Mooring R20, quick question...?

[patryk]

I am mooring my R20 this year, and it's at a floating concrete dock that sits only about 4 inches off the water. First I'm worried about that, because I feel like the fenders would just pop up over the dock. It is a calm marina, but if a storm or something comes I want to be safe. Also, I only have 2 cleats on each side on my R20. Every dock tying I see online uses a center cleat as well, which I don't have. My boat will be tied up on the port side, and there will be a boat next to me that ties on the starboard side. Anyone have tips on what fenders I should use, and best way to tie to this dock? Sorry if it seems like a dumb question, but I don't want my boat to get ruined and normally used to launching. My space is the 4th one in on the left. Thanks!

heavy-duty-floating-docks-concrete-24128-2942231.jpg

[boardman74]

I would pad the dock well and then use a quality oversized fender. With the dock that low its going to be tough for it not to get pushed up. On my slip for our large cruising boat I attached fenders to the dock every 8 feet or so. I installed them side ways with lag bolts. Installing fenders directly to the dock might be a good option. Check with your dock neighbors and see what they do. They are going to be the pros for that particular dock setup.

[JohnnieMo]

I've screwed fenders right in to the dock before. On concrete you'll need to be clever though.

I prefer leaving fenders on the dock so I don't ever need to mess with them.

[EricU]

I was looking through the new Overton's catalog looking at the dock protection they sell and was wondering if they would let me install (and later remove) some of the items they have.

[IDBoating]

x2 on the semi-permanently installed sideways bumpers. We have three of those along the outermost edge of our dock as "guest parking" so they don't have to mess with their own. (Our boat lives on an AirDock inflatable lift so it's not an issue for our own equipment.) Bumpers are (relatively) inexpensive, nearly indestructible, and there almost has to be some creative way to attach them to any dock. Perhaps you could wrap rope through their end-holes and then around support pieces on the dock?

[Joeprunc]

You can use your tower as the boats middle "cleat". I'd have three large bumpers on each side of my boat (you want them on the other side incase your neighbor comes in to his slip a little hot).

Secret to mooring is making sure your boat isn't too tightly tied to the dock. Have dedicated dock lines that are cut to length or marked, so its easy to tie up.
Here's some good info. http://captnmike.com/2011/02/10/tips...t-to-the-dock/