Larry wrote:
"Chuck Gould" wrote in
oups.com:

Now that you're safely at the dock

I always wondered why, if they're going to continue to make it out of this
cheap plastic crap that's as easy to destroy as an eggshell....why can't
they put a big, WIDE rubber bumper, built right into the hull like the cars
have, that you can bang against the nails sticking out of the
dock...without destroying a $900,000 boat....or even a $32,000 boat....or
even a $20,000 boat! The strip should be easily replaceable, built into
its groove it slides right out of after taking off the end cap.


Some of the more traditional boats have a "rub rail". Mine is 3-4" wide
and made out of teak.
And, in 20-some years it has acquired a few "scars" here and there.
Even so, I always use fenders as would almost anybody using a boat with
a large rubber strip like you describe above.

Docks and floats are at different heights, and there are applications
such as rafting off another vessel or "fending off" a lock wall ( and
that's where the term "fenders" orginated- not on something built in
Detroit) where the contact points will be at a variety of locations.

The problem with using a rubber surface is that it would need to cover
most of the side of the boat to be effective in every conceivable
situation.

"Chuck Gould" wrote in
oups.com:

The problem with using a rubber surface is that it would need to cover
most of the side of the boat to be effective in every conceivable
situation.



Why not? We can cover the whole side of the boat from 6" over the
waterline to the gunwale, like we're doing to the cars. A secondary
benefit of that is far less gelcoat to turn chalky that has to be polished
off. Make the whole side above the waterline one big padded bumper that
never needs to be tied off to the handrail or falls overboard when trying
to retrieve it as you pull away from the dock.

I don't think it would make the fender manufacturers too happy. But, then
again, THEY have the technology and materials to make the padded hull!

Larry
--
I sure hope Halloween comes real soon....
I've run out of Halloween candy THREE TIMES SO FAR!