Taylor Made 4x16 in Ribbed Boat Fender 2-Pack 310132P

Taylor Made builds these ribbed vinyl fenders for the everyday job of keeping your hull off the dock. This is the 310132P, a two-pack of 4-inch diameter by 16-inch fenders in white, and the pack ships with black 6-foot fender lines so you can rig them right out of the box. No hunting for rope, no extra trip to the store.

The ribbed body isn't just for looks. Those raised ridges give the fender a bit more structure, so it holds its shape against a piling and rolls less when the boat works against it in a chop. The round profile hangs vertically off a rail or a cleat, which is what you want for most slips and for rafting up alongside another boat. Hang two or three per side depending on how your dock lines up against the pilings.

At 4 by 16 inches these sit on the compact end, so they're a good match for smaller runabouts, center consoles, dinghies, and personal watercraft, or as extra fenders to fill a gap on a bigger boat. If you're docking a heavier boat in an exposed slip, run a larger diameter as your primary fenders and keep these as backups. Every boat can use a spare fender or two, and having the right size on hand beats scrambling when the wind pushes you into the dock.

Inflation is simple. There's a needle-type valve on each one, so you top them off with a standard inflation needle and a hand or foot pump, the same kind you'd use for a sports ball. Keep them firm, not rock hard. A little give is what absorbs the shock when the boat leans in.

Vinyl wipes clean with soap and water, and the white finish won't leave a mark on a light hull the way some darker fenders can. It's honest, no-nonsense dock protection from a name that's been making this gear for decades. Buy a set, rig the lines, and forget about them until you need them.