Hey guys,
Just bought a new 2019 trophy 185 with a lot of freeboard (I’m guessing) and do not have a lift where I keep my boat on the weekends. The dock sits low so my plan is to raise the dock up to help some. What type of bouy is everyone using to keep the boat from being beaten up? Is there a better buoy for bigger boats like this? I’m coming from a competitor that sat pretty low in the water before and I just have the barrel style buoys that are about 2 feet long.
I found that hanging life jackets off the boat cleats works well…
used the old orange style ones. was a cheap fix for me.
Buoys are things that float in the water to mark obstacles. Fenders are the air-filled rubber things that keep a boat from rubbing on a dock or against another boat.
What I found is that size matters. Larger fenders make for a better “standoff” and are easier to use on a variety of docks and in a variety of positions. Buy the biggest you can reasonably fit in a storage compartment in your boat.
I’ve always used the West Marine brand, they last a long time and do not scratch the boat. Some guys are even fussier and use the “socks” that go over the fender for extra protection, but I think this is as likely to catch sand and grit and cause more damage.
You will probably need to add extra cleats to have something to tie the fenders to. Personally, I used 3 fenders to keep my boat off the dock, but you have to expiriment.
Grouse
One thing that I have read but cannot personally vouch for is to attach the fenders to your boat and not the dock.
Out of the three styles I’ve used, these came with the Skeeter and I like them the best. If it’s your dock, I would put either a rubber guard on it, or check with your local fire house for old fire hose and attach that to your dock for added protection.
Fenders work great when the boat is actually tied up but if coming into the slip with any wind at all and the margin for error is great. I like full length dock mounted bumpers for a boat slip application.
I use three of the fenders like BK linked to. They go on front and rear cleats with pretied loops and the third is tied to an eye accessorie that plugs into a rod holder base on a sport trac mount. The sport trac can be slid wherever the center fender can give the most protection. I store them in the back of my suburban and mount them before I launch.
I appreciate all the help on the “fenders”. Do you guys find the flat fenders in the link above form BK to be more beneficial than the round rubber style for dock applications?
do not have a lift where I keep my boat on the weekends. The dock sits low so my plan is to raise the dock up to help some.
Another option would be to install a set of mooring whips.
I use a combo of the flat fenders attached to the dock, plus large round tube style bumpers hung from the cleats.
I picked up the standard tube shaped bumpers from fleet farm. Recommend getting the heavier ones that have a pump fitting so you can pump them up from time to time. They tend to deflate over the winter. My current set have lasted years.
I use a combo of the flat fenders attached to the dock, plus large round tube style bumpers hung from the cleats.
X2 Different tools for different jobs.
Fenders as defined above. I like these for when I pull up to someone else’s dock, tie up to another boat, remote fishing, etc. Bigger the better but there will be a sweet spot for every boat. I like when they are long enough to protect the freeboard but still have a few inches above the waterline.
If it’s my dock I want the dock itself to have something that is tall enough to be above the rub rail. This way when I pull in there’s no fuss or hassle to attach bumpers. They don’t shift, move in the wind, or rub on the paint with waves.
One example: http://maxdock.com/prod_dock_accessories.php
Couldn’t find a pick for what we have. Essentially we have the dock posts that stick up a few feet. Then slide in a pvc or a specialty plastic bumper over the post. This way there’s nothing to pump and lasts years.
If you need, you can get extra brackets to add more posts. Tip – do this now before the ice melts 
Soo much easier mount on top of ice instead of waders or floating on a paddleboard. Family got a different boat and adding in one extra post in the middle of an 8′ dock section.
The bigger the better.
The ones Brian posted are fine for short stays in calm water (like docking for lunch), but they can’t be trusted if things get snotty.
Some pretty good long term options. I have some big fenders but since I’m a belt & suspender kind of guy, like this too.
I think that these would work well. Just install them in the reverse, then will help hold your boat better.
Dock Gaurds
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