Storing your fenders

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Triatica's picture
Triatica
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Posts: 46
Storing your fenders

I'm curious to know where you guys store your fenders when underway on a passage.

My port cockpit lazerette is filled with furnace heater, buckets, warps, crab traps etc. The aft lazerette holds two CNG bottles and misc. lines, shore power cable and Coleman cannisters for the BBQ.

So till now, we've tied them off neatly in a row on the outside of the pushpit.

This has led to some unplanned gymnastics while underway when tiying them off or retrieving them. All the while, the cold black waters of Puget sound beckon. :eek:

Triatica (GlennF)
s/v Blown Away
Sammamish, Wa

Hull #971
1989 Catalina 36
Universal M25xpb

stu jackson c34's picture
stu jackson c34
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Posts: 1270

I singlehand a lot. Trying to keep "work" to a minimum, I just flip 'em up and over the lifelines. With crew, when racing, going out in the ocean, or being out for extended cruises, I store 'em in the lazarette. I've got six 6x23s.

Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)

William Matley's picture
William Matley
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Posts: 166

Glen,

Like Stu, I store my fenders tied in place.
I flip them over the lifeline and wedge them between the stay and the cabin.

Here is a picture, you can see the blue fender just forward of the mast. They are out of the way and yet ready in an instant.

Bill Matley
Duncan Bay Boat Club
Cheboygan, Michigan
Lakes Huron, Michigan,
Canadian North Channel
"Spirit of Aloha" Hull #1252

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Nimue's picture
Nimue
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Posts: 429

I stow mine in the anchor locker. They just fit if I put them in the right way. No dripping or dirty fenders coming in the cockpit. Frankly I think it is un-seamanlike to leave them all over the side decks. Certainly would be unacceptable for racing.

Jason V
Vancouver, BC, Canada

hilbre
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Joined: 7/19/08
Posts: 218

I tie them off at the stern rail so they are out of the way.
John Meyer
Hilbre 2135
San Pedro CA

John Meyer
Hilbre
C36 MKll, Hull 2135

Cabrillo Marina, San Pedro, CA

LCBrandt's picture
LCBrandt
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Posts: 1282

Just pulling them aboard the lifelines is what I do when singlehanding under power, and even sometimes when singlehanding under sail. Under sail I typically prefer them stowed in the lazarette, but they ARE a nuisance to stow and re-rig, that's for sure; but then I carry, and use, 6 of them.

Here's my take on the seamanship thing: If they hang trailing in the water it makes you look like the Beverly Hillbillies. Brought aboard, even in position, cleans up the boat. But what's really un-seamanlike is the sudden rush and pandemonium to rig dock lines and fenders when coming back to port. Ergo, singlehanding...it's not the neatest; and yet it is, operationally speaking.

Agreed that for racing, you'd want clear decks.

Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
 

gforaker's picture
gforaker
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I have a MKII and store fenders and dock lines in the starboard aft locker. Life jackets and BBQ go in the port aft locker.

Sorry, but I think storing fenders up on deck just looks sloppy. I have a device on the end of each line which snaps in place over the lifeline. It is no real work to hang them.

Gene Foraker
Sandusky Yacht Club
Sandusky, OH
1999  C36  #1786
Gypsy Wagon

Allan R's picture
Allan R
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Posts: 177

I picked the up at WM, it is held on with velcro, I find it convenient and easy to use.

Allan Rex
# 2216

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Steve Frost's picture
Steve Frost
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Posts: 788

FENDERS, FENDERS, I DON'T NEED NO STINKIN FENDERS.

My fenders live in a bag in the forward closet, I pull them out when docking at a foreign dock. At my home dock I have soft rollers at the entrance and a couple permently mounted fenders mid berth, so I do not use fenders there.
When I do use them they are stored back below right after use. I am not too anal about things on board but, dragging fenders is one of my peevs.

I too am offended by dragging fenders underway, I think it is like trolling for a coast gaurd boarding and inspection. Just like flying your football teams flag whiile racing down the freeway after an NFL game, the flag should just say DUI on it.

Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas

deising's picture
deising
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Posts: 1351

Might as well put my $.02 in, too.

Our home dock has outboard pilings so we moor with all four "corners" and therefore need only one fender amidship. We stow that below in the aft cabin "garage." Coming in for a rare dock stay somewhere else, we have our additional fenders in the garage as well.

Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/

Elliott S. Milstein's picture
Elliott S. Milstein
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Posts: 48

I have to admit that I am a real sucker for various devices to hang my fenders, eliminating whole seconds from my docking routine by avoiding tying them to the lifelines. At the last boat show I bought a pair of Fendergrips, a device that lets you raise and lower the fenders. When raised, the fenders are held tightly against a lifeline, theoretically storing them there rather than down below. The jury is still out for me on whether this is an overly complicated solution. The downside is that if you do want to remove the fender for storage, unthreading the device is quite a bother. Here is the link that fully explains what this is [url]http://www.scalisemarine.com/fendergrip.htm[/url]
Elliott

Elliott Milstein
Collaboration #1469
1995 C-36MkII
Port Annapolis Marina

stu jackson c34's picture
stu jackson c34
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Posts: 1270

Don't know what you paid for the plastic hangers, but we use these (the bottom ones, but the top ones would do, too): [url]http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10...

$10 apiece, and I'll bet you can get them at a hardware store for a lot less.

You can hang them on the lifelines (some don't like that) or just loop the line to the fender around a stanchion base and hook it on to itself. We went through the "made for fenders" stuff years ago and found these easier and much less expensive.

Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)

sarahsue
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Stu

Your link appears to be inactive. Thanks

Paul and Heather Griffiths
Sarah Sue C36 Mk11 #2220
Mandurah, Western Australia

stu jackson c34's picture
stu jackson c34
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Try this one: [url]http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10...

I think WM had computer issues yesterday. This is the same URL, but it works.

Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)

tsenator's picture
tsenator
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I don't like scratches when docking my boat ;)

[attach]346[/attach]

_______________
Tom Senator
Former Mk II Tech Editor

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Steve Frost's picture
Steve Frost
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Posts: 788

Tom,

If you dangled one of those on each side of your boat, you would be on the wrong forum as you would be classified as a trimaran.
You would also have the advantage of being unsinkable.

How wide is your berth?

Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas

chooch's picture
chooch
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Posts: 52

Although they are not big enough for Tom-sized fenders, Tara's fenders are stowed in vertical fender holders mounted on the port and starboard dinghy davits. Keeps them out of the way, but close enough to reach if pulling in to a visitor slip at one of the local on-the-water restaurants. The home slip has a web of lines and fenders to 'catch' us and fend off when returning.
(Sure gonna miss that Gulf seafood when the oil slick rolls in next week!):(

Fair Winds,

Glenn "Chooch" Jewell
Nautae Luna 1232 (RIP Tara 389 Hurricane Sally 2020)
GO NAVY - BEAT ARMY!

GaryB's picture
GaryB
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Posts: 570

My $.02 as well,
I would think that the dock Tom is standing on would have a critical list. I also wonder what size boat that puppy belongs to, and how did they solve their storage problem?

My solution is similar to Chooch's in that I purchased two fender holders and mounted them in the corner of the stern rail. They do not interfere with the seating and when I sit on the coming just ahead of them they work as a backrest. They are accessable either single handling or with crew. Only complaint is the fender covers fade due to the sun exposure.
Gary

Gary Bain
S/V "Gone With The Wind"
Catalina 36', Hull #: 1056, Year: 1990, Engine: M-35
Standard Rig
Moored: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Home: Auburn, Maine

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