Fenders for the RS Venture

Fenders

Fenders are useful if not essential accessories when cruising. They are useful when coming alongside other vessels, particularly in waves that can throw the vessels together or tied alongside a quay where even small waves can do rapid damage to the hull as the dinghy is gently rubbed against the concrete or piling. They also have a useful secondary use in circumstances where the Venture has been gently beached when stopping for a lunch break etc on a receding tide. On return the Venture is found to be high and dry and needs to be transported back to the water for a couple of yards. It is possible for two persons to lift the end of the boat and insert a fender under the bow, doing the same for the stern. The boat can then be rolled back to the water, repositioning the fenders as needed.

Purchase and storage - When purchasing fenders for the Venture consider how they will be stored when cruising, leaving them loose can prove to be a problem when sailing or in the event of an inadvertent capsize when they will float away. One option is to wedge the fenders under the side seating ('See image'). Another consideration is how the fenders will be rigged when in use - they need to be fastened in such a way that they are effective in preventing damage to the dinghy, simply draping them over the side is usually less successful. For this reason the diameter of fenders should exceed the gunwhale overhang and ideally should be rigged ('close to the hull under the gunwhale '). To meet this need fenders should be approx. 160 -180mm in diameter and 530 -600mm in length. For my Venture, already fitted with a strake rubbing strip, it was a simple matter to fit 'P' type saddle eyes using small 4mm bolts through the rubbing strip and fastening the saddle eyes. The saddle clips are spaced apart to suit the length of the fenders. This modification is invisible unless viewed from underneath the boat. When needed the end ropes on the fender are tied to the saddle clips, securely holding the fenders underneath the gunwhale and protruding sufficently to fend off pilings or approaching boats.

Maintenance - Fenders can easily be damaged by over inflation. Most fenders can be inflated using a simple football inflator - if asked most suppliers will include the inflator ('See image'). Inflate to between 2 - 2.9lbs psi only and store away from sunlight. Although the fenders wedged easily under the seat they did on occasion work loose. I made a more secure fastening by screwing a strap into the hull under the seat ('See image') - doing so might compromise the buoyancy tank and therefore when screwing in the strap I used marine sealant to carefully seal the single screw hole.