Hi Bill, The answer to your fender question is, just what is your problem? If you are alongside a smooth wall, then I hung my fenders from the hand rail on our M15. If you are trying to tie up against a dock piling, then you need a fender board. You hang two fenders on the side of your boat. Then, outboard of the fenders you hang your fender board. Now you can ride against a piling; move fore and aft a bit, and the boat is still fully protected. The fender board takes the rubbing and abrasion, and the fenders keep everything in order. If you want to get fancy, you can add some half round strips to the outside of the fender board which adds to the abrasion resistance. I just used a 2 X 4 .... with some holes bored into, for the lines, it so that it hung properly. Length...? That's a function of where you sail; and where you plan to tie up. Mine was about 3 feet long, but I'm sure that the length of the fender board was determined by what spare piece of 2 X 4 I had lying about in my workshop. I also hung my fenders from the jam cleat on the front side of the cockpit coaming; from the shrouds; or from anywhere that suited today's mooring problem. You need spring lines to help keep your boat in one spot, that don't let it move fore and aft, as well as bow line and stern lines. Connie Bill "C" Day wrote:
I just recently towed my M-15 out to Southern California from Missouri. I slept in the boat both nights I was on the road, and found that it makes a fine "boaterhome". Since I've been here, I've launched twice at Oxnard and done some nice ocean sailing. What I'm looking for now is a good sailing lake within a reasonable distance of my home in Frazier Park (top of the Grapevine, between Bakersfield and Los Angeles). I'm interested in a good launch ramp with a dock to tie up to while I park the car, room for sailing without dodging power boat wakes constantly, and the possibility of good wind. Anyone have a suggestion of where I could find such a lake?
While I have everyone's rapt attention, I have another question. I'm constantly trying different ways of hanging fenders on my 15. Some work better than others, but I still haven't found the perfect solution in 22 years. I'd like to hear what other skippers have come up with for attaching fenders in the right locations for good boat protection. So, tell me, how do you tie one on (fender, that is)?
Bill Day M-15 363 "Gee Whiz!"
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