Inflatable boat and fenders

[Rich1jd]

Hi all me again lol !
So I have all my trips are down the river and will be this way for a while, I have a nice Excel 330 and I know it has a rubbing protection strip all the way round but one I don’t really want to damage it so have been thinking of just a couple of really small fenders I can swing over when up against the bank, some of which are concrete, is this over kill and the boat will be fine with a few scuffs etc or is it something worth doing ? Thanks Rich

[Highland Haggis]

Nope you you are doing the right thing no point in damaging your new toy for the sake of £20
Hope you are enjoying yourself so far all the best HH

[spartacus]

It's not overkill. Granted its on a river stretch, but the rubbing strake will absorb scuffs, but in my book a couple of fenders is best practice.

All my fenders are basically fishing bouys that have been lost at sea and found as flotsam and jetsam. I tie them on the back of the second jockey seat and deploy in the harbour. On your boat, space will be a premium, so some Plastimo flat fenders are lightweight and would do the job.

[Rich1jd]

Thanks all feel a little better not being silly

[Orwell boy]

These are fit for purpose
https://seamarknunn.com/cgi-bin/sh00...2ehtml#SID=568

[Rich1jd]

Originally Posted by Orwell boy

These are fit for purpose
https://seamarknunn.com/cgi-bin/sh00...2ehtml#SID=568

Oh I like these 😊 thanks so much

[Peter_C]

Since life jackets are required and always onboard I used them as fenders. I am talking about the horseshoe type. I had no extra room for actual fenders.

[lakelandterrier]

Originally Posted by Peter_C

Since life jackets are required and always onboard I used them as fenders. I am talking about the horseshoe type. I had no extra room for actual fenders.

Not sure that's the best use of lifebuoys.
If short of space gets some flat rib fenders
https://www.compassmarine.co.uk/comp...all-c2x8853761

or cheaper options make some up from garden kneeling pads https://www.toolstation.com/kneeling-mat/p87433

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

Not sure that's the best use of lifebuoys.
If short of space gets some flat rib fenders
https://www.compassmarine.co.uk/comp...all-c2x8853761

or cheaper options make some up from garden kneeling pads https://www.toolstation.com/kneeling-mat/p87433

I'm with you on the garden kneeling pads

Great idea

[Brinormeg]

Got a few last year in homebargains...99p each.
Extra bit of padding to sit or kneel on, (or in our case to also pad out our excel seat cushion)
Light bit of chord to stop them blowing away and tie together if required.
And although maybe a bit overkill....a quick release clip to throw them under sib if pulling over particulary poor ground. Or just to sit on if stopped over somewhere for a coffee.

I think I recall someone here saying they burst a tube up against a small nail or something at an old dock/pier, so I would say use as a fender not a bad idea at all. Only problem I can think of is they might need weighted down a little.

[Steve509926]

Happy New Year Brinormeg

I have noticed you do have an eye for spotting a bargain

Instead of weighting them, I wonder if if you could clip them to the rubbing stake?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cover-hoo...-127635-2958-0

[vitalspark]

Originally Posted by Rich1jd

Oh I like these 😊 thanks so much

I have these. Definitely worth the extra premium.

[Brinormeg]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Happy New Year Brinormeg

I have noticed you do have an eye for spotting a bargain

Instead of weighting them, I wonder if if you could clip them to the rubbing stake?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cover-hoo...-127635-2958-0

Its the Aberdonian in me......tight as a ducks arxx

Oh and happy newyear to you too steve. You will be itching at the bit to get out on the water again I bet after the great year you had last year.

Hopefully things will go to plan for us this year and we will be heading over to see donny in a couple of months

[TmMorris]

I have a couple of 18" fenders that I tend to use on rivers as it's not completely unknown to find some rotten metalwork along the banks of the Thames. I just use them sideways.

[SoCalAngler]

Plan on using the ubiquitous square seat cushions, they play a double role! I love it when things are multi-purpose!

[Gary S]

Bit late to the ‘party’ but I use garden kneeling pads. Also make good seat pads for those long days out…and of course for the odd occasional gardening session!

[Voodoo]

Originally Posted by vitalspark

I have these. Definitely worth the extra premium.

I have these on my Ribtec...brilliant they are