Fenders with bass boats

[billmac]

Do you guys use fenders with your bass boat?  I don't foresee ever having my boat docked for any significant portion of time, just perhaps launching.  I didn't really see them in use at the collegiate tournament I worked at, but I wasn't looking at that time.

[Scott F]

I use them when I rent a cabin for the week on vacation. The boat is tied to the dock and the fenders keep the boat from rubbing up against it. On day trips, I don’t use them.

[Bolar]

1 hour ago, billmac said:

Do you guys use fenders with your bass boat?  I don't foresee ever having my boat docked for any significant portion of time, just perhaps launching.  I didn't really see them in use at the collegiate tournament I worked at, but I wasn't looking at that time.

 

 

It depends on where I'm docking.  If it's a nice wooden dock, then probably no fenders.  If it has some nasty bolts sticking out, then I use fenders.  Aluminum docks I'll use fenders.  The Taylor Low Freeboard work well for my set-up.

 

After my first season I found some sharp gouges along my gunnel.  The fenders also help protect my bimini when docked, so I use them quite a bit. 

 

 

[Jig Man]

I had custom Champion ones that I carried around for 14 years and only used once.  I don’t have any now and don’t foresee needing any.

[Russ E]

A set of custom ranger fenders came with my boat. I used them once. Fenders are a pain.

Unless the water is really rough, I don't see the need for them for launching/ loading. I just try to tie off downwind, so if the boat does move it is away from the dock.

plus the rub rail on bass boats do a pretty good job of protecting the hull.

 

[Scott F]

Actually, when I use the same dock every day on vacation, I tie them to the dock so I don’t have to mess with them every time I tie up or pull away.

[TOXIC]

Last year for our week long trip in Wisconsin I used my power poles and a bow rope to hold my boat at the dock at the cottage.  I did notice some rubs when I got home.  This year I am still going to use my poles but I will tie some bumpers to the dock like I used to do.  

[Scott F]

20 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

Last year for our week long trip in Wisconsin I used my power poles and a bow rope to hold my boat at the dock at the cottage.  I did notice some rubs when I got home.  This year I am still going to use my poles but I will tie some bumpers to the dock like I used to do.  

If a big wind comes up and rocks the boat a lot, won’t the power poles bounce off the bottom and let the back end swing around?

[WRB]

Yes every time I launch my boat when fishing alone I attach 2 fenders to the dock side of my boat and leave them on after securing the tie downs while parking my vehicle.

It only takes 1 nail with 1 boat wake or wave to tear up the gel coat. My glass bass boats have never hit a dock as a result.

Tom

[J._Bricker]

I use these as they came with my boat when I bought it. I use at least one when launching by myself. The only person who is going to care enough about what happens to your boat and how it looks is you. https://www.akuaboatfenders.com/shop/akua-bass-boat-fender

[boostr]

I use the low freeboard type fenders.

[John O]

I pull up on the bank and drop the Power Poles....

 

[volzfan59]

I never really used them, however. This was years ago, but still relevant to this conversation. In 2000, I bought a brand new 19' ChampioN bass boat, probably the best boat I've ever owned. After fishing all day, I returned to the ramp and tied off the boat to the floating dock and backed the trailer in. Loaded the boat, pulled it out and started wiping it down. To my horror, there was a deep scratch/ gouge in the gel coat on the top cap towards the back! I went down to the dock and found a good sized rusty nail sticking out. I got my boat fixed and purchased some bumpers.

[@reelChris]

Fenders are great for long term storage but take up a lot of room.  Dock sticks are almost as good and take up very little room.  Both work best if you tie up using spring lines to limit fore and aft movement.

 

Dock stick: