The Best Boat Fenders for Mooring During the Off Season: pt. 1

9th Mar 2018 | Posted by Aaron
The Best Boat Fenders for Mooring During the Off Season: pt. 1

Boat in the winter In the ominous words of House Stark from Game of Thrones, “Winter is coming.” Well, more accurately, fall is just around the corner, and then before we know it, winter will be here. I recently read that the best way to protect your boat from off season damage is to simply be on it 24/7 in order to prevent problems or fix them as soon as they arise. However, for those of us that have jobs and families, we have to settle for winterizing our boats to the best of our ability, and then checking on them when we have the time.

In this first installment we’re going to take a look at a few of the best boat fenders that you’ll want between your boat and the dock if you’ll be moored for the season.

HTM (hole through middle) Fenders are quite versatile

Polyform HTM Series Boat Fenders and Taylor Made Big B Boat Fenders are some of the best for the job due to their versatility. They have a hole through the middle, hence the HTM. This allows them to be tied both horizontally and vertically with ease. They are great for mooring, but they also work quite well for trailered boats. Another unique feature is that they have an even wall thickness from one end to the other, giving them maximum strength and durability.

Taylor Made Tuff End boat fenders are extremely durable

Another option to consider is the Polyform F Series and the Taylor Made Tuff End Boat Fender. They make the list because of their raw durability. It’s true that these are the heavy duty ones made for commercial grade boats and beloved by the U.S. coast guard, but they do come as small as 6”x24” and can still be used easily by medium sized crafts. So if mooring your boat for the fall and winter seasons is a source of stress in your life, these fenders would be a great way to reduce that stress. They’ll cost a little more than the average fender, but they’re designed specifically to withstand the most rugged of conditions and extreme tidal fluctuations.

Where do you moor for the off season? Do you have any other suggestions or questions? Please feel free to comment. Also, check out our help guide for more information on the various types of fenders and which ones would be the best fit for your boat.