Over the years I made a quite a bunch of fenders
as well as boat repairs. There is a saying in the Netherlands that claims that if you buy a boat, you will work your self to death. This is of cause metaphorical but there is some truth in it. Since the maintenance of boats actually never ever ends. Something always get stuck, break, disappears or anything in between.
(This tiny fender not meant to protect a boat but to take the sea's with you on your key chain.)
Back in former times
the times without plastic - sailors made a lot of fenders. You can see a fender as a cushion (such as foam rubber or a wood float) between a boat and a dock or between two boats that lessens shock and prevents chafin. It also can be a pile or a row or cluster of piles placed to protect a dock or bridge pier from damage by ships or floating objects. Back in the days these fenders where made of hemp rope and had all shapes and forms one can imagine.I always found that on a traditional vessel there shall be a bunch of rope fenders to protect the boats and look classic while doing exactly the same thing as modern counterparts. Here are a few of my creations :)
Relaxing
in the harbor and doing some key chain fender work :)
As you can see
I made plenty of these in small. I sold a few here and there but foremost I just gave them away...
If I remember correctly
this one is a snake not - please comment if I am wrong... This beast was actually more than 4 feet / 1 meter in size and worked as expected :)
Since traditional vessels
in the Netherlands do have large dagger boards they do need some protection as well. This fender is meant to sit on the pivot point of the dagger boards and cushion the whole construction. I always like how this one turned out. We had some left over rope and I just made this.
This and the next 2 photos
are one and the same fender. I spliced the two ends together so that this is some sort of a mobius loop. This fender is meant to protect the aft section of the boats. Especially if you go though looks this saves a lot of painting work afterwards :-D
I not only made small key-chain fenders...
I actually made them in big too. This is the start of it and the first knot of this whole thing is called Mathew Walker knot. It took me ages to get it right.
This is the same Mathew Walker knot just viewed from a different angel. I always loved that symmetry.
And this is
my first big key-chain fender (actually this one is called Key chain bell fob). Since my old skipper insisted that this thing NEEDS to float I worked in a old life vest - haha.
Another key-chain fender but this time in a middle size version.
I also make shackles from time to time. This can be metal but why not make it from rope that is as strong or stronger than metal?
Another dagger board fender.
This is a heavy beast meant for use when you are blown to the dock... It takes quite some time and effort to bend a rope this old and used into these sharp corners all the way.You want a handcrafted seaman's work key-chain fender? Send a email to info[at]ricpicks.de and I send you one for a small fee.
Please visit my webpage ricpicks.de for more awesome photos and content.