Inflatable Fender

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

We've had the big white plastic balls explode on impact, but the inflatables have never had an issue including hitting the same dock at the same time.

You have busted these?

Taylor Made Products 2016 Catalog

[admiralslater]

Sorry Kenomac, I should have been more clear. Do the flat fenders have much bounce?
How did you burst the big white ones?

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

You have busted these?

Taylor Made Products 2016 Catalog

I don't know who manufactured them, but we had two of the large white balls with dark blue tops explode on impact. In both cases, the blue top separated from the white bottom. Purchsed them in Spain at a chandlery.

We now use 6-8 of these inflatables by Megafend, just blow them up when we need them. We see them in use on all the super and mega yachts. Ours are around 40 inches long.

[HopCar]

Originally Posted by admiralslater

Do they have enough give in them to deal with bouncy conditions, ie big gusts of wind . I have never seen them used on larger boats. And by the way thanks for all the response

They have a very tough outer layer and a firm foam interior. I use them on my boat but I don't think they are big enough for boats over about 35 feet.

In some locations you may need something thicker as they are only about 4" thick. I use them between my boat and pilings mostly. They work great for that. Mount them horizontally and it's like having a fender board.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by admiralslater

Sorry Kenomac, I should have been more clear. Do the flat fenders have much bounce?
How did you burst the big white ones?

We don't use flat fenders. The first big white ball burst on a very light docking procedure on impact, the second burst during a harder impact when we had to sail in without an engine, and now I also remember a third breaking in half with the white ball floating away while docking quite easily at a fuel dock when we simply pulled forward a few feet.

I believe now they were simply poor quality to begin with, nothing we did made any of the other fenders burst, just the large white balls. When I return to the boat tomorrow, I'll look for a label on the remaining two.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by HopCar

They have a very tough outer layer and a firm foam interior. I use them on my boat but I don't think they are big enough for boats over about 35 feet.



In some locations you may need something thicker as they are only about 4" thick. I use them between my boat and pilings mostly. They work great for that. Mount them horizontally and it's like having a fender board.

I have one, we put it against the piling and can pull the boat close so it is easy to get on and off the dock, great pad.


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[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

We don't use flat fenders. The first big white ball burst on a very light docking procedure on impact, the second burst during a harder impact when we had to sail in without an engine, and now I also remember a third breaking in half with the white ball floating away while docking quite easily at a fuel dock when we simply pulled forward a few feet.

I believe now they were simply poor quality to begin with, nothing we did made any of the other fenders burst, just the large white balls. When I return to the boat tomorrow, I'll look for a label on the remaining two.

They must have been not well made, I have seen the red balls, ( what they are called in the Gulf as it seems most all used Commercially are red ) smashed flat by heavy steel tug boats at fuel docks and they don't burst. You can puncture one on rebar or similar, but I have never seen one burst.
I keep two large ones deflated, but have used neither yet. Mine I got are white, but are Taylormade.


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[beetle]

I have been very disappointed with the inflatable PVC fenders sold by Praktek/AERE in the USA. I purchased six fenders, four failed at the glue joints within four years. Failures at the glue joints are not repairable - at least that's been my experience so far.

I am switching over to Polyform LD2 cylindrical and A3 ball fenders (four of each). The ball fenders are nice for fore and aft locations with the cylindrical fenders in the center.

- rob/beetle