The Cape Dory Board

[Judith]

I really like this idea on a number of counts, especially ease of construction and the use of lightweight plastic rather than heavy lumber. What do you experienced folks think?

http://www.tropicalboating.com/boating-equipment/fenderboards.html

BTW, their linked page on mooring with springlines seems like a pretty good discussion of the subject with lots of illustrations.

Judith
_________________
To unpathed waters, undreamed shores.
The Winter’s Tale. Act iv. Sc. 4.

[Oswego John]

Hi Judith,

That is an interesting concept. Maybe somewhere in the article it was mentioned, but if not, I would like to state that the user should make sure that he purchases heavy wall PVC rather than the lightweight PVC drainage tubing.

You are teaching this old dog new tricks.

Interesting article,
O J

[Judith]

Quite right regarding the weight of PVC. Considering the opposing forces of boat and pilings, I immediately pictured that industrial-strength stuff with walls that look to be about 1/2" thick.

I'll let you know if it works! If it does, it's an example of ingenious simplicity IMHO.
_________________
To unpathed waters, undreamed shores.
The Winter’s Tale. Act iv. Sc. 4.

[Oswego John]

Hi again,

Other than the thin walled tubing, the pipe comes in schedules 40, 80, and 120. Schedule 120 is the thickest.

Hope this helps some.

http://www.harvel.com/piping-pvc.asp?source=google&adgroup=pvc

Good luck
O J

[barfwinkle]

Thanks Judith

A similiar article appeared in Cruising World almost 15 years ago. The guy that taught me to sail, was making some for his trip to Jacksonville, FL and I have never been able to find the plans since.

Thank you so much Judith. I currently use a 2x6 of treated lunber. Way Heavy!!! Nol longer!

What a great board (resource)

Fair Winds
_________________
After all, the mishaps are almost the best part of small-boat sailing. Looking back, they prove to be punctuations of joy. At the time they try your mettle and your vocabulary, and may make you so pessimistic as to believe that God has a grudge against you — but afterward, ah, afterward, with what pleasure you remember them and with what gusto do you relate them to your brother skippers in the fellowhood of small-boat sailing! (Jack London-1912). Bill-N-OK CDSOA Member #250

[Tom Ray]

Hi folks,

I'm the primary author of the articles on that website, and am glad you are finding it useful.

We used schedule 40 PVC pipe with 3" diameter. I guess I should expand the article to add that fact. I would also say that 2" schedule 40 PVC (with smaller fenders) would be fine for boats up to about 25 feet. 25 to 35 footers should use 3" pipe, and above 35 feet, use 4" pipe. We made that fenderboard set for our dealership's Catalina 309, so we chose 3" pipe.

[Steve Laume]

I like the idea of larger diameter pipe to gain strength without going to the harder to find and heavier schedule piping. schedule 80 might be heavier than appropriately sized lumber. If I were making these things up for my boat, I would go one step further and put an end cap on one side and a screw off clean out on the other. You could then use it for storing something when not in use as a fender board. I am thinking this way because I rarely have a use for fender boards anyway. That is a pretty ingenious idea, Steve.

[Tom Ray]

Interesting idea, Steve. Makes me wonder how large of a fender would fit inside 4" PVC pipe when deflated? Figure that out, and then a pipe twice as long as the deflated fenders could store both fenders when not in use.

[Judith]

That's really helpful--thank you for elaborating further on the specs!

Judith
_________________
To unpathed waters, undreamed shores.
The Winter’s Tale. Act iv. Sc. 4.

[Parfait's Provider]

Looks like a great place for barn swallows to nest. Better make sure you cap the ends, plug them with fenders, or something. They are beautiful to watch, but a pain to clean up after.
_________________
Keep on sailing,

Ken Coit, ND7N
CD/36 #84
Parfait
Raleigh, NC
berthed at Beaufort, NC

[Oswego John]

Now, if someone came up with a design to make fenderboard rollers, it would be just the ticket when riding up and down in the canal locks.

O J

[rtbates]

[barfwinkle]

[Oswego John]

Hi Bill,

I guess in my last post, I didn't express my thought very well.

The lock walls are concrete and will abrade a soft fender in no time at all. A wooden fender board will offer some protection, but after all, it's a straight board against a curved hull. Even with the use of boards, many a rub rail has been chewed up by a lock wall.

The locks in this area have several vertical steel pipes for the boater to pass line around to keep the bow and stern from drifting away from the wall. However, many locks have pumps to fill the locks which creates turbulence which drives the hull into the lock wall.

What I had in mind was some sort of design, maybe like a section of PVC on an axle, standing off from the rub rail, that would roll up and down the lock wall while protecting the hull.

As for the weather, we are still in the midst of a "10" spell. The NYS Fair ended yesterday and it set new attendance records, probably in part, due to the fine weather.

Three nights ago there were frost warnings in the Adirondack foothills, from Old Forge up to Lake Placid and neighboring areas. It was a false alarm. It only got down to 38 degrees F. But we know what's coming and we're ready for it. Yeah, right

Take care,
O J

[Oswego John]

Hi Randy,

How about using skateboards that the kids are whizzing around on? Probably Walmart is half the price of what West Marine would charge.

All the best,
O J