Bumpers for painted boats?
 

I've always had a boat with gel sides, and been lucky that gel is pretty durable. I painted my boat this winter, and am wondering what guys with high dollar paint jobs use for bumpers? I've seen the "covers" for regular bumpers. How well do they work? Who makes them? Any suggestions on what may be the easiest on clear to prevent scratching and abrasion marks?

I had a few made for my fathers boat at the local shop out of I think it was terry cloth. Real soft and matched the boat.

I have used the bumpers that have the covers. I almost want to say its the same material that are used in wet suits. They work very well.

Greast topic! I too want to know what others use, right now I use just the bumpers but just had the boat re painted, west marine sells bumper socks but is there anything better?

around here everyone uses those loose fitting "socks". One of the few times I allowed an un-covered bumper against my boat in a raft up I ended up with deep scratches in the gel somehow. I don't even think the type of material really matters so long as it's washable. When the boats rub together the fabric allows the fendere to spin/slip inside the sock instead of dragging/rubbing against the hull.

Plus one for proper terminology. "Bumpers" are attached to docks. :kiss:
Minus one for spelling. :lolhit:

Cloth fender covers work very well as long as you make sure that you wash them whenever they are exposed to dirt. Unlike the hard surface of the fender, which will wipe off, the dirt can get into the texture of the fabric and make things far, far worse. There are several manufacturers out there, just stay away from the "mesh" style; they pull and tear worse than a cheap sweater.

Cape hatteras marine..... Ordered mine yesterday. There was a thread a little over a year agp and they came across with the best reviews from oso users. $160 for 4 of them custom embroidered and shipped.

Luv the fleece also-
http://store.hamiltonmarine.com/brow...ies/2,344.html
My Black boat has to have them.

we use the rubber bumpers with the nylon socks...then again we dont have a high dollar boat with a crazy paint scheme.

I always call them bumpers... and always feel like an idiot when someone reminds me they're called fenders

+1
I put these on... No more rash.

LOL Like when my wife says she saw a deer with "horns".....and my reply is: "CARS have horns"

I use the same answer in the boat for "bumpers"

But, even the fleece covered fenders that get salt water on them will scratch a boat. I guess it's the dried salt that is doing the scratching.

i use nylon covers on my bumpers that match the boats paint color. only problem with the vinyl is that they don't wear very well; get a lot of pulls on them. I'll be trying fleece covers for this season. Check out this website for fleece covers-www.mecoastmarine.com

My boat is painted and I do not use covers on bumpers. I only use my bumpers keeping them clean. I found the covers attract splinters and dirt that scratch.

Just my $0.02

I have a painted boat and use the fleece covers per someone's recomendation. I think they help to avoid scratches, but if they rub up against something like a splintered piling or some cruddy seaweed, they will probably cause more damage then they prevent! I really have to keep an eye on them.
Steve

x2 for cape hatteras covers. Just keep them clean. I carry 6 fenders with covers and don't allow anyone to raft unless my fenders are used. I've buffed scratches from other peoples fenders too many times.

Thanks for posting the link on the fleece covers. Think I need to get a few too..

+1 These are what I have and they work great!!!

I use the flat fenders. They do not roll around and have had no problems in the last 11 years of using them. If someone tries to use a round one without the cover I tell them to put it back in there boat. I'm using mine.

Good info. Thanks

I generally say "bumper" even though I know it's supposed to be "fender." I do it for two reasons... 1) I boat with a bunch of rookies and if I say "fender" they look at me like I just told them that pigs fly East in the winter time. 2) I think "fender" sounds dumb.

X2

LOL... I wanted this thread to die long ago so I wouldn't lose any "boat-cred" for referring to fenders as bumpers but damn if this thing doesn't stay up there.

+1 I've been using the flat fenders for 15 + years too, for the same reason. Do you use covers for them?

I special ordered a fender for my trailer at west marine one time, when I went to pick it up the whole staff was in the back room for 15 minutes looking for a special ordered fender (bumper)....... I thought for sure I said trailer fender. :lolhit:

Same here, the flat ones seem soft enough not to bother the paint.

http://www.boatcovers.cc/cgi-bin/catalog.pl?item_id=10

What is your opinions about the round fenders vs the torpedo shape? seems like the round will stay below the rub rail better