[Rhodes22-list] Fenders?

[Bill Effros]

I  use 2 15 footers and 2 25s color coded (the 15s are black, the 25s 
are red) stored in the cubbys.  I put a 25 on the bow cleat, and a 15 on 
the stern cleat, both led back to the cockpit with all lines led outside 
all rails and stays.  Then I step off the boat when the stern hits the 
dock (I never jump, I always step) and wrap the black line on the rear 
cleat, go forward and pull in the bow around the forward cleat, and lock 
the bow in position.  Then I return to the stern cleat, pull in the 
stern -- not too tight -- and lock in the stern.  The motor is not 
turned off until the boat is fully under control at the dock, although 
it has been idling in neutral from a distance of several boat lengths 
from the dock.  I use the rudder to slow down the boat on the way into 
the dock, so that I am usually moving at little more than rudder stall 
speed by the time the fenders kiss the dock, and I get off--when things 
go right. 

You will encounter wind, wake, current, and dumb sailors who will 
complicate this maneuver.  The lines prove useful in a thousand ways.

Bill Effros

Michel Meltzer wrote:
> Do not forget the dock lines :-) would  subject 4 25 footer in 3/8, they
> are to big/long for long term use but nice to on the boat for when you
> tie up or visit somewhere. -mjm
>
>
>   
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org [mailto:rhodes22-list-
>> bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of DCLewis1 at aol.com
>> Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2006 10:30 PM
>> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Fenders?
>>
>>
>> Hank, Will, Mary Lou, BobW, BobS, everyone,
>>
>> Thank you all for responding to my fender query.  Based on your input,
>>     
> I
>   
>> think our first step is to actually visit the slip they've given us
>>     
> and
>   
>> see  what
>> our neighbors use.  I gather there's no canonical solution.
>>
>> Will,  Flat sounds great, but they're not going to roll if the boat is
>> moving fore and aft, they're just going to rub and abrade against the
>> pier/piling/whatever.  Have you actually used flat fenders?  Do they
>>     
> work
>   
>> well for you?
>> If you do use them, what thickness and length do you  use?  I can see
>> where
>> they'd be great for stowing, you could use them  as seats, life-
>> preservers, a
>> lot of things.  But I worry that they will get  pinched and abraded
>>     
> when
>   
>> the
>> boat moves fore and aft against a pier where  cylindrical and
>>     
> spherical
>   
>> fenders
>> just roll.
>>
>> Mary Lou, Thanks, I serendipitously got a message from Elton to begin
>> arranging for delivery.  I responded asking if he provided special
>>     
> fenders
>   
>> with his
>> delivery.  I had noted the fenders you use in the West Marine  catalog
>>     
> and
>   
>> they looked interesting, but I didn't know what a good size was
>>     
> (looks to
>   
>> me
>> like you're using the shortest length) and whether they rolled
>> sufficiently
>> given their shape.  I gather they work well for you.   Thank you.
>>
>> BobW, Yours is a very interesting concept that we may just use for
>> docking.
>> We may keep one onboard in the event we opt to sail to and tie up  at
>>     
> a
>   
>> public pier - I think it's a great idea.  But we're one of a number of
>> fingered
>> slips in a pretty small area and we are required to motor in that
>>     
> area
>   
>> verrry
>> slooowly.  I expect that we will be moving so  slowly as we approach
>>     
> our
>   
>> tie
>> up that we may not have to worry about  caroming off the side of a
>>     
> pier.
>   
>> At a
>> public pier, where we might try to  boldly come in under sail and dock
>> expeditiously - thus displaying the  limits of our sailing abilities
>>     
> and
>   
>> testing the
>> limits of our liability  insurance - I think your approach is good.
>>     
> In
>   
>> fact,
>> I think I'd like  to surround the hull with bubble wrap
>>
>> BobS,  I hope we won't wind up having to sling a 2x6 off the side and
>> back
>> them with cylindrical fenders.  I'll keep it in mind though.
>>
>> Dave
>> __________________________________________________
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>>     
>
> __________________________________________________
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