How Many Fenders?

[Fouled Anchor]

Awaiting delivery of a new 23' SSR, wondering what the opinions are on the number of fenders recommended. Is three per side necessary or would two per side suffice? The boat will be docked in a well sheltered marina slip with floating dock. Thanks for any advice/recommendations.

 

[Kray4535]

Congratulations on your new Benny. I use 3 on my Benny and carry extra ones.

 

[Jack M]

I use 2, 27 X 8.5 on a fixed dock. But however many you use adjust them so they will not rub against your side panels. When everything is bouncing they can dent those panels .

 

[GWLK]

3 each side, plus I carry 2 extras

 

[Vikingstaff]

I put 3 on the side facing a dock, or whatever. I also carry 3 others in case I need them on both sides. I haven’t in some time, but they’re there if I do.

 

[Fouled Anchor]

Thanks all, I think I'll default to 3 a side, can't hurt. Better to have and not need then to need and not have. Expense is fairly negligible.

 

[LaurencetheAdventurer]

My dock is so narrow, I had to use the rectangular bumpers to get 2 on each side to fit. Not sure what a 3rd would help with, other than a backup in the event one failed, lifted or disconnected.

 

[Vikingstaff]

My dock is so narrow, I had to use the rectangular bumpers to get 2 on each side to fit. Not sure what a 3rd would help with, other than a backup in the event one failed, lifted or disconnected.

Oh, three can matter for sure. We get a lot of wind and waves…sometimes strong. With two, our boat would still hit dock sometimes if not up on the lift the first two seasons. By the time we got sea legs in year 3, we had three bumpers. So conditions can play a role with a long boat. We do front, center and back. With two we did front and back, but with the wrong push, or angle coming in or out, having a middle was was good for a front or back pivot/pitch on the boat in tighter quarters.

 

[kaydano]

You may find yourself tying off to other docks other than your protected marina slip...

Wakes can cause one to ride up onto the dock, leaving one to protect your boat. They can also go flat. Or a knot can come undone and it floats away. 3 per side gives you a bit of extra protection.

3 per side gives you two extras for spares since they are often sold in 4 packs.

If the water is rough, and I only need them on one side, I'll use 4. In pairs. 2 near the bow and 2 near the stern.

÷1 to the comment above about the center pivot point if you are backing out in a cross wind.