. It’s time to replace them. I checked several suppliers online and found boat fender Max 3006.7384. They are not vinyl, but very soft and flexible and come in a variety of colors.
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