www.iFourWinns.com

What is most common and quickest/easiest way to attach fenders before docking and where do you connect them? I see there are many differt types of quick connectors you can buy. Some that hook to bow rail, some that require you to drill and screw into hull, etc. My Four Winns manual says never hook fenders to the bow rail or to the cleats If that's the case then there is nowhere else to hook them. I've always tied mine the the cleats with rope but it is a pain. Looking for a better way.

I always attach them to my cleats when I am at the docks...we try NOT to tie up to the dock very much though. When we put in, I back the truck down the ramp until just before the boat gets wet. I then jump in the boat and the wife backs me in the rest of the way. When I go to the dock to pick her up, I motor up very slow and I hold the boat while she boards, so no tying up there. When we return, she motors me to the dock and I jump off the bow onto the dock and again...no need to tie up.

If we go to one of the docks at a restaurant, I usually do the same as below when we raft up.

When we raft up with friends, I tie one to the middle cleat and the other to the inside grab handle. Works great. On my boat, the rear cleat is worthless to tie a fender to.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

I wet slip my boat so I tied the my fenders to the dock ( I actually forgot to take them off and now they're stuck in ice for the winter). When I need to fender the boat to go through locks or the fuel dock I tie to aft cleat and the bimini bracket in the middle. I premeasured the line on each fender and labelled the fenders fore and aft with a Sharpie pen so I just have to slip the loop through the cleat. The problem with tying fender to (some) cleats is that the line can rub at a sharp angle against the gelcoat and after a long period will create a dull spot, I rubed a spot right through the paint on my fishing boat that way, but that was after 3 summers in a slip that gets the wake from two hourly ferry services and a party cruise ship operating from the next dock. Not a problem though for a quick stop at the fuel dock or to catch diner a waterfront restaurant.

Just don't tie them to the shift lever like I once saw a guy do.

On my 298 Vista, I hand tie one fender at the mid cleat and another one to the handle on the radar arch. I never leave fenders attached when she is in her slip though.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Same goes with the 298 Vista as it doesn't sit flush against the side of the boat.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

We tie up pretty often to docks or other boats and always tie bumper to the cleats. I do get a rub mark sometimes if there a long time, but it rubs off.

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

"Tie" on with the bow and stern cleats, bumpers go on the mid-ship cleat and the rear section of the tower. Using the stern cleat for the bumber would be too low in the water to be effective on mine.

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

I wet slip my boat all summer (April through October). I have used these on a couple of my boats now. It allows me to place the fenders exactly where I want them and "helpers" new to my boat always get them in the right place and right height. I actually use the same placement on both starboard and port sides even though I typically tie starboard. After I am docked I do tie off the "whip" to something solid on the boat as (even after 10 years) I don't trust that they won't slip... (I just pulled this listing off the web...I beleive Overton's, West Marine, et.c all carry them.

http://www.discountmarinesupplies.com/F ... LOCKS.html

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Optimus Prime
Now: 2007 Horizon 260, (2007/08 brochure boat)
Previous: 1995 Sea Ray Signature Select 220
Tow: '07 Avalanche LTZ
Seattle and Chelan, WA

I like those Perko Locks. A freind of mine has those and they work great. I'm just to chicken to drill holes and screw into the hull. Linda like cutting down a tree next to the house. Can always find a friend willing to do it for a case of beer.

+1 - buddy of mine has the also, and they work well. They are on my list of projects.

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

Easy to install. But just make sure (as always) when you drill into the gel coat there are three tips:

- Blue tape helps to keep gel coat from chipping
- Run drill bit in reverese to start also helps (slow but steady)
- Most importantly the right size bit (typically a tad larger than what you would use for metal as fiberglass strands will fill in as you screw in the screws)

Besides these are small hole (2 per lock point) and should be way above waterline

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Optimus Prime
Now: 2007 Horizon 260, (2007/08 brochure boat)
Previous: 1995 Sea Ray Signature Select 220
Tow: '07 Avalanche LTZ
Seattle and Chelan, WA

Spray sun screen on the fenders keeps them slick and they wont mark up the boat nor ride up if your in a tie-up.

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