Fenders on Ribs, it's just not cricket is it?

HUMBER P4VWL · 22 September 2010, 13:02

I noticed on "Show us your Redbay" Willk's rib has fenders out against the jetty and the humber next to him. (The humber i understand as Willk may not want one to touch his Redbay!

) But is the point of a Rib, especially if specced commercially as Willk's is, often with extra rubbing strake etc etc that you don't need to faff with fenders like with hard boats.

Just a thought, we never bother as if the jetty/slip is that barnacle covered and the swell is large, no poxy fenders will prevent damage anyway. You would hold the boat off and not leave it there in the first place. As with Ronin's crew in the "IOM last year" photos from Tony T.

If in a harbour where it's calm etc, no damage will occur.

Downhilldai · 22 September 2010, 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

If in a harbour where it's calm etc, no damage will occur.

Do you have exclusive use of the harbour?

Cypman · 22 September 2010, 13:35

Fender replacement is a lot easier and cheaper than tube replacement, simples!

willk · 22 September 2010, 13:44

I'm fairly sure that the new-owner-to-be will appreciate the tidy rubbing strake and smooth tubes, I might even throw in a set of well chewed fenders wot I have got...

I thought that only Rag and Stick owners thought of RIBs as giant fenders, then I saw a couple of nice ribs (£100k+) in Scotland and Rathlin this year that had extensive damage caused to strakes and tubes /fittings due to being tied up without fenders.

I only do it under the most benign conditions.

FWIW, I generally examine pontoons and quay walls and access steps carefully and you'd be shocked at how many sharp rusty bolt heads, hardwood splinters and split wire cables there are. How can fenders NOT protect a RIB in these circumstances?

Pikey Dave · 22 September 2010, 13:57

When tying up against pontoons, I usually find that the stern sits lower than the edge of the pontoon & wants to sit underneath, like Wilks says there are all sorts of nasties lurking waiting to scuff my precious things

HUMBER P4VWL · 22 September 2010, 14:00

I guess it is cricket then.

Until i get my own personal harbour!

Downhilldai · 22 September 2010, 14:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

Until i get my own personal harbour!

Some fenders will be cheaper

willk · 22 September 2010, 14:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

Willk's rib has fenders out against the jetty and the humber next to him. (The humber i understand as Willk may not want one to touch his Redbay!

)

And a further Point of Order: If you take a closer look, you'll note that the white fenders between the Redbay and the Humber are in fact SPLICED to the lifelines on the Humber - so there's one Humber owner who thinks yer a blurry irriot too

martini · 22 September 2010, 16:08

I've never used fenders before on a rib, but I spent a night last year alongside a 40' cat with a white hull. Cost me £100 to get it back to white again

Mollers · 22 September 2010, 18:02

I don't see the reasoning for not using fenders. Some of the harbour walls down this way could eat a rubbing strake in minutes.

When rafting, it's good manners.

Nos4r2 · 22 September 2010, 18:24

I always use fenders. Rubbing strake ain't cheap and it's a PITA to change.

jwalker · 22 September 2010, 21:03

I've never used fenders and taken care not to park against burnt off old bolt shanks etc... until this year. It's been remarkable how helpful round buoys have been because some pontoons and jetties have undercuts where the tubes pass below and some are low to the water and the underside of the tubes rub and fret against them. The large diameter of the buoys reach under the overhang of a pontoon or over and under the front tube, adjusted to a suitable height of course.

Chris · 22 September 2010, 21:08

Some pontoons are a nightmare without fenders, the one ourside the folly is a classic example and if some numpty moves you to the inside and you are at the corner there is a nice rough metal edge just waiting to tear a hole in your tube.

Fenders are definately worth it IMO. THe couple of times I have been to lazy to put them out I have regretted it with scraped rubbing strake being the result.

Poly · 22 September 2010, 21:17

Even with possibly the most damage resistant "tubes" on here I use fenders from time to time - as otherwise the rusty / gritty / slimy stuff gets spread all over them and ground into the surface.

tony t · 22 September 2010, 21:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Some pontoons are a nightmare without fenders, the one ourside the folly is a classic example and if some numpty moves you to the inside and you are at the corner there is a nice rough metal edge just waiting to tear a hole in your tube.

Fenders are definately worth it IMO. THe couple of times I have been to lazy to put them out I have regretted it with scraped rubbing strake being the result.

we only stopped here for a coffee, and left the boy to tie the rib up was pleased he had done this with out me telling him ..glad to see he takes after me

HUMBER P4VWL · 22 September 2010, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by tony t

we only stopped here for a coffee, and left the boy to tie the rib up was pleased he had done this with out me telling him ..glad to see he takes after me

See that's where I wouldn't bother... Unless I had a crew to do it while I went and got coffee!

willk · 22 September 2010, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

The large diameter of the buoys reach under the overhang of a pontoon or over and under the front tube, adjusted to a suitable height of course.

I was too embarrassed to mention it, but I carry one or two for that very reason...

GJ0KYZ · 22 September 2010, 22:43

Fenders all the way man. You never know when a coach might bump into you.

spartacus · 22 September 2010, 23:57

She ain't pretty, but the make-shift bouys and fenders helped keep the tubes in tip-top condition. All reclaimed flotsam. I only used them when tied up in the harbour. When I sold the boat - there wasn't a mark on her.

BogMonster · 23 September 2010, 01:11

I don't usually use them but my boat only sits on a pontoon for as long as it takes me to pull the trailer out of the water and get suited up but I would for any length of stay.

Many pontoons have sharp corners on them as do some older boats! It doesn't take much to tear hypalon on a sharp edge and it's surprising how Sods Law means the rubbing strake is at the wrong height for what you are rubbing on...

I've often wondered why they don't offer RIB tubes out of the same stuff they make fenders out of. Well I suppose they do - it's called a Mac