Bumper Placement

[rkluck]

Safety is critical and don't like fingers outside the boat (easy to get crushed) when docking. I do put out fenders and we also have the expandable dock poles which are great. Docking is always interesting especially if it is windy and/or there is a current. Now with the lift I can usually just pull right in and we don't put any fenders out and don't use the dock poles.

 

[sysinu]

So... this has less to do with bumper placement and more to do with "don't put your arm there"... Our first time out on our houseboat, my wife was bringing our ski boat (22' Cobalt at the time) up to the houseboat to be towed. She came in too hot, put it in reverse too late, didn't gun it in reverse and I went to just throw the bow sideways (not stop her, just throw her off a direct path to the houseboat) and between the time I leaned (almost 2') forward and pushed the bow, my arm got pinned between the bow (with my palm pretty much centered at the point of the bow) and a post on the houseboat (where my elbow ended up). This was day 1 of the trip. I thought I broke my wrist and my arm by the noise it made and the pain I was in. Turns out that I only hyper extended my wrist.

So yeah... hands and feet inside the boat at all times is a good rule to live by!

 

[rkluck]

Man you were lucky! Even going slow boats have a lot momentum and can really do some damage. At least the boat can be fixed real easy and probably cheaper than your body parts.

 

[billyb]

On my dock, I put rubber edging or whatever wherever the boat could meet the dock. I then bought four of the wheels that really work great. If you hit one, the boat kinda auto corrects into my 10x25 slip. I also have a big bumper mounted center slip that I aim for and gently tap when docking.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/taylor-made--dock-pro-inflatable-dock-wheels--P005_157_006_507

http://www.marinemegastore.com/product-Plastimo-BUMPER-ALONE-DOCK-FENDER-WHITE-PLA_30102.htm

When we go to our favorite restaurant and dock, I get close, and the wife ties one side up and holds the boat. Kids get out then I get out and tie the boat up so that its in the center of the slip. No bumpers needed.

I hardly use the bumpers, but when I do, I like the clips others have mentioned...clip right onto the side window and done.

 

[Raul Pino]

This is where I place mine on the 15' 242

View attachment 21265

What size bumpers are those?