DaleH
FOUNDER of Classic Parker Forum
To me, fender storage has always been a battle between easy of deployment and finding some out-of-way storage location, specially on a fishing boat! I mean, if my boat was a battle cruiser or such, I'd most probably have fender racks off the bow rails. I finally came up with a workable, easy DIY solution.
In three locations under the washboards, 2 on 1 side and 1 on the other, I added a length of 1" black strap webbing about 18" long. I buy the webbing in bulk and sear/seal the edges where I cut it with a razor knife with a lighter or grill starter. The long strap is secured with a fender washer and a screw, right in the center of the rubrail and towards the outside of the boat, but from the inside of the boat. On the inside vertical gunnel, I put a loop of strap that has the lock fastener and this is simply a oval-head bolt, finish washer and a nylok, all #6 hardware.
In the pictures they are not pulled up tight (forward is way loose), just showing the concept, but when pulled tight, and these are 10" heavy duty fenders ... they almost "disappear" on the boat ! I think my total install cost was ~ $5 and my local hardware (ACE) had all the parts).
In use I simply/loosely wind the line around the top of the fender and place up under the washboards. Grab the long end hanging down and put thru the cam lock buckle (see below), pull tight, lock cam ... and down - out of the way.
Note that due to this install, I could not use those deck lights on a string like Capt Kevin uses, so I have larger "double bullseye" LED red lights positioned a few feet in from each end of the gunnels, mounted on the ribs that hold the rod holders ... the LEDs were only $6.50 each @ Super Brights LEDs.
In three locations under the washboards, 2 on 1 side and 1 on the other, I added a length of 1" black strap webbing about 18" long. I buy the webbing in bulk and sear/seal the edges where I cut it with a razor knife with a lighter or grill starter. The long strap is secured with a fender washer and a screw, right in the center of the rubrail and towards the outside of the boat, but from the inside of the boat. On the inside vertical gunnel, I put a loop of strap that has the lock fastener and this is simply a oval-head bolt, finish washer and a nylok, all #6 hardware.
In the pictures they are not pulled up tight (forward is way loose), just showing the concept, but when pulled tight, and these are 10" heavy duty fenders ... they almost "disappear" on the boat ! I think my total install cost was ~ $5 and my local hardware (ACE) had all the parts).
In use I simply/loosely wind the line around the top of the fender and place up under the washboards. Grab the long end hanging down and put thru the cam lock buckle (see below), pull tight, lock cam ... and down - out of the way.
Note that due to this install, I could not use those deck lights on a string like Capt Kevin uses, so I have larger "double bullseye" LED red lights positioned a few feet in from each end of the gunnels, mounted on the ribs that hold the rod holders ... the LEDs were only $6.50 each @ Super Brights LEDs.