Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 15-09-2009, 10:42   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Orlando, FL
Boat: PDQ 32 DogHouse
Posts: 608
Fender Covers

I've seen quite a few different "best" fender covers made from about $25.00 up.
I'd rather make my own but I'm not sure what to make them out of. I have a bunch of Sunbrella left over but I also see that SailRite has a new must have material for covers.
What does everyone reccomend for making fender covers?

Thanks

Tom
amytom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-09-2009, 11:00   #2
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 20,420
Old sleeves and legs from polar fleece do fine.

b.
barnakiel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-09-2009, 12:20   #3
Registered User
 
swagman's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Winter land based UK New Forest. Summer months away. Making the transition from sail to power this year - scary stuff.
Boat: Super Van Craft 1320 Power Yacht
Posts: 2,175
Images: 10
Send a message via Skype™ to swagman
In the UK one can buy a woven material by the metre - pulls over like a sausage skin and sew or cable tie ends inward. Must have similar stuff your side.
God luck
JOHN
__________________
Don't take life too seriously. No ones going to make it out alive......Go see our blog at https://www.sailblogs.com/member/yachtswagman/
swagman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-09-2009, 12:36   #4
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Eastern Seaboard
Boat: Searunner 34 and Searunner Constant Camber 44
Posts: 949
Quote:
Originally Posted by amytom View Post
What does everyone reccomend for making fender covers?
Sunbrella (or similar) due to the high double-rub number as well as resistance to UV and mildew. Fleece snags easily so save it for a pillow.
__________________
Regards,

Maren

The sea is always beautiful, sometimes mysterious and, on occasions, frighteningly powerful.
Maren is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-09-2009, 13:27   #5
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,933
Images: 4
We have round bumpers and use old sweatshirts turned inside out. We cut the sleeves off and sew the openings. For our large square bumper we use a terry cloth towel.
Joli is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-09-2009, 14:01   #6
Moderator Emeritus
 
Pblais's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Hayes, VA
Boat: Gozzard 36
Posts: 8,700
Images: 15
Send a message via Skype™ to Pblais
Around here there are two types. If you need to dtransit a bunch of locks then make them out of old bath towels. You toss them after the trip because they never come clean and rip. Locks are loaded with all sorts of nasty things.

I've got some of the good Polyform covers that came with the boat. It is an industrial double knit fabric and would make great cafe material. Very much indestructable. Those would be the $30 covers. If you use the big fgenders then the covers matter more. Small fenders are almost disposable. Cheap do it yourself fender covers you toss regularly.
__________________
Paul Blais
s/v Bright Eyes Gozzard 36
37 15.7 N 76 28.9 W
Pblais is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2009, 04:44   #7
elf
Registered User
 
elf's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: North Carolina
Boat: Catalina 30
Posts: 105
I made them out of the legs of sweatpants. Two large ones out of XXL sweats, and two small out of size L. I left the elastic end as is (less work that way), and ran a casing with a line in it around the upper end, which allows the fender to slip in, then tie a bow to tighten it up. They won't last forever since the fabric is nothing high-end or UV-proof, but they are doing great so far and were easy and cheap to make. I think I made all four for something like $32.
elf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2009, 14:11   #8
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 20,420
I would believe the acrylics (like Sunbrella, i.a) can be too harsh on the gelco / poly-urethan topsides - just feel the fabric and you will get my drift. I believe the covers are to be more like a 'loss' technology - something to be used up and replaced as necessary.

b.
barnakiel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2009, 15:56   #9
elf
Registered User
 
elf's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: North Carolina
Boat: Catalina 30
Posts: 105
I agree, barnakiel...I figure I'll make these more than once. They have already faded quite a bit from being outdoors, but they were cheap and easy. Here's what they looked like before use:



elf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2009, 16:17   #10
Registered User
 
bluzzin's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Northwest
Boat: Dehler 39
Posts: 39
Most large fabric stores have fleece in different weights. You want the thick one. If one store doesn't have it try another. It appears there are at least two suppliers of fleece supplying the stores. It will be real obvious when you see the good stuff. Our homemade fender covers look great after 8 months of daily use. I suspect they will last a couple of years anyhow, if they don't I would rather they wear than our dark blue gel coat.

michael
bluzzin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-09-2009, 20:34   #11
Moderator... short for Cat Wrangler
 
sarafina's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: San Francisco
Boat: Cal 28 Flush Deck
Posts: 5,559
Images: 56
wash the sunbrella a few times. it softens up.
__________________
Sara

ain't what ya do, it's the way that ya do it...
sarafina is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2009, 08:24   #12
Registered User
 
Roy M's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Southwestern Yacht Club, San Diego, CA
Boat: Searunner 40 trimaran, WILDERNESS
Posts: 3,175
Images: 4
I used to live next to a hotel/marina. Guests would drop their towels in the bushes, parking lots, etc. Couldn't beat towels for fender covers, especially at that cost.
Roy M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-09-2009, 14:11   #13
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Eastern Seaboard
Boat: Searunner 34 and Searunner Constant Camber 44
Posts: 949
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roy M View Post
I used to live next to a hotel/marina. Guests would drop their towels in the bushes, parking lots, etc. Couldn't beat towels for fender covers, especially at that cost.
Gear afloat!
__________________
Regards,

Maren

The sea is always beautiful, sometimes mysterious and, on occasions, frighteningly powerful.
Maren is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2011, 14:22   #14
Moderator
 
Pete7's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Solent, England
Boat: Moody 31
Posts: 18,423
Images: 22
Re: Fender Covers

Why do you guys put socks on your fenders

Pete
Pete7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2011, 18:19   #15
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Eastern Seaboard
Boat: Searunner 34 and Searunner Constant Camber 44
Posts: 949
Re: Fender Covers

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete7 View Post
Why do you guys put socks on your fenders
By no means required and not really even at the top of the list of things to do. but they're easier to wash than a scuffed fender. They also help with a more uniform look (if you're using the same color material). Some folks like to have the name of their boat on them. Site like to say how they protect the paint or gel coat. Personally I think that's what the fender is for in the first place so I don't buy the argument.

But I made a few some years back that I latter modified to hold a 2x6. So it made them into chafing board. That was a real help.
__________________
Regards,

Maren

The sea is always beautiful, sometimes mysterious and, on occasions, frighteningly powerful.
Maren is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
fender

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Fender board fender for a 2X6 board wadanoli Anchoring & Mooring 8 25-10-2015 10:14
Fender boards exranger Construction, Maintenance & Refit 28 08-06-2009 19:23
Inflatable tube covers Fishspearit Auxiliary Equipment & Dinghy 6 20-06-2008 15:23
new cushion covers for catalina 34 SweetSailor Families, Kids and Pets Afloat 17 01-06-2008 09:07
Fender steps? lancs Seamanship & Boat Handling 9 07-03-2007 11:50

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:02.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.