Make Your Own Rugged Fender Boards

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We described a simple home-built version several years ago (Practical Sailor, December 2011); here we present a few simple upgrades on the same basic design, allowing for simpler deployment, better fender retention, and more stable positioning. Pressure treated lumber provides inexpensive durability.

fender board

Suspension line holes. Drill these vertically through the timber to eliminate chafe on the pilings. If a long bit is unavailable, drill an intersecting hole from the side large to create a recess large enough to accommodate the stopper knot, protecting it from chafe. You will need a long bit, or will have to drill from either side to meet in the middle.

Fender loops. Place near each end retain the fenders. Drill a counter sink to hide the stopper knots from the pilings and prevent chafe (the tails may protrude). The holes are one fender diameter apart. Some folks like bungee cord, but we find 5/16-inch line easy to work with, far more durable, and better able to keep fenders in position.

Bracing lines. Drill a hole at each end for bracing lines to prevent the board from swaying laterally. This helps a short board perform as well as a longer board in rough conditions.

Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him at darrellnicholson.com.