Fenders

I got lots of hull scratches, some deep, trying to slide along the pier to pick up my wife. I was going too fast obviously.

Does anyone use fenders on they Hobie. What kind, where, and how do you attach.

Thanks

Secular

The answer is no. Even if you did, if you were going too fast, as you state, the fenders would just roll out of the way. The difficult thing on most cats is approaching a dock. Like all boats, it is best to end up at the dock pointed into the wind to stop. The problem with this is two hulls, usually with only one touching the dock. This ends up with a narrow platform to walk on and tie off from. Cats work better from any shore, but that is not always an option. The earlier replies to this post are right, if this is your dock, or the one you always use, fix it. Add padding or firehose to the edge, sink the nails, screw in the screws. Sheet out, slow down, use the end of the dock, use good seamanship to stop your boat where and when you want to. Fenders are not the issue. Fenders are best if the boat is tied to the dock to pad it from normal wave movement, not travel movement. Fenders also help to fend off other boats. The Hobies don't sit well at the dock and move different from monohulls so use caution while docking with other boats.