Sale of Fenders Braid and Lines for Boats
Here you can select fender lines for your yacht with the necessary characteristics in all respects: material and manufacturing method, diameter, elasticity, design (with and without edges), etc.
Such a wide selection from the world's best manufacturers of marine ropes and cables guarantees you the opportunity to reliably protect your yacht from damage during mooring, anchorage, and even in storm conditions. This problem can be solved not only by a correctly selected fender, but also by a securely fastened fender with the help of well-chosen lines.
Quality fenders lines mean not only the safety of your vessel, although this is, of course, the main goal when choosing reliable ropes for fastening fenders. This is also the safety of the fenders themselves - not the cheapest attribute on a yacht. Those who collected fenders that had come off during a storm around the marina will not forget this episode for a long time, and will no longer allow themselves to skimp on fender lines. Even if this owner’s and neighbor’s yachts were not damaged, which is doubtful.
So, if you do not want to allow such a situation, carefully read not just about the products in the fenders section - after all, unsuitable, haphazardly selected ropes for fastenings will devalue the purchase of the fenders themselves.
Main Characteristics of Fenders Lines
Like yacht ropes, ropes for fastening fenders are made from various materials, have different strength characteristics, including due to the manufacturing method, differ in dimensional parameters, as well as strength properties and level of wear resistance.
Differences in Material Used
The most innovative examples of modern fenders lines are made from synthetic materials. The main polymers for this purpose are:
- Polyester (PES). It is no coincidence that polyester gear is the most common in sailing. Despite the fact that they are somewhat inferior in elasticity to other polymers, they are very resistant to wear. Their reliability is evidenced by their widespread use for running rigging, sheets, life lines, etc. Their strength is evidenced by the fact that a cable with a diameter of 7 mm provides a breaking force of about 5 kN. Excellent flexibility of polyester fenders lines allows you to quickly tie knots, which is very important in difficult mooring or parking conditions. Their strength allows the use of polyester lines for attaching fenders to the sides and other protruding parts of the vessel.
- Polyamide (PA). Mooring lines for yachts and skiffs are made from the most durable polyester or polyamide. Why do most sailors prefer polyamide ropes as mooring lines? They are very durable and at the same time elastic. So you can't go wrong if you choose fenders lines from this polymer. Moderate elasticity is good for hanging fenders that are thrown overboard. In the event of a sharp push or blow, they will not be blown off the rigid rope - fenders lines made of polyamide will exhibit its shock-absorbing properties: first it will stretch and then return to its original state, adjusted for the weight of the fender.
- Polypropylene (PP). Fenders lines made of this polymer weakly absorbs water, so it dries quickly and floats on the surface of the water. This is one of the most inexpensive materials. It is not so resistant to ultraviolet radiation and mechanical stress. Therefore, if you want to save money on fenders lines, fasten the fenders so that the fenders do not rub against hard surfaces or sharp corners.
These polymer materials may have different names in different countries, but it is enough to know these three so as not to make a mistake in choosing if you run out of fenders on a foreign shore. This leads to the first piece of advice from topRik experts - to have a solid supply of ready-made skewers or a spare fenders coil on board lines. In our marketplace you will find any option with the characteristics you need.
What Else Do the Properties of Fender Lines Depend On
Construction. We won’t bother with the countless varieties of twists and weaves that largely determine the characteristics of cables. Suffice it to say that the ends are twisted and braided, as well as with and without shells. Hollow cables are also often found - roughly speaking, one shell without a core. “Braids” are usually softer, and one or two braided shells not only improve this indicator, but also noticeably increase the friction forces.
Flat “belts” stand somewhat apart - either “monolithic” or double in the form of a hollow “stocking”. As a rule, they are distinguished by excellent breaking characteristics, but for mooring needs, and even more so for fastening fenders, they are still not very convenient.
Twisted line made of polyester, polypropylene or polyamide is much stronger compared to braided line of the same diameter. Keep in mind that the higher the quality of the weaving, the smoother the cable and the more convenient it is to work with. On the contrary, twisted rope stretches better and is less sensitive to abrasion.
But if you want to attach a multi-kilogram fender overboard on a two-meter line, then its ability to tie into a knot is unlikely to be of most importance.
Breaking load. This indicator indicates the strength of the end and depends on the cross-section of the cable, its design - the type of twist or weave, the presence or absence of sheaths, as well as the material. According to this indicator, the cable should always be chosen with a reserve, but in the case of mooring lines, and even more so with skerts for fastening fenders, this rule is observed automatically in most cases. By the way, in some cases, in the catalog tables, along with the breaking load, the so-called working strength is also given - a load that can be applied for a long time without the risk of damaging or breaking the cable. As a rule, it is about six times less than the breaking point.
Friction. Some cables are quite slippery, others not so much. For mooring lines, which are usually attached to cleats or bollards, this indicator is not so important, but when tying some knots, a slippery cable can create problems. This indicator is determined not only by the material and “design” of the cable, but also by its rigidity.
Rigidity. A rigid cable resists attempts to bend it more strongly, tending to straighten like a spring; the soft one can be bent in the fingers practically without forming a “loop”. In addition, the soft cable noticeably bends under the fingers, which is why the contact area in the assembly is larger and, accordingly, the friction force and reliability of the connection are higher.
Density. It is better if it is smaller - at least from the point of view that a coil of thick cable is already quite weighty. But the most important thing is the ability of the cable to stay on the surface of the water, which, for example, eliminates the risk of the gear getting wrapped around the propeller during maneuvers.
So, differences in strength and wear resistance, as is clear from the above, directly depend on the choice of fenders manufacturing material lines and the manufacturing method. The most important properties of cables are their special abrasion resistance so that they do not wear out at the attachment points, often on posts, cleats or railings. They also need to be extremely flexible and have good grip so that they can be tied quickly and easily, but not come undone when bumped. The fender rope must be impervious to harmful UV rays, humidity and salt water damage.
It is difficult to combine all these properties in one accessory, but you should also take into account such a characteristic as elasticity, which is important for ropes used with fenders that hang freely along the sides, from the stern or bow.
If you find it hard to choose, a free consultation with topRik marketplace experts will help you. Many years of experience in managing sailing and motor yachts allows us to evaluate first-hand the marine equipment and accessories that we offer you in our marketplace. We only recommend products that we ourselves have tested at sea.
We do not recommend saving on fender (especially since you won’t need a long length) - they have to be tied to tubular rails, handrails, so increased reliability is required from the unit, although the loads are small.
Such reliability is guaranteed to be ensured by a soft cable with good friction - we recommend polyester with a braided sheath. Try to choose one that is as soft as possible both for bending and squeezing, and the shell should be slightly fleecy to the touch. As for the thickness, the principle here is approximately the same as with moorings - convenience. The larger and, accordingly, heavier the fender, the thicker the fender should be. Such a soft cable in a sheath, by the way, is quite appropriate as a mooring line - the only thing is that for this purpose it will cost more.
Differences in Size Parameters
Diameter and length are one of the main parameters of fender lines. Both of these parameters depend on the length, diameter and weight of the fender, which will then be attached vertically or horizontally to the sides and other protruding parts of the yacht or lowered overboard. We have already talked about how to determine the size and number of fenders for a yacht.
So, you know which fenders you are going to purchase or have already purchased, for example, in the topRik marketplace. Now all you have to do is determine what diameter the fenders are lines you need. In this case, you should focus on what breaking load the cable can withstand and whether the mass of the fender corresponds to this indicator. There are special tables for marine ropes, cables and lines, where this parameter is indicated for all categories of these marine accessories.
The length of fender lines should be determined depending on where and in what way you are going to attach the fenders. For example, for outboard fenders, the length of the cable is measured from the point of the top attachment to the surface of the water, taking into account the nodes at the attachment points - usually guided by the height of the side above the water.
In the same way, empirically, the number and length of pins for horizontal or vertical fastening of fenders along the sides, stern and bow are determined.
Types of Fenders Lines by Design
Depending on how the fender will be attached to parts of the yacht, the types of fenders lines are selected.
Standard fenders lines – this is a whole bay or ready-made lines, cut to the required length.
Elastic lines are used both for vertical and horizontal fastening of fenders along the sides to ensure their maximum fit and for hanging them overboard.
Ready-made fender fenders with one or more lugs (loops) are also available.
FAQ
How to choose the correct rope size and diameter based on fender size
The length of the rope should be such that the fender lowered on it touches the water, but does not plunge into it completely. The breaking load of a rope of the appropriate diameter must correspond to the weight of the selected fender.
How to properly attach ropes to fenders and boat
Most common knots, used for attaching the lines to the fender and the boat, are: cloves hitch, bowline, anchor bend. The knot can be strengthened with two half hitches. You can also use special clamps and holders for fenders.
How to take care of fender ropes
The biggest problem here is usually dirt, crust, shells and algae that stick to the rope and make it dangerous to use – it’s too easy to cut your hand with a neglected line. To get rid of this problem once and for all, you can use Ropecleaner device – one of the latest additions to our set of cleaning tools. Caring for synthetic fenders lines after that is not difficult - they just need to be dried well. Make sure that your ropes are stored in a dry locker, untied and without knots on them.