Polyform A-2 All-Purpose Buoy Red | Boats 30-40 ft

The Polyform A-2 is one of those pieces of gear that just works. It's an all-purpose buoy sized for boats in the 30 to 40 foot range, molded from tough PVC with a single 1-1/8 inch rope eye at the top. Hang it over the side as a fender, set it out as a mooring buoy, or run it as a marker. Same buoy, three jobs.

At 14-1/2 inches in diameter and 19-1/2 inches long, the A-2 gives you real standoff between your hull and a piling or a neighboring boat. That matters most on the boats it's built for. A 34 foot cruiser rolling in a wake needs more than a skinny little fender to keep the rubrail off the concrete. The A-2 has the volume to actually absorb that push.

We like the A-series because it's honest, proven gear. This is the buoy design more boaters reach for than any other, and there's a reason. The vinyl takes a beating from dock edges and pilings and keeps its shape. The rope eye is molded right into the body, so there's no hardware to corrode or pull loose. You thread your line through, and you're done.

Setup is about as simple as marine gear gets. There's nothing to assemble and no hardware to install. Inflate it to a firm but not rock-hard fill, thread your line, and hang it. If you're using it as a mooring buoy, shackle your pendant to the eye and you've got a visible, floating tie-off that holds its position. For fender duty, most boaters hang the A-2 vertically along the topsides and adjust the height so the fattest part of the buoy sits right at the rubrail.

A word on the line. That 1-1/8 inch eye takes up to a 3/4 inch dock line comfortably, and 5/8 inch is a common choice. Here's a tip from years of doing this: run the line doubled through the eye instead of single. A single line lets the buoy spin in chop, which chews up your line and lets the fender wander out of position. Doubled, it stays put right where you hung it.

Placement depends on your boat. On a 40 footer, a lot of folks run a couple of smaller A-1s up forward where the hull narrows and one or two larger buoys like this A-2 or an A-3 back aft where the beam is widest and the loads are highest. The idea is even coverage along the contact zone, not just one fender doing all the work. If you're rafting up or coming into an unfamiliar dock, having a few of these aboard buys you options.

It's red, which shows up well against the water and a gray dock. Fair warning if you run in strong year-round sun like the Gulf or the Keys: red vinyl can fade toward pink over a couple of hard seasons. It doesn't hurt performance one bit, but if you want it to stay bright, a set of fender covers goes a long way and also saves your hull from any vinyl transfer on a hot day.

Speaking of heat, PVC gets a little tacky when it's baking above 90 degrees. That's normal for the material. Covers help there too. And when the season's over, deflate it for storage. Leaving a buoy inflated and stuffed in a hot locker for months is the fastest way to stress the valve. Let the air out, coil your lines, and it'll be ready next spring.

Bottom line: if you've got a boat between 30 and 40 feet and you need a buoy that pulls double duty as a fender or a mooring float, the A-2 is a safe, proven pick. Simple, tough, and sized right. Rig it up and forget about it.