Increase speed slowly until the stern is well clear of the dock. Cast off the bow line. Back out slowly until you have room to shift into forward and turn away from the dock.
How many boat fenders do I need?
There is a rule of thumb for fender number: use one fender per 10′ of waterline, with a minimum of three fenders. So a 20′ boat would need 3 fenders and a 40′ would need 4. At least one fender must be placed at maximum beam, with others distributed fore and aft.
What size fenders do I need?
For round fenders, West Marine recommends 2 inches of diameter for every 4 to 5 feet of boat length. So, a boat in the 30- to 35-foot range should use 21-inch-diameter ball fenders; a boat with a length overall of 50 feet or longer should use the larger 27-inch size.
How do you measure boat fenders?
When measuring length, don’t drape the tape measure over the ends of the fender; always measure from the very end to the very end using a straight tape or yardstick (please see the figure below or refer to our video guide).
What sizes do boat fenders come in?
Thus, 6-inch fenders should be used for 20 to 25 feet boats while 8-inch ones are right for 25 to 35 feet boats. The bigger the diameter, the more protection your boat can receive from these fenders. So, it’s not a problem if you get the biggest cylindrical fenders for the security of the hull and dock.
Plan on at least one bow line, two spring lines and at least one stern line.
Suggested Dockline Sizing.
Boat Size
3 strand Nylon or Braid
up to 25′
3/8”
up to 35′
1/2”
up to 45′
5/8”
up to 55′
3/4”
1 more row
What kind of rope do you use for boat fenders?
Jute Rope. Strong, tough, attractive and cheap, jute rope is another great choice for use as fender rope. Made with a strong polypropylene core sheathed in traditional jute rope, the jute fender ropes available from Ropes Direct won’t give up easily, and will provide a strong, durable fender for your boat or dock.
What kind of line do you use for fenders?
Made of solid braid polypropylene, the Fender Line naturally repels water and floats so it won’t get caught in your propeller. These UV protected colorful lines won’t fade in the sun, won’t mildew or rot so you can store them wet.
How thick should fender lines be?
Inflatable cylindrical fenders should ideally be at least an inch thick in diameter per every five feet of the boat’s length. Up that to two inches of thickness for round and hybrid-round fenders.