What Is a Fender?
The inflatable buffer between a boat and the quay/another boat — the cheapest but most commonly misused part of the mooring set-up.
A fender is an inflatable buffer that protects the boat’s topsides from the quay, pontoon or a neighbouring boat. In a blow, the fender arrangement takes the strain on the topsides and guardrails: the right number, at the right height and at the right pressure will absorb contact energy; the wrong set-up just hangs there.
The table below sets out the most common mistakes alongside the correct approach.
Fender mistakes
Fault | Result / correct approach |
|---|---|
Wrong height | It drops under the boat or sits too high: set it to the point of contact |
Too few, too small | The load ends up on one point: fit enough buffer for the boat’s length |
Low pressure | A soft fender cannot absorb energy: check pressure once a season |
At the first storm warning, the first 5 minutes should be spent on the fender run: add numbers and adjust heights to the point of contact. There is one important yard tip as well: tie the fender to a cleat, bollard or another solid point below, not to the guardrail wire; the wire was never meant to take that load.
The cheapest maintenance for the topsides is a proper fender arrangement; good cushioning protects what polish cannot.