13 Steps How To Tie A Fender To A Boat (Complete With Pictures)

How To Tie A Fender To A Boat - Fenders protect the edges of a boat from hitting things like docks, seawalls, and other boats. Stand on top of your boat to properly position the fender and adjust its height to correlate with the dock or whatever else you are protecting. You can use a clove knot to attach the fender to a cleat or brace.

• Distance of the fenders

1. Use at least 3 fenders on your boat. A boat should have at least 3 fenders attached to protect it efficiently, more is always a good option. You can follow the guidelines of having 1 fender per 10 feet (300cm) of waterline while always having at least 3 fenders.

2. Place 1 fender at the widest part of the boat. The widest part of your boat is the part that hits something on the sides first, so be sure to add a fender to this section.

You can place other fenders in front and behind.

3. Use a fender board if the distances between the posts are large. Sometimes your boat will hit pilings even with fenders in place if the distances between the pilings are large. To prevent this you can use fender boards connected to 2 fenders creating a barrier against the pilings.

• Positioning of fenders

4. Align your fenders either horizontally or vertically. When choosing the position of your fenders, think about what your boat will come in contact with. If your boat will be stationed alongside another boat, at a dock, or against a seawall, you should tie the fenders vertically. If your boat will be next to pilings or posts, you should tie them horizontally.

5. Choose something solid and low to attach your fenders to. You should tie the fenders as low on the boat as possible and choose something sturdy like a cleat, lifeline support, or padeye. Tying them low will keep them quiet and prevent them from swinging around too much.

Avoid attaching fenders to the top of a lifeline or rail.

6. Stand on the boat to adjust the fender heights. Position yourself next to what you will be protecting your boat from impact with to decide where to position the fenders. When adjusting fenders, stand on top of your boat, beside the dock, boat or other structure.

7. Adjust the fenders according to what they fit against. When holding the fender over the boat, position it so that it acts as a buffer between the boat and the dock or other structure. You should raise or lower the fenders depending on the height you want to protect your boat from.

• Tying a carnation hitch or similar knot

8. Place the line over the bar to begin a clove knot. If the fender is hanging off the side of the boat, loop the working end of the line over the rail or pole.

The working end of the line is the end you will use to tie the knot - the end that is not attached to a fender.

9. Wrap the line halfway around the rail or pole. Once the cord is on the rail, wrap it under the rail.

10. Cross the line over the wrapped part. Pull the working end of the line up and over the portion of line that is still on the rail. You should have formed a "X" with the line.

11. Wrap the working end of the line around the rail again. Complete the "X" by pulling the line under and halfway around the rail again.

12. Pull the running end through the loop you created. Once the line is halfway around the rail you have created a loop. Pull the working end of the line under this loop and pull the line tight.

The weight of the fender pulls the knot down, holding it tight and in place.

13. For a simple alternative, use a half-knot. To tie a half slip knot, wrap the line around the rail and bring the end under the standing part of the line. Pull the end of the string up through the loop you just created. Tighten to secure.

You can repeat this process to create multiple half strokes, making your line even more confident.

Use half hitches when attaching the fenders to a lifeline.