Fender rope

[bill209]

I ended up purchasing 3/8” three strand nylon. I also whipped the ends while watching tv one night; it was so relaxing. Though, as you can see from the picture below that I may have gotten a little out of hand with how long I made them, plus I still have to trim the ends.

And while it is all so true that I could have simply melted the end of the nylon rope, whipping the rope just looks so sweeeet! : )

Thanks everyone for all of your comments and guidance!

 

[Comodave]

The biggest mistake boat owners make is attaching the fenders with the filler plug facing upwards. As a former commercial fisherman I saw a crew member killed when the boat hit the dock a little too fast and the excessive pressure sent the plug shooting out of the fender and through his eye! That said, 3/8 or 1/2 inch three-strand nylon is my preference, hot knifed and whipped with waxed twine filler plug down.

On the ball type fender they are on the top next to the hole for the line. See post #5. Not much choice.

 

[Tacklow]

bill209 I’m glad that was helpful but sometimes one learns the hard way. One thing I didn’t mention was that our fender lines are attached to bronze pad eyes mounted on the hull at appropriate locations with spring loaded clips: easy on and off and no chafe which one gets tying to stanchion bases.

 

[Tacklow]

On the ball type fender they are on the top next to the hole for the line. See post #5. Not much choice.

Yes, and for that reason one needs to be very careful when using balls as fenders. Avoid standing in direct line of fire … that’s what killed my fellow fisherman (a ball fender)!

 

[JOHN CLAYMAN]

I like to splice soft lay 3-strand Dacron & do a double sewn serving on the bitter end. For most trawler owners on this forum that would probably mean 7/16” line. Of you do not have those basic skills, this would be a good project to acquire them. YouTube should make it easy to learn. The finished result will send a subtle message that you are a salty sailor.

 

[GB36_OuttaHere]

I never even though about that fender style but your right. A spliced loop would be good for that. I have primarily used this type.
View attachment 159388

I have about 4' of black 3/8 nylon braid on this type of fender. (Qty 6) Figure 8 at top and bottom of the fender. Enough tail out the top for a few 1/2 hitches on a rail, or to wrap a post and reach a cleat...
No complaints....

 

[C lectric]

I use 1/2" Nylon triple twist on all lines. All my main lines, 2 at bow , 2 at stern are equipped with the black rubber shock absorbers. If need be I carry sufficient lines to double up and use some of them with the rubber stretchy shock absorbers in addition to those already installed. I have needed those shock absorbers from time to time.
Rough water with wind blowing. I learned about those rubber shock devices when we were stuck in a marina with 50+ knot wind snapping the bow so strongly is woke me up and felt like the boat was hitting something. They took all the shock out of the boat pulling/jerking at the lines. Couldn't stop it but took out the snap of running out of line stretch.

I used to make my own fender lines but the last time I purchased for my new fenders Nylon double braid ready made lines to handle the fenders from with lots of extra as the previous lines were to short.

All of my fender lines are longer than strictly needed but I much rather that than barely or not adequate in some situations.