keep a fender over a 4x4 "piling"

alk

alk

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The slip I'm in this summer has a 4x4 post holding up the fixed finger pier - right around the center of my boat - and unfortunately, it's on the outside of the framing for the pier - so my usual fender setup offers little protection. I should have taken a pic, as I'm not sure I'm explaining it very well.

I'm having a tough time keeping a fender in front of this thing. When I leave the boat for the week, I adjust the lines to move towards the other side of the slip - but during the weekends I like to get pretty close to the dock - and with the shape of the hull, this has resulted in some scratches. Is there any good way to keep a fender in front of this thing? Or wrap it with something else for protection?
 
I had a similar issue here with the office on a tee head. Didn’t want to have to remove the fender every time we go out. I just hung the fender from the piling and keeping kit in place with a line on each side going to the next cleat. Bigger piling obviously but it woudl work on a 4 by 4.
 

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Two options. A piling fender, or two really big fenders on either side of it and the later might be advisable anyway. I guess if you don't have to deal with tide the solution could be easier, like tie a fender to the 4X4 but keep the fender horizontal. If you have to deal with tide the issue is certainly more complex.

So more importantly are you in a tidal area and how much tide is there?
 
Yes, tidal - but not a huge swing, want to say three feet. These odd shaped sailboat hulls make everything more difficult!

i did find a picture. There are actually two 4x4s, but the aft one isn’t an issue, due to the hull shape. And ignore that odd looking t-handle thing, I had the marina remove it ( after it scratched up my paint ): ). Looks like the slip n the other side put up some protection, like Getakey mentioned.
 

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One solution I've seem ( though hung from the boat ) is two round fenders against the boat, connected to a 2 x 10 between them.

Arrange it with the fenders art the 25% and 75% positions on the board, on the boat side, with the pier pole centered...

I've also seen corrugated/wrinkled used fire hose attached vertically to the post. ( This method seems less useful, to me. )
 
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If you re just there for the summer it s not worth adding permanent protection. Just look at the picture I posted. In your case, tie a fender to the square post then run a couple of lines fire and aft. Since there are cleats you may need to put a couple of eye bolt on a beam under the planks. The fore and aft lines make sure the fender can move out of place.

If works. In our case the boat is on a tee head usually pinned by prevailing winds and while securing the spring lines the boat moves back and forth squishing the fender. All 240k pounds of it. :)
 
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yeah, those dock bumpers are pricey -- if these posts were about a foot higher, even at high tide they would hit the rub rail, and I'd be fine. or if it was a floating dock, I would have more options. I'll try what you mentioned, but not really sure where I will attach the fore and aft lines - if I attach them to the fixed dock, the fender wont rise and fall with the tide. And no where on the boat to attach them.

a few of the other boats here have broken out the wood - as below - might try that. Or just let my boat get all scratched up - since I have to redo the paint in this spot anyways :)

boatus.com

How To Make A Fender Board

Fenders are great, but they work less well when you need to lie alongside a piling. For that you'll need a fender board.
boatus.com boatus.com
 
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There is no need for the fender to go up and down with the tides. Set it low enough so that at low tide the boat is still protected and the fender is still below the rubrail.

Or yes use fender boards but it s a pita to have to store them everytime. Unless you are located in SoFl where nobody seems to mind running with fenders out :)
 
How about wrapping the pole in carpet, would the marina let you do that? One of the pilings at the entrance to my slip is wrapped in carpet, and I will sometimes use that as a pivot point to get in when the winds are unfavorable. Having it wrapped in carpet protects pretty well against scratching.
 
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Perhaps two fenders, tied together at the fender eyes, tied to the post would suffice if they are set at a height that works for low and high tide. Tie them together loosely at the eyes, but tight enough that they stay in front of the post. Then tie them to the post at the top and bottom through the bridge line.
 
How about several small inner tubes slipped over the post?
 
Inner tubes? They won’t last more than a couple of weeks
 
Do you know anyone with a sewing machine??

We go camping every year and the dock has two or three 4x4 posts on the outside of the dock. The contour of my boat made it impossible to get a fender to stay on the bow. It’s a public camp ground dock so I can’t drill or attach anything permanent. I took two ratchet straps and cut them apart. And sewed new webbing in it with some eyes. One ratchet strap at the top and one at the bottom. And then tie a fender snuggly between the two. Keep the ratchet part towards the dock. Nothing sticks out towards the boat but the strap part. As the boat rocks and rolls in the waves the fender ends up back centered on the post.

Don’t have any pics handy but could get some if your interested
 
Underwaterwelder said:
Do you know anyone with a sewing machine??

We go camping every year and the dock has two or three 4x4 posts on the outside of the dock. The contour of my boat made it impossible to get a fender to stay on the bow. It’s a public camp ground dock so I can’t drill or attach anything permanent. I took two ratchet straps and cut them apart. And sewed new webbing in it with some eyes. One ratchet strap at the top and one at the bottom. And then tie a fender snuggly between the two. Keep the ratchet part towards the dock. Nothing sticks out towards the boat but the strap part. As the boat rocks and rolls in the waves the fender ends up back centered on the post.

Don’t have any pics handy but could get some if your interested
Click to expand...
Also just realized this was a year old post…. My bad
 
Sold that boat, and its “replacement” is at a different marina. But I do in fact own a sewing machine. I have no clue how to use it, but still hope to learn someday !
 
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