Hard dingy- pool noodle fenders

[mrybas]

Hi,
I’m building a hard dingy and have heard people say they use pool noodles as a fender to keep from damaging the boat while tied to a dock/big boat. Does anyone have photos or a description how they did so?

[Shrew]

Pool noodles will definitely look DIY.

How about some small throughline-through fenders strung along the hull like you would see on a workboat (pumpout boat, harbormaster, launch, etc).

[Bill O]

Don't have any photos, but we used a similar foam then covered it w/a layer of old fire hose. Did this several years ago and still working well.


The fire hose cover keeps the foam out of the sun and very abrasive resistant.


Bill O.

[Dave_S]

I used pool noodles on dock lines and they fell apart and made a mess. I wouldn't recommend it.

[RaymondR]

2" black poly water pipe is far more durable.

That's a very nice looking job you have done on the dingy.

[Sojourner]

You could try to do what they do on my oceancraft all aluminum dinghy.... it's an 8 inch deep x 3 inch thick foam 'board' that runs the length of the craft, sewn inside heavy duty white canvas material attached at the top. It can be flipped down for fender use, flipped up to give extra protection from spray, or flopped all the way over the top to cushion the dinghy when stored upside down on the foredeck.... They work absolutely great and between them and the hard dinghy, you can go where others fear to tread

[Paul Howard]

I tried pool noodles as fendering on a rigid dinghy and found they do not last.
Lying alongside a rough dock shreds them. UV deterioration sort of melts them in one year when constantly exposed to the sun.

[mnh]

I've used "Dinghy Dogs" for years. Good product, removable, and can be deflated for easy storage.
mnh


https://www.ghboats.com/2017/06/the-new-dinghy-dogs/

[Donald Bryden]

I recently added small fenders to my Avon inflatable. It has worked very well. I did it because the rub-rail came loose. I had a professional reattach it where it was loose and it came loose again. The fenders have worked great. I particularly like them when the tender slaps up against the hull of the mother vessel. In years past, that usually caused a spray of water to fly up and making me and everything else wet. Now the fenders keep a small separation between the two and that doesn't happen.

[hamburking]

There are larger diameter pool noodles which we call FAT noodles. I use them for additional flotation while swimming and so far they have performed very well and last several years. They usually are lost before they wear out.

[mlydon]

taylor makes a dinghy rubrail that works well called gunnel-guard

Matt

[Woodland Hills]

I used the big 5” pool noodles as fenders on a wooden skiff and they looked and worked great. I got them in black, split them longways and put them over the gunnel. They were long enough that one noodle would span between the fwd and aft oarlocks and between the oarlocks and the bow and stern.

They lasted more than one season.

[sanibel sailor]

Gunnel Gard costs a mint. Make your own by covering the pool noodle or hot water pipe insulation with canvas or Sunbrella. Canvas more durable but a bit abrasive. Sunbrella less abrasive, but not as strong. Hold in place with copper tacks.

[keyway]

This is a pic of pool noodles covered in nylon fabric. Been on there for years. I like it better than small fenders. I put it on with stainless pneumatic staples kinda like you would do upholstery. Your dingy looks great. Do you have plans?

[doug cusick]

here's pool noodles with canvas cover attached with velcro. used as my sailboat tender...works great