Hanging Bumpers

wgoodhoofd

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
May 15, 2006
Messages
97
We have a 2006 Four Winns 180 Horizon, but this question is about any other boat. At our cottage we use mooring whips, but also have bumpers set up, mostly for the docking process.

My question is what ropes/products does everyone use to secure their bumpers to their boats? At present we have the looping ropes (basically a figure 8 with a thicker middle) that go on the plastic cleats that work quite well, however they are coming apart and I would like to replace them with something more substantial. Any suggestions?
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Hanging Bumpers

i use either 3/8 or 1/4 inch rope. i take a loop thru the center of the cleat, loop it over the cleat, the figure 8.
 

wellsc1

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 7, 2009
Messages
328
Re: Hanging Bumpers

I recently purchased some doo-hickies that clamp around the boat rails and have little ridges to grip the rope. If the bumpers are to be left overnight or in rough water, the rope is wrapped around the rail and hang over the initial rope held by the little-ridged grippers. This system is supposed to hold the rope without tying a knot and leaves the cleats for securing the boat to the dock or, in my case, the houseboat.
 

Chinewalker

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Aug 19, 2001
Messages
8,902
Re: Hanging Bumpers

Personally, I love the clips, hooks and plastic doo-hickers that folks use to attach bumpers. Most of the ones I find floating in the River have those things tied securely to the end of the line. I've got a nice collection of bumpers in various sizes and styles lining one wall of my boathouse courtesy of those plastic thingies...

I use cleats on my boat, tying the bumper line with a figure-8 knot. Only time I ever lost a bumper was when I neglected the line and it chafed through during a storm...
 

TilliamWe

Banned
Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Hanging Bumpers

I attach all "bumpers" with bolts.

I have used the "Fender Tender II" in the past to quickly attach my boat's fenders. They are a plastic do hickey thing. They work very well in an environment where the boat isn't working against the fenders a lot. And they are fast to deploy, but not fast to adjust their height. I used them mostly at my slip. When rafting out with other boats, I used my fenders that had 1/2" line through the fender loophole, and just tied them to a cleat using a hitch. Simple and very effective.
 

ondarvr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
11,527
Re: Hanging Bumpers

Personally, I love the clips, hooks and plastic doo-hickers that folks use to attach bumpers. Most of the ones I find floating in the River have those things tied securely to the end of the line. I've got a nice collection of bumpers in various sizes and styles lining one wall of my boathouse courtesy of those plastic thingies...

I use cleats on my boat, tying the bumper line with a figure-8 knot. Only time I ever lost a bumper was when I neglected the line and it chafed through during a storm...




So you're the guy, I want mine back. I used them (plastic thingies) for a very short time, lost several bumpers and went back to a cleat. Now I collect the ones floating around with the plastic clip still securely attached.
 

Capt Ron

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 2, 2001
Messages
142
Re: Hanging Bumpers

They are "Fenders" they help fend your boat off other objects.

Get smaller "fender cleats" and install them in the locations you need. That way you won't have to use the plastic clips or the regular cleats.

Always remove or pull the fenders in while underway, leaving them hanging and bouncing around in the bow spray is the sign of an inexperienced operator.

Capt Ron
 

gstanton

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 3, 2003
Messages
451
Re: Hanging Bumpers

Besides calling them bumpers... also, wearing the orange life jackets is another sign of an inexperienced boater.

I'm not even going to try to deal with the plastic thingies.

Good Luck!
 
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