They are indispensable objects, yet their importance is often underestimated. Fenders are essential on any vessel, and knowing how to make the most of them among the berths of a marina is part of every owner’s basic preparation. However, the sea is full of loose floating fenders, and recalling some practical tips for their correct use can only be helpful.
Mooring fenders: how to use them correctly
First of all, let us remember an important and, in some ways, obvious detail: fenders must not remain fixed once they are first positioned, but need to be adjusted at every new mooring once you reach the designated berth. The reason is simple: mooring in our Genoa marina is not identical to mooring the next day in Camogli, requiring different arrangements and care. Otherwise, fenders lose their main quality, which is adaptability to different situations.
Having made this necessary premise, let us proceed step by step through the preparation maneuvers for using fenders during mooring. The most suitable knot is the clove hitch, which is not surprisingly nicknamed the “fender knot.” Simple, effective under tension, and easily reinforced later with a slipped clove hitch or a half hitch, the clove hitch has all the characteristics to perform its task.
However, be careful not to make careless mistakes, especially when preparing the knot while letting the fender hang outside. This operation is partly risky but necessary for taking measurements and avoiding trial and error. While recommending maximum attention, we remind you that when the knot is untied, the fenders can safely rest on the deck.
Once all these preliminary operations are completed, you need to decide where to place the fenders. As a general rule, preparation should take place before entering the port, at least when weather conditions permit. Otherwise, it is advisable to enter a sheltered area and take the necessary time to carry out all operations calmly. For this reason, an attentive observer will see that most boats returning to their berth in Genoa, here at Marina Porto Antico, already have their fenders in position.
If the mooring situation is known in advance, placing the fenders becomes automatic, as is the case for the regulars of our marina in Liguria. Otherwise, they can be set at a standard height and then adjusted if necessary. By standard height, it is meant that the head of the fender is parallel to the rub rail or the base of the gunwale. Fenders that are too high will ride up with the surge, while those that are too low will not protect the vessel.
Placement depends on the boat’s structure. A classic layout features the widest part of the hull in the center, and that is where the fenders should be placed. If the maximum beam is further aft, they should be moved closer to the stern. It is good practice to always keep one or two spares in the cockpit during docking or mooring maneuvers, so they can be deployed later as needed. Of course, the choice of mooring fenders is also important: beyond the shape (cylindrical, spherical, flat, and so on), size also matters, knowing that the superyachts mooring here in Genoa obviously have much larger fenders than those needed to secure a small gozzo or a boat of just a few meters.
These small tips will help you make the most of your fenders and reduce the risk of seeing them end up in the sea. We conclude with another small piece of advice: it is preferable to tie them to the stanchions or to the lifelines where they pass through the stanchions. This is because lifelines, under constant weight, will eventually “sag.” It is better to avoid this when possible.