Polyform G-5 Twin Eye Fender 8.8 x 26.8 Blue

Polyform's G Series has been the go-to fender for a lot of boaters for a long time, and the G-5 sits right in the sweet spot for mid-size boats. If you run something in the 25 to 35 foot range, a center console, a cuddy, a small cruiser, a day sailer, this is the size most people reach for. It's a cylinder fender, 8.8 inches in diameter and 26.8 inches long, molded from marine-grade vinyl and finished in blue. It weighs about 4.45 lbs, so it's easy to hang, stow, and move around single-handed.

What sets the G Series apart from a plain rope-through fender is the twin-eye design. There's a molded loop on each end instead of a single hole down the middle. That gives you options. You can hang it vertically off a cleat or rail with a single line, or you can rig a line through both eyes and let it ride horizontally along the hull. On a boat where the rub rail sits high, hanging vertical keeps the fender down where it actually meets the dock. On a lower freeboard hull, running it horizontal spreads the contact. Nice to have both on the same fender.

The surface is ribbed, not smooth. Those ribs do two things. They add wall strength so the fender holds its shape under load, and they grip a piling or a dock edge a little better so the fender doesn't skate around when your boat surges in a wake. It's a small detail that matters more than you'd think when you're rafting up or tying to a rough wooden dock.

These are inflatable fenders, so they ship soft and you top them off with a pump. You're not looking for rock-hard here. Inflate to a firm but slightly giving feel, somewhere around 2 to 3 psi, and you'll get the best cushion. Over-inflating is the most common mistake we see. Pump it drum-tight and you lose the give that protects your gelcoat, and you put extra stress on the seams. Firm, not hard. That's the rule. The valve also lets you bleed a little air out at the end of the season so the fenders pack down smaller for winter storage.

Sizing matters with fenders, and boaters ask about it all the time. The G-5 is rated by Polyform for boats roughly 25 to 35 feet. As a general rule you want at least one fender for every 10 feet of waterline, and most folks run three or four per side on a boat this size, more if you're med-mooring or rafting. A single G-5 protects one contact point. Buy enough to cover the beam and the spots where your hull actually leans on the dock.

Care is easy. Rinse the salt off now and then, and if you keep the boat in the water full time, give the ribbed surface an occasional scrub, since the texture that grips the dock also likes to hold onto grime and marine film. If you run in strong southern sun, a fender cover will slow down UV fade and keep the blue looking sharp for more seasons. The vinyl stays flexible in cold water too, though it does stiffen up as things approach freezing, so northern boaters will notice a firmer fender in early spring.

This one's sold as a single fender. If you're outfitting a boat from scratch, count your contact points and order accordingly. And if you're not sure whether the G-5 is the right size for your boat, or you want to step up or down a size, give us a shout. We rig fenders for boats like yours every week and we're happy to help you get it right the first time.