A wide variety of boats are moored at our Marina Porto Antico, in the center of Genoa. Between the long concrete docks and the picturesque harbor basin, we accommodate vessels of all sizes—from very large ones, up to 75 meters, to much smaller boats, under 10 meters. From yachts to Ligurian gozzo fishing boats, you’ll find a wide variety of vessels in our marina, moored here for periods ranging from very long to very short: Marina Porto Antico is, in fact, a go-to destination both for those seekinga daily berth to visit the Town and for those looking for an annual berth in Genoa .

Faced with this enormous variety of boats and needs we can define ourselves without fear of being wrong as true experts in the art of mooring. And as we know, this activity presents many delicate aspects, starting from the choice of fenders: placing the wrong protection can indeed mean transforming a safe approach into damage, just as the wrong fender can compromise the safety of the moored vessel in case of strong wind.

Today we will therefore see how to choose the right fenders for your boat.

How many Fenders Does your Boat Need?

Even before understanding how to choose the ideal fender for your vessel, it is necessary to identify the exact number of protections needed to secure the boat. The general rule is, as is known, to position at the time of mooring at least 3 fenders on the side, a rule that should be respected – in the case of long moorings – even by the boater who moves on hulls of reduced length. Here then even the smallest boat should have 6 fenders on board, to which to add at least 1 spare, to keep in the locker ready for use in case of need. There is no doubt: for a quick mooring, for a quick stop without particular threats, 2 fenders could be sufficient, but it is always good to be ready for all eventualities.

The number of protections to place on the perimeter of the hull before mooring obviously increases with the increase in boat dimensions: as a general rule it would always be good to have a fender every 2.5 meters, never going below this reference distance.

How to Choose the Right Fenders for your Boat: the Different Types

In recent years there has been a great proliferation of types of boat fenders, to make mooring increasingly safe. And here at Marina Porto Antico in Genoa we therefore see them in all shapes, all sizes and all colors. Regarding dimensions, obviously, the matter is proportional: the greater the tonnage of the boat, the larger the volume of the fender must be. Regarding shapes, here is a list of fender types:

• Spherical: the spherical fender is the classic inflatable ball protection, equipped with an eyelet in the upper part. This is a fender with simple and quick use, which can be used both as standard protection and as emergency protection when approaching other vessels. They do not excel, it must be said, in stability.
• Cylindrical: the cylindrical is the most widespread fender. Conceptually similar to the spherical model, it has the advantage of presenting not 1 but 2 eyelets, thus allowing greater flexibility in positioning and fixing to the side (or at the bow, on the platform and so on, horizontally). Presenting a circular section, however, it has the same stability problems as spherical models. Like those, cylindrical fenders can indeed roll from one side to the other of the side, which can happen in case of imperfect positioning.
• Flat: having seen the classic fenders with circular section, let’s move towards the more particular ones. Flat fenders certainly cannot roll right or left along the side. Made of expanded foam – and therefore not inflatable – they are characterized by reduced bulk, and great fixing flexibility thanks to the holes positioned at the corners. However, they cannot guarantee the same protection as inflatable models, and in any case interpose a smaller distance between the boat and the dock (or between the boat and another boat alongside)
• For bow and stern: many, to protect stern and bow, position the classic cylindrical fenders horizontally. However, there are fenders designed specifically to protect these parts of the vessel, and which therefore present much more stability. These are typically shaped protections in expanded foam, excellent also for defending ladders and platforms.
• Fenders for inflatable boats: many think that inflatable boats, with their tubes, do not need additional protections at all. In reality things are not exactly like this: the tube can certainly absorb small impacts, but is completely exposed to scratches, abrasions or punctures. It is therefore not surprising that in recent years the number of inflatable boats and RIBs at our tourist port equipped with appropriate fenders has increased, with curved or adaptable shape, perfect for protecting the tubes.
• For the outboard motor: the least widespread among the different types of fenders are finally those for the outboard motor. If many protect the propeller simply with a flat or cylindrical fender hung horizontally, so as to perform stern moorings without problems, there are those who have thought well to also produce specific outboard ones, made of foam. This is, for now, a rarity.