Stern Bumpers

[gramos]

I just checked the boat today during f 8/9 , s for the past week and she has lightly touched the hard rubber fenders built onto the dock , with one of the sterns and chipped the gelcoat .
I have been thinking about fitting some kind of bumpers onto the sterns at the waterline , in a polymer/ rubber /neoprene or similar , to fend off then sterns when close to the dock stern to . (Med based )
Is there any type of product known that could offer protection ? it needs to be able to absorb shocks and resume its shape .
I would bond them on with adhesive or epoxy .
sizes roughly 600mm wide x 300mm deep x 50mm thick ? to follow the contour of the sterns .
Any ideas please ?

[Barra]

yes what you are after does exist - ive seen a few different versions mainly on boats in the med where they are needed more. Not sure what they are called but try looking under fenders in a few boat catalogues.

[David M]

I'm sorry, what is f 8/9 , s ?

I am concerned that a fender that is glued on might come off relatively easily considering some of the forces that can be put on a fender. It is probably better to lash it on or to thru-bolt it on.

Perhaps thru-bolt a few padeyes on and tie the fender lines to those eyes?

[Barra]

i reckon he means force 8 to 9 wind speeds

[David M]

Ahh, that makes sense.

[Rigamarole]

Gramos, when you figure out a solution I'd love to hear it. I have a rub rail around the stern but it won't help in fending off. I've used fenders but they really are not made to handle the grinding you experience stern to. Some mega cruisers I've seen have bumpers made out of solid hard rubber.

Where are you at in Kefalonia?

[Teknav]

Nobody does it better than in China! They surround their "junks" with old rubber tires. Such a...

[gspeak]

Maybe something like these

Stern Fenders

Dave

L380 #241

[Cotemar]

Here's a few more.

Taylor Fender Cushion

Taylor Made Hull Gard Inflatable Vinyl Fender

[Rigamarole]

I know for my cat those really won't work well as the stern isn't flat in any spot. They make a Bow fender that is meant to go horizontal and may work vertically. You would need to tie a bridle on the bottom and top to keep it in place.

Most of the mono's I see just hang 3 fenders off the stern. It just doesn't work as well on the cats. Though personally, I like going bow to much better than stern to if there are lazy lines.

[tamicatana]

I can see your quandary, the stern of the cat is much more curved. I'd contemplate fabricating something from wood and fastening vinyl or rubber to it, or maybe cut the sidewall out of a tire which would be a better-conforming shape. Actually, come to think, cut the sidewall and half the tread from a tire, making a 'U' with an angled bit, if you catch my thought. Drill holes in the ends and hang. Should work a treat

[44'cruisingcat]

How about shorter springlines?

[gramos]

Thanks , guys , what I had in mind was a type of material that I could cut and bond onto the sterns . I do use fenders across the sterns but due to the forward angle of them , just ride up the steps when asked to do some real fendering !
So a block of strong foam/rubber /polymer , or some kind of material , glued to the sterns would stay put when the quay got too close .
I think 50mm/2" thickness would be sufficient to act as shock absorbers , its the type of product that I need your help with ?

[gramos]

Originally Posted by Palarran

Gramos, when you figure out a solution I'd love to hear it. I have a rub rail around the stern but it won't help in fending off. I've used fenders but they really are not made to handle the grinding you experience stern to. Some mega cruisers I've seen have bumpers made out of solid hard rubber.

Where are you at in Kefalonia?

Down on the west coast just south of the airport , small harbour , its a great sailing area , near Avithos beach , do you know the Island ?

[Lagoon4us]

Move it out further.....There are wind strengths equal here every 2 weeks during winter, our arse is 2 metres from dock no problems. Are you tightly in a dock that you cannot move out more?
We are stern too.
Cheers