You two have more nautical miles under your hull than most people in the comments could ever dream of, and yet they’ll still try to belittle how you do things. Thank you for the videos, most of us really do appreciate them!

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

Thank you very much, that means a lot to me :)

Thanks guys. Can’t wait for the how make the rope fender video. I’ve been looking for one for awhile now. I carry 6 tube fenders on my NorSea 27.

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Coming soon! I have amassed the rope for the core, just need to get the rope for the cover.

I bought two fenders this year to be ready for next season. My Cape Dory Typhoon Daysailer came without any fenders! I’ve watched the key parts of this twice already 😊

I live it when I learn something new. I have never seen the rope fender or a board fender set up before. Useful information.❤

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Glad I could introduce you to something new :)

Thank you for your experience. These little tidbits are very important! I really appreciate you.

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

You are so welcome!

Leave a loop in that last pass through of the magnus hitch and it'll be very fast and easy to untie.

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

Good tip

Great video showing how to absolutely NOT fasten your fender whips. You never let ends run all the way through a clove hitch. ALWAYS make a bight, that way you can yank it open and adjust in less than a second.

@choimdachoim9491

8 ай бұрын

I agree. It didn't make sense the way he showed. I'm also wondering why he doesn't turn his rope-fenders over and let the sun kill the green algae while they're on-deck.

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Because it’s winter and they are going to sit there until spring comes.

I have 6 fenders, carry 4 and leave 2 at home, generally use zero. I've kept a boat on a mooring for over 20 years and with no engine I avoid docks, preferring to take a mooring or anchor out when away. I've docked under sail and that is tricky and quite a jolt to a floating dock when dropping a line over a dock cleat and snubbing on the boat's cleat. All 4 fenders are used for that. No pilings or concrete bulkheads locally. My newer boat (40 years old but newer to me) will have an electric auxilliary and may dock more often. OT -- Now that I've moved to Maine where anchoring in rock in zero to very low wind conditions is not a great option and where winds are not as consistent as Cape Cod I will put an electric outboard on the smaller boat (CP23) next season, rather than go engineless. Maybe Torqueedo with integral battery but remind me what outboard you used on your dinghy. I may share the outboard with the dinghy or continue to just row the dinghy. I built a sculling oar for the smaller boat a while back (a decade ago or more) but it doesn't work well. btw - Magnus hitch is a new one on me. Like rolling hitch except last loop in opposite direction.

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

The last loop is the only difference! They both hold well but one is much easier to untie. Our outboard is www.aquospro.com we have the 110lbs thrust motor. It’s 24v and draws 50 amps max. It’s been really awesome and pushes the dinghy at 4-5 knots. They do make a motor one size up which might be the way to go pushing a small sailboat. I want to go up to Maine, but the strange winds and rocks everywhere make me a tad cautious about going just yet. I feel that we will need a bigger battery pack so that we can motor before the tide changes when we need to get to specific spots at specific times.

Thank you for the cleat Hitch idea. Very useful. Cheers

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

This is a very comprehensive video about fender’s. Well done.

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

Thank you

Awesome I’ve been waiting to see how you made the rope fender. I love those. Thanks

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

😎 in due time!

For an easily adjustable knot, I finish the Clove Hitch by inserting the end of the line in double. With an additional line in it , it is less likely to lock itself, and way easier to adjust and detach.

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

I like it!

Thanks for the video. My go to for fenders is a round turn with two half hitches. Simple, quick, can be removed/adjusted under load, and has better grip than a clove hitch. YMMV

Great summary! Thx!

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Very welcome!

Absolutely great video. I carry several fenders, usually tied vertically on my Tartan 37. (Safe dockage in Lake Erie at present). Would love to make rope fenders as occasionally on town docks and transiting canals they would be very useful & good use of worn anchor rode. Be safe & sorry I missed you two at Annapolis. (Lol, yelled at everyone on the shuttle bus when I saw you both walking by..) Be well.

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

We were so close! We will be back next year 😉 The rope fenders are great for being work horses.

Great video on the subject.🙃

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Thanks! 😁

Thanks for the info.

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

You bet!

Vertical fenders 4 on each side of the boat and I have a wood board for the sticky situation. Looking forward to see how to tie a rope fender. Your video are great!!! Bravissimi!!!

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the feedback! When you make your own rope fender you won’t need the board anymore 😉

Great video! How I use fenders depends on the particular dock arrangement. I have windows on my hull, so I make sure the fender isn't on the "glass" but rests on the hull instead.

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Good point! Wouldn’t want to create leaks

Well I did just bring in tTuchstone for the first time since launch so I had an excess amount mostly because I side tied to other vessels which is even more dangerous than a dock. I have a variety and use them mostly to keep dingy from beating up the hull. i’ve been thinking about making a synthetic three strand rope bumper with a resilient foam core.

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

Dinghy chafe is a real issue! Our first paint job chafed through from the dinghy rubbing on it which is one of the catalysts to painting the hull again when we got to the Azores. Now I won’t let anyone tie up without a fender between my topsides and the dinghy!

Thanks doc

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

👍

Good video.. I learned to tie the line to the fender in the opposite side from the fender valve, so the valve face downwards when in use. That way if it for some reason shoots out under preasure, it wont hit anyone.

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

That is an excellent safety point!

Thank you, get to learn something new

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

I prefer using a tugboat hitch for almost all applications where no cleat is available . It is easy, fast, very secure, and can be untied under load. Take the running end around the back of the strong point you are using, post, eye, etc...then it goes around the standing end and doubles back in the direction it came from, around the back of the post and around the standing end from the other direction... At this point, for a fender, you can just make a slippery half hitch. For boats, or heavier objects , do another pass around if you feel it is warranted. If you are tying up a boat, and have access to the top of the piling , you do not have to snake the running end around and through, you can just drop a bight over the top of the piling keeping the unused portion of the running end closer to the boat than the part you are working with, pass it around the standing end as before, and look at that! The next bight is already in place. Pretty slick. You can finish it with a slippery half hitch if you want ... Cheers!

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

Can’t wait to try this knot out!

I use two fenders at the center of the boat but it's got to be on the port side to make use of the prop walk when stopping the boat. I am not so successful on the STB side and then I put a third one a bit forward of the other two. At the price of today's line and the length required to make a line fender, the price of a wooden fender board is most probably much less. Cheers, Richard

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

I do the same with port tie up. Do you also have a left hand prop? It walks me onto the pier when docking and walks me off the pier when leaving, but only for the port side.

Magnus hitch is just a rolling hitch, also known as a Magners hitch:P can't wait for the rope fender vid:)

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

They are almost the same except for the last turn which goes in the other direction

As you were talking about fenders available, I thought - And how much storage do you have on the boat. Fenders take up a lot of space unless they are deflated. Recently docking in Panama with floating docks and 10' tides, we used many vertical fenders on both sides and one very large (30" x 60" approx.) inflatable set horizontally between us and the adjacent boat. We were bow and stern with 2 springs and an aft tie holding us off the finger. I like the toe rail tie for longer term. What do you think of using lifeline ties while docking, then transferring the ties to the toe rail for longer term docking?

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

The lifelines while docking is what we do, then tie to the toe rail from the dock once everything has calmed down. Fenders do take up a ton of space! We have 4 cylinders and 3 ball fenders, then the 4 rope fenders. The rope fenders stay where they are because they are heavy. In the ocean, I will tie and lash them to the toe rail so they don’t slosh about on deck. The inflatable fenders all get tied to the handle of the sculling oar on the port bow. They are out of the way enough and stay put there while on the ocean. If we are docking often, they will remain on the lifelines at the perfect length and we just pull them up on the deck, leaving them tied so that deployment is just a matter of tossing them over. If we have the dinghy tied up along side (and locked to prevent theft) then we have 3 fenders between us to protect the topsides from chafe.

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

I see some boats that are literally lined with fenders on both sides, possibly 30 fenders in all and I just wonder “where do you put those?”

@williamstreet4304

8 ай бұрын

@@RiggingDoctor Here in the south, we just refer to them as Yankees because the fenders are still hanging from the lifelines while they sail. I felt a bit over-fendered with 8 or 9 out. If you are tied properly, you don't need them on the bow or stern and there are only so many places on a 50' sailboat.

@williamstreet4304

8 ай бұрын

@@RiggingDoctor Awesome! Thanks for the explanation. I'm trying to absorb information from every source possible. You are one of the few I consider a reliable source. Although I question using the ICW. I can't imagine doing that myself as I really prefer at least 100 NM from land.

👍👍👍

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Thank you

Added tips, try inflating them per manufacturers recommendations. Also a clove hitch will work itself loose. For synthetic ropes use two round turns and two half hitches.

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

Good pointer. We haven’t had issues of them coming untied when we have the dinghy tied up alongside for the night, but we have them on the top lifeline and the lifeline is dyneema, so I don’t know if maybe that helped keep it from untying over night when it was pretty bumpy. The half hitch is a great way to insure the fender stays attached and that’s some cheap insurance!

I prefer some sort of slipknot, usually a slipknot clove hitch. But I usually sail inshore and need to dock quite frequently. I love the cleat hitch on the toe rail, but i do not have a perforated toe rail.

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

They are handy but super expensive to add. If you find a place that is selling them for less than $30 a foot, let me know because I would love to add them to our Alberg.

I wish I had a rope fender last summer, we got pinned against a concrete pier in high winds. Have some minor scratches and wear in the gel coat....shrug, live and learn. I could have swore you made a video years ago on how to make one?

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Just a series of blog posts. I will be making them when it gets too cold to keep working on the boats outside though

How many fenders do I use? Ideally 0. Generally tend to tuck my 27' boat up into a gunk hole for weather. Finger peirs with 8 lines, 4 spring, 2 bow/stern lines for a total of 8 lines means the boat no touchy from any wind angle. I've even put out a kedge anchors as spring lines to stay off the wall in Elizabeth City. Would those be kedge? Kind of like parallel parking med moore style. 😂

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

That is impressive! I usually have 2-3 fenders for side tie, and 2 on each side for tying up in a slip. Once we are in, we tie up so that the fenders don’t work hard but sometimes we have to rely on them!

I have never tried this, nor have I ever seen it done for a toe rail with holes through it you could get a good quality ring, tied to the bitter end of it, and have another one going through the line, hook it to the toe rail, then pull the other one to adjust the height of the fender.

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

True, that would give you some mechanical advantage while adjusting it as well

Wow, the sump pump was running the whole time. That's a lot of water. Thanks for sharing, now how do I make a rope fender?

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

It’s the air conditioner pump to heat the boat. It was chilly!

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

The rope fender video is coming :)

Have two small tube shaped but I am changing that to a looong permanent rope like one

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

The rope fenders are awesome!

@redsailor101

8 ай бұрын

@@RiggingDoctor And beautiful

Have serious tumblehome and no rubrail . so fender board a must. lashed board to inflatable fenders.

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

That’s a good call. Tumblehome transoms are gorgeous!

Here's a thought. Instead of following the heard, tie the fender to the lower line in the first place thereby reducing leverage forces on the stanchions. Use whatever knot works after that. 9:20

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

That is less force, but still forceful if it’s going to be rough. Half as bad is still bad though. Fenders are a tricky thing to make a blanket statement about “how to do them for every situation” as each situation calls for a certain level of creativity!

To stop a fender from rolling along the hull, I take a wrap around the lower lifeline before tying off on the top lifeline.

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

That is a good way to force it to keep in place!

Soooo much water coming out of the boat 😮

@megr7734

8 ай бұрын

It's the refrigeration, so don't worry :)

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Yep, it’s the reverse cycle to keep the boat warm. It was a chilly day!

Tie an overhand knot with a bow in it for quick release after you tie these knots to keep them from slipping.

1:40 at least while docking, use a bend or loop with the clove hitch (don't pull all the rope through, leave the bend). A minute ago i saw you struggling with untying. When you use a bend, just pull the cord and adjust. That's 1 second, instead of 10 seconds. It matters when docking. You can secure it after docking is complete.

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Very true! Slip knots can make a tough situation less tough

Another reason to tie your fenders from the toe-rail or stanchion base is to reduce the horizontal swing of the fender. Click link for illustration: drive.google.com/file/d/1MmjVm7gGXN7LcDDzvM5yMakF8rfcoEDR/view?usp=share_link

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Very true!

Maybe this isn't a good idea, but could a rope fender be made around a swimming-noodle? Seems like it would help quite a bit with weight, provide some compliance, and I imagine the plastic-based noodle is going to be around for centuries.

@dmitripogosian5084

8 ай бұрын

Actually, it is not, it disintegrates in the sun

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Just what I was going to say. The foam will also go down to nothing when the boat smashes it against the dock.

Nice... but that's a lot of work during coming to the port in heavy seas... huh.

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

Yes indeed. Which is why we normally anchor upon first arrival somewhere and get the fenders and docklines ready in a calm anchorage before making our approach to a pier.

If you’ve ever wondered why there are so many fenders floating around a marina it’s because everyone thinks a clove hitch is the correct knot. It is not because as the fender rises up it loosens the hitch and on its way back down it slips. A round turn with two half hitches never does and can be adjusted just as easily as a clove hitch.

@dmitripogosian5084

8 ай бұрын

On our club boats we are required to do round turn and two half hitches. On a stanchion

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

That’s a very stout method of attaching them.

It's not a clove hitch until it has a half hitch safety. Clove hitches roll and untie.

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

That’s why they are just for docking, then a better knot on the toe rail after.

Looking like a flat fender😂😮

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

Baby it’s cold outside 🎶 and the fender lost it’s pressure, but it will puff back up when it warms up again!

You didn't cover what to do if you don't have a perforated, aluminum toe-rail. I do not, so I tie my fenders down low on the stanchions. With a fenders tied in a combination of vertical and horizontal positions, I can cover what needs to be covered. I use clove hitches. I have a ball fender and a foam board fender, both of which came with the boat, but I never seem to think of deploying them on the rare occasions that I am on a dock.

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Aluminum toe rails are not very pretty but they sure are useful! I’m trying to find a way to afford a new one for the Alberg because it does not have one!

it looks like it would take a lot of expensive rope to make a rope fender

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

Yes indeed. It’s a great way to reuse your old running rigging when you replace it all.

what if you only have life lines and a wooden toe rail...older boat

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

That is why aluminum rails are awesome! They are so expensive though and on our other boat I won’t be installing them because of the cost. You will be forced to use the stanchions unless your cleats are perfectly positioned.

Despite its popularity used in this application, a clove hitch will either jam or collapse and is therefore not at all the ideal knot. A round turn and two and two half-hitches on the other hand is the perfect solution whether tied on the lifeline or the toe rail. If a fender has to be set between two stanchions, stresses can almost always be reduced by simply moving to the lower lifeline. Also, a 'whip' as in a single whip, describes a rope run through a single block for hoisting or moving an object. The rope attached to a fender is properly called a lanyard or, if you must, a fender rope.

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

I do like the use of the round turn and two half hitches. It’s simple enough that a new sailor can master it quickly and tie it with confidence. As for the difference between fender lanyard and fender whip, I think it might be different geographical terms being pushed together via the internet. Over here, a lanyard is a small tassel that comes off of a device and is used to activate or easily pull the device. Boy Scouts would usually learn how to make lanyards for their keys. I also made lanyards which are attached to the lifeline gates to make opening them easier. A quick Google search of a Fender Lanyard pulls up key chains with the brand name Fender on them, while Fender Whip pulls up links to buy rope for your fenders. I’m searching this in Maryland so my results are skewed based on my location. Are you in the UK or Australia? I would like to know where that term is used as I’m currently writing a book on rigging and I like to cite the variety of names based on regions for the book since it will be sold internationally.

@ecnaruaL

6 ай бұрын

Any rope or piece of small stuff attached more or less permanently to an object for the purpose of securing it while in storage or in use, can reasonably be called a lanyard. One of the best sources of information on this subject in the English language is the British Admiralty Manual of Seamanship Vol 1, preferably pre-1960's editions. But even this robust authority might not withstand those differences in English terminology that seem to occur the further west one travels from Greenwich🙂 @@RiggingDoctor

Next up : How to walk down a dock

@sailingmoonshadow3169

8 ай бұрын

Lol! Although, tbf, I've seen some shocking attempts at tieing on fenders

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

With prop walk? 😂

A clove hitch is NOT secure. Great way to lose your fenders.

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

But it’s good enough for the time being while you dock, they can be switched to a more secure knot after you are tied up and the stress level drops.

If you claim to be a fender expert then you should demonstrate with a fully inflated fender.

@RiggingDoctor

7 ай бұрын

It was cold that day and they shrink. If I inflated them, then they would be overfilled and probably pop when used in the spring and summer. This is a video about tying them up, I could have used a plain rope to demonstrate the knots and what to tie them to.

@billgiles3261

7 ай бұрын

@@RiggingDoctor our fenders live in a climate which ranges from 0F to 100F, our moderately inflated fenders have never burst. They are plastic for goodness sake.

Why is the deck of the boat so filthy, and the stanchion base all rusty and neglected?

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

The boat is wintering in Baltimore MD where the air is so filthy the boat looks like this after a week. The stanchion bases have rust because the boat is 55 years old and has crossed the Atlantic twice. It’s not a new boat at the boat show, it’s a real boat with a story.

This guy does an entire video without inflating his fenders first... Weak... A cleat hitch will NEVER come undone under load....

@RiggingDoctor

8 ай бұрын

It was winter and they all shrank. If I inflate them they would be overfilled when we go to use them in the warmer months.