Bumper Placement

[Edward]

So I am one day into ownership of a new 2015 AR240 and have a simple question as I prepare my gear for tomorrows maiden voyage.......bumper placement.

There are 3 cleats. Bow, middle (midships?), stern.

Right now I'm thinking of not using the cleats and using the aft section of the tower and the box hand rails, thus leaving all cleats available to tie up if necessary.

What do you do?

Having fun today working out some of the kinks.

Thanks!

Ed

 

[Helipilot11]

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Fender-Tender-II-pair&i=34014
I use those and love them. I know a few other guys use them too. It allows you to put the bumper anywhere.

 

[Edward]

@Helipilot11, thanks for the suggestion I'll look into those.

For now I'm just tie them until I have an easier/better/faster solution. Those look interesting not sure if the clip would work on the tower.

Here is what I've come up with thus far.

 

[Helipilot11]

We clip one on the side window and the front stainless handle.

 

[subysti]

I use the perko bumper holders. Easy to use and slide on and off.

 

[veedubtek]

Ordered those same ones yesterday, @subysti .

 

[Bennie]

http://www.amazon.com/HH-1C-Hull-Hugr-Contour-Fender/dp/B000OF72TI/ref=sr_1_6?s=boating-water-sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1430603682&sr=1-6&keywords=boat fender
http://www.amazon.com/Suction-Cup-B...04195&sr=1-3&keywords=boat+fender+suction+cup


I use these contour fenders with the good suction cup holders so that I can put then anywhere. Bungee cords can also be your friend

 

[veedubtek]

I used the suction cup mounts last year (with those contour fenders). 3 times I was chasing down runaway fenders. Love the convenience, but they didn't love me. Seemed they were good for a few months, but towards the end of the season they started failing. I actually ordered replacements before finding those fender locks.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

I use 1/8" para cord line on my fenders so that I can hang them on the cleats AND still have room to tie the dock lines up.

I only use the stern and midship cleats for fenders. The bow is unnessesary to fender because it is too far away from the dock -- unless you are an out of control docker! In that case you should give a fender to your mate and have them be ready to put the fender between the boat and whatever you are about to hit.

 

[txav8r]

The 240's have a much flatter side than the 230's did. So 3 fenders work better but only one or two will come into play once tied. I put mine on midship cleat, rear cockpit grab rail on gunwale, and bow grab rail at aft end. Everything else is too far north and south. With a tower, you can use the tower for both midship and aft, and grab rail up front.

 

[scokill]

One on the curved part of the bow is useless.

 

[txav8r]

Even in a 230, I liked to approach the dock at a 45 degree angle bow first. That fender is on the bow in case I blow the approach, not for actual tie up. On the 240, the sides are flat and a bow fender is beneficial if you tie up a little looser. You only need 1 fender if you don't have any wind or water movement...and if your perfect. Are you? Set the odds in your favor.

 

[Edward]

Thanks for all ideas and input. I'm gonna start with my original idea and change as necessary once I'm able to see the boat next to the dock and better understand the dimensions/angles. If I remember I'll take pictures and provide feedback tomorrow to help future owners like myself.

Ed

 

[sysinu]

I use Taylor Made fender locks:

Before using these, I would use midships cleat and then tie off the aft end of my tower.

 

[redthumper9]

On my AR240, I use the bow cleat (almost useless), the middle cleat and the very aft end of the tower. Usually the midship cleat and the one on the tower do 98% of the work.

 

[Andy S]

I use Fender Tender II, http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=34014, to hang my fender on because I found the cleats are to low to effectively hang the fenders. I use two fender per side, 1) hanging off the top of the side window at the drivers or passenger seat location, 2) hanging off the grab rail just aft of the side window.

 

[Williamsone46]

This is where I place mine on the 15' 242

 

[Edward]

@Williamsone46, that's pretty much what I did. I didn't think I'd need the one on the bow however when coming in and dropping off my wife to get the trailer for recovery I mis judged the wind when approaching the dock. I thought I was heading straight into the wind with the dock on my starboard toward the dock at a slight angle but when I got close, put the jets in reverse and wheel towards the dock to pull the stern in the wind blew my bow into the dock before the stern could react. Good thing I had the bumper there.

 

[sysinu]

@Williamsone46, that's pretty much what I did. I didn't think I'd need the one on the bow however when coming in and dropping off my wife to get the trailer for recovery I mis judged the wind when approaching the dock. I thought I was heading straight into the wind with the dock on my starboard toward the dock at a slight angle but when I got close, put the jets in reverse and wheel towards the dock to pull the stern in the wind blew my bow into the dock before the stern could react. Good thing I had the bumper there.

I usually have my wife or whomever is helping at the dock just hold a fender in one hand and an extended boat hook in the other if I'm coming into a complicated slip or somewhere with poor conditions (weather/wind,etc). I think that bow cleat is worthless for anything other than anchoring or mooring (I feel the same way about the stern cleats).

 

[Williamsone46]

I generally use all three cleats.