Many first solo boat expeditions are memorable and positive experiences; that is, until it’s time to get back into the slip. The anxiety of getting the boat docked safely with minimal scrapes and dings is surely overwhelming but not impossible. The incredible feeling of docking a boat safely can be easily achieved by boat dock bumpers and fenders.
If you are engineering a personal slip, then you may need to set up protection by yourself. How many different kinds of dock bumpers and fenders are available in the market? How do they differ and which ones to get? You definitely need to gain some insight into some things before hitting the shops. Although there are no disadvantages to these setups, some of them do a better job than others, so let’s dive right into it!
Tires
Tires do a pretty good job of saving your center console boat from unfortunate impacts. You can find tires used as dock bumpers and fenders all over the world and for two excellent reasons.
- Firstly, they can absorb plenty of impacts and are durable.
- The second reason is quite significant in that it keeps them out of landfills.
If such a simple option can protect the environment and the boat, then what can be more convenient?
Although tires don’t make the best visuals and if you’re going for aesthetics, then they’re not what you’re looking for. Tires can damage a fiberglass hull, so you’ll need to consider these factors before exposing the lovely shiny boat hulls.
Tire boat dock bumpers are super useful if placed together to spread out your boat’s impact as far put as possible.
Dock Edging
Dock edging is maybe not the best solution for novice boaters, but it does look pleasing. The dock edging keeps your boat safe from rubbing the side of the dock due to the ocean’s natural waves. If you’re coming in at faster speeds, then you are at an increased risk of causing damage to your vessel despite the dock edging.
Dock edging is exceptionally affordable and pretty straightforward to install. Measure twice, cut once. Then you can screw or nail your dock edging on the edge of the pier. You can get in any color that you fancy, although white is often a popular choice.
Dock edging is practical and convenient, but it’s not the best choice for a beginner who doesn’t have the skills to ensure that they’re coming in nice and gentle into the slip.
Inflatable Or Foam Dock Fenders
A suitable and happy choice for something in between dock edging and a big old tire, foam or inflatable fenders can offer more protections than dock edging does. It also looks much more pleasing than a row of tires. You can pair these up with dock edging to get an added bit of protection and really up to your Boat Dock Bumper game.
It’s not necessary to cover the whole length of the slip but areas that are most likely to hit—particularly the bow of your boat.
Dock fenders are available in both straight pieces and 90 degrees angles, and you can add corner pieces to satiate your thirst for creating the perfect aesthetics.
Dock Wheels
Your center console boat deserves the best since it offers more amenities and facilities than any other option, and hence it pays to protect your investment. So even after the installation of dock edging and fenders, corners will still be a bane to your existence. An exposed corner can cause thousands of dollars in damage in a matter of seconds! Keeping this in mind, dock wheels are a wise investment completing your trifecta of boat safety.
Dock wheels offer peace of mind about the nasty corners, and your boat can literally glide into the slip without even a teeny tiny scratch.
These are just the basic guidelines on how dock bumpers can keep your prized center console boat safe and sound, but it isn’t a catch-all. You should carefully consider the entire variable before investing and mix and match to meet all your boat docking needs. Happy sailing!
