Our selection of Standard and specialist Fenders
Fenders are used to offer protection for your boat during everyday use, especially when moored or berthed alongside a pontoon or another boat. Fenders act as buffers between your boat and other solid objects and fenders will stop the relatively fragile surface of your boat becoming scuffed and damaged. Depending on how/where you use your boat, use normal fenders, bow fenders, step fenders, dock fenders and other specialized fenders for complete protection.
Click the links below to see the products available in each category:
Fenders & Mooring Buoys
Read the information below to learn about the types of fenders available and how to use the fenders available on your boat to the best of their ability. Also included is some helpful tips on keeping your fenders in top condition and advice on choosing the best set-up of fenders for your boat.
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Standard Boat Fenders
Fenders come in all shapes and sizes and most types of fender are usually attached to your boat.
Standard Fenders - are usually reasonably solid PVC skins filled with air, though some are foam filled for more robustness. These fenders usually conform to an elliptical or cylindrical shape which allows the fender to roll with the motion of the boat whilst giving protection along the fenders height. Variations in this type of fender will come with colour and some fenders may benefit from additional re-inforcement, specifically the "eyes" of the fender, for those used more intensely.
More often than not, adequate fendering can be achieved using sufficient standard fenders, though many choose to augment their boats protection with additional types for added security.
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Specialist Fenders
Other varieties of fender are available, including Dock Fenders that are mounted on the pontoon and Spherical Fenders that offer additional protection and can be used at the bow and stern of the boat to spring off when leaving your mooring.
Other Specialist Fenders are available for use with particular types of boat such as RIBS and inflatables, along with Bow Fenders and Ladder fenders to effect protection to specific areas.
Most fenders are white in colour, though fenders in other colours are available (blue/black/orange/yellow etc.)
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Fender Accessories
Fenders can be secured and mounted using a variety of options. Some fenders are secured with simple rope, whilst others a re permanently attached with stainless screws and fixings and other methods of fenders attachment are available for convenience and security. See the Fender Accessories page which shows a variety of these products along with fender storage options such as fenders baskets and clips. Some boat owners choose to cover their fenders with Fender Socks which can eliminate fender "squeak" and look smart on your boat whilst offering soem additional protection to the fender itself from UV rays etc.
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Fender Advice and Information
The size of fender you use will depend largely on the size of your boat, so ask the chandler to advise when buying fenders if you aren't sure. Don't be tempted to use too few fenders and risk damaging your far more expensive boat, and remember that when berthing alongside a pontoon, protect the side not in contact with the pontoon with fenders as this is exposed to other vessels mooring adjacent to your boat. Similarly, don't use fenders that are too large for your boat - this is not only unnecessary expense but can offer problems with storage (see below) and when boarding your boat. Always check fenders whenever possible as they can roll up the pontoon and will deflate over a period of time and with fluctuations in temperature. Several fenders spaced along the length of your boat will offer good protection under normal circumstances as long as they are inflated correctly, positioned at the correct height and secured fast.
Remember, your boat is NEVER stationary; the movement of the water will almost constantly effect a bobbing or rolling action and this kinetic energy when compounded with the significant weights of boats and other objects can quickly and easily do untold damage to your boat both cosmetically and structurally if insufficient protection is not used.
Fenders are naturally bulky and not easy to store, lending some boat-owners to use "fender baskets" to store them. Fender baskets are stainless wire cages that attach to pulpit rails and guardrails so that other valuable space is not taken up for storage. Other disadvantages of fenders are that they need to installed/removed frequently depending on whether under way or at rest and may need to be inflated before used if stored uninflated. As mentioned above, some owners experience their fenders "squeaking" as their boat gently rocks alongside the pontoon, which can be annoying at best. Fenders do not last forever but considering the environment in which they work, are pretty durable - pressure, salt, UV rays and constant abrasion will take their toll on fenders over time so check regularly and replace them before they fail.
FENDER FACT: Over-inflated fenders are as dangerous as under-inflated fenders - over-inflated fenders are more prone to leaking/bursting and can effect violent movements to boats in specific conditions due to their "bounciness". Always ensure the fender is correctly inflated to the stated pressure and that dust caps and valves are used properly. Most good chandlers will offer a service to inflate/check fenders for a small fee.
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