How to Tie Fenders to a Boat: Knots, Height and Position

Tie fenders to a guardrail stanchion base, toe rail or the lower guardwire using a clove hitch with a slipped half hitch, or a round turn and two half hitches. Set the height so the fender sits where the hull will touch, usually with its bottom just clear of the water for a low pontoon, higher for a wall. Space them along the widest part of the hull and adjust them once you are alongside.

Where to tie them

Stanchion base or toe rail: strong and low, so the fender does not ride up. Often the best choice.
Lower guardwire: quick and common, but the wire can distort under load, so tie close to a stanchion.
Cleats: fine if the cleat is not needed for a mooring line.
Never to the top guardwire alone or to the stanchion top: the leverage can bend the stanchion.

Which knot to use

The clove hitch is the standard fender knot because it is quick to tie and easy to adjust. On its own it can work loose as the fender bounces, so finish it with a slipped half hitch around the standing part. For a fender taking heavy load, a round turn and two half hitches holds better. Both are in the essential knots guide.

Fender knots compared
Knot	Pros	Cons
Clove hitch	Fast, adjustable	Can slip unless backed up
Clove hitch + slipped half hitch	Secure and still quick to release	One more step
Round turn and two half hitches	Very secure under load	Slower to adjust

Getting the height right

Look at what you are going alongside. A low marina pontoon needs fenders hanging low, often with the bottom a few centimetres above the water. A high harbour wall or a big motor boat needs them higher, around the rubbing strake. When rafting, match the height to the widest point of both hulls. Hang them vertically for pontoons; for piles or a rough wall, hang two horizontally behind a fender board.

Step by step

Decide which side you are berthing on before you enter the marina.
Tie three or four fenders on that side, spaced along the widest part of the hull, with one near the point of maximum beam.
Set them all at the same height for the berth you expect.
Have a spare roving fender in hand for the bow or stern as you come in.
Once secured, adjust heights and spacing, then lift them in before you leave the berth.

Practise the approach in the berthing and boat handling lesson.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

What knot is used for fenders?

A clove hitch, ideally finished with a slipped half hitch so it cannot shake loose. A round turn and two half hitches is a more secure alternative.

How high should fenders be on a pontoon?

Low enough to sit between the hull and the pontoon edge, typically with the bottom of the fender just clear of the water on a low marina pontoon.

Should fenders be tied to the guardrail?

You can tie to the lower guardwire close to a stanchion, but a stanchion base or toe rail is stronger. Avoid the top wire, which puts leverage on the stanchions.

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