Boat Bumpers

[Scott Huse]

This might be a newbie question but I'll ask anyway, what bumpers have you found to be the best and where and how do you hang them when docking? On my old boat the cleats were position in good spot but not on my AR 195.

 

[FLBulldogger]

We use 4 inch boat fenders and they seem to work fine for us. As far as where to hang them we use this https://www.overtons.com/modperl/pr...MI7r6U6KHV2gIVBNvACh0xkwZ6EAYYAiABEgLxIPD_BwE and can hang them just about anywhere we need them, they can be hung on the window rails, cleats, etc and adjust to various heights quickly and as needed.

 

[Scott Huse]

We use 4 inch boat fenders and they seem to work fine for us. As far as where to hang them we use this https://www.overtons.com/modperl/pr...MI7r6U6KHV2gIVBNvACh0xkwZ6EAYYAiABEgLxIPD_BwE and can hang them just about anywhere we need them, they can be hung on the window rails, cleats, etc and adjust to various heights quickly and as needed.

Thanks, when you place these on the window frame they don't scratch it? It just seems that that the plastic clip would cause scratches.

 

[FLBulldogger]

Haven't so far....you could always just put a terry cloth on the window rail and then place the tender over it...

 

[RiverRat]

For docks that have posts on the outside I picked up a couple of kids bouncy toys from Amazon. They've held up well, not only to potential dock rash, but occasionally my kids will grab hold of them and bounce down the driveway.

Hedstrom Green Hopper Ball, Kid's ride-on toy, Bouncy hopping ball with handle - 15 Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BP5VU9E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_uoh4Ab2G3ZDNY

 

[d_coyne1984]

I use the round ones, I think they are 5.5" and they have worked pretty well for me. I also have some of the flat hull-huggers but I do not like them. They do not put enough distance between the boat and the dock. I will typically hang mine with adjustable velcro straps from each end of the tower which works well as long as you get the boat tied tight enough so that the stern won't contact the dock. It would be really nice to have a better point further aft and the aft cleat is to low to the water level to be very useful to hang a fender from. I have found that my hull-huggers do come in handy for wood piers at pier style docks where a 5 0r 6" fender won't do jack. I put a rope through both the top and the bottom and secure it to the post tightly between the post and the boat. The first time I did it the dock hand laughed at me until he figured out what I was doing and how well it worked.

 

[d_coyne1984]

For docks that have posts on the outside I picked up a couple of kids bouncy toys from Amazon. They've held up well, not only to potential dock rash, but occasionally my kids will grab hold of them and bounce down the driveway.View attachment 72913

Hedstrom Green Hopper Ball, Kid's ride-on toy, Bouncy hopping ball with handle - 15 Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BP5VU9E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_uoh4Ab2G3ZDNY

If those are your personal docks I highly recommend putting fenders on the poles themselves. It saves a lot of time and they only contact the boat on the rub rail. I have the same style docks at my cabin and it works great. I take a 2x6 and nailed some dock edge fender to it.

Like this:
https://www.overtons.com/product/details?pdesc=Dockmate-Universal-3-Way-Dock-Fender&i=315028

And then put these on the back to attach to the dock pole and prevent it from rotating:
https://www.overtons.com/product/details?pdesc=Stationary-Dock-Hardware-Side-Leg-Holder&i=315539

I have 8' dock sections and I use two. You can kind of see one in the picture bellow.

 

[RiverRat]

@d_coyne1984 I wish I had some personal docks. I'm more of a transient boater.

 

[d_coyne1984]

@d_coyne1984 I wish I had some personal docks. I'm more of a transient boater.

I married into it, but that also means having to install or remove them from the muck each season. At least you aren't missing out on that fun.

 

[DBamaC]

We use 4 inch boat fenders and they seem to work fine for us. As far as where to hang them we use this https://www.overtons.com/modperl/pr...MI7r6U6KHV2gIVBNvACh0xkwZ6EAYYAiABEgLxIPD_BwE and can hang them just about anywhere we need them, they can be hung on the window rails, cleats, etc and adjust to various heights quickly and as needed.

I use these too. For quick, casual docking I usually clip one on the windshield and one on the stern cleat and just use (2) bungy dock lines. Of course, there are always bizaar docking issues that come up. I keep (4) 6" fenders, (2) kids bouncy balls. (2) bungy dock lines and (4) 1/2" 15' docklines on board all the time. A couple times when I've rented a place that had a dock in poor repairs, I've used every bit of it. In fact, I was in Sam's Club the other day and saw a pack of (3) 4" fenders of something like $15 that I think I've going to grab and leave in my tow vehicle along with another couple dock lines in case I need to rig up some extra protection on the place I have rented in June. The last time I was there, between the @#$@ing boat surfing 15' off the dock and the general disrepair of the dock, one of my chrome letters got knocked off my stern and I don't want that happening again.

 

[Scott Huse]

For docks that have posts on the outside I picked up a couple of kids bouncy toys from Amazon. They've held up well, not only to potential dock rash, but occasionally my kids will grab hold of them and bounce down the driveway.View attachment 72913

@RiverRat I like that setup especially if I was going to be parked overnight, I'm kinda jealous of the old style wake towers and the options they give.

 

[Shannon]

We tried several different types and ways to secure the bumpers and fenders. We are able to tie the bumpers to the cleats and we use 2 of these. https://www.westmarine.com/buy/kwik-tek--suction-cup-fender-strap--367690?recordNum=23 One at the window and one at the back of the boat. Works really well for us! The 190 192 and 195 are awkward to set up for bumpers and fenders. I am on our 3rd season with these suction cups and the are holding like new. So we use total of 4 broken down to 2 fenders and 2 of the med size round bumpers. Hope this helps.

 

[Shannon]

You can see in the pic from Saturday where the suction cups are. They are the blue straps. The boat backed in is mine.

 

[haknslash]

We use 4 inch boat fenders and they seem to work fine for us. As far as where to hang them we use this https://www.overtons.com/modperl/pr...MI7r6U6KHV2gIVBNvACh0xkwZ6EAYYAiABEgLxIPD_BwE and can hang them just about anywhere we need them, they can be hung on the window rails, cleats, etc and adjust to various heights quickly and as needed.

I use those fender tender clips as well and they work great. No issues with scratching the window or frame.

And yes thanks to people like @DBamaC there will never be a shortage of tie up gear! Ours can get big at times lol

 

[SCP1]

I like RiverRat’s solution, however I have 8.5” bumpers that work well. If you are buying bumpers I would go with 8.5” they may seem a little big but sure come in handy. I normally tie off my tower in the rear or from the grab handle in the boat. In the front I get creative, I rap the rope around the grab handle and tie off to the cleat (this gets the bumper a little further back).

 

[Ronnie]

I use these and hang them from where ever I can off the boat, often the wakeboard tower and/or windshield frame since the front cleat is all but useless (too far inward towards the centerline) and the rear cleat is low and hard to use. For easy access I keep a total of five sets in my anchor locker along with two or three dock lines.

 

[AboveTheBest]

I use fenders like Ronnie shows above and ordered some heavy duty plastic carabiners to attach them (with lines) to my tower. You could do that in the back and maybe use the grab handles in the bow.

https://www.amazon.com/Tactical-Car...6_SY340_QL65&keywords=black+plastic+carabiner

I figured the plastic would be less likely to scratch the boat.

The lines are tied at specific distances so my 9 year old can just clip them on when we’re pulling into the dock.

 

[Scott Huse]

@AboveTheBest I like those Carabiners, I just placed them in my amazon cart for my weekly purchase

 

[Jilly Ruby Jane]

I used Hull Hugr Marina Bumper, features UV protection capability and resistant to wear and tear.

 

[Sean R]

I just got mine from Amazon seem to work well.