Taylor Made 6x22 Inflatable Boat Fender White 2-Pack

Fenders are the cheap insurance that keeps your gelcoat looking new. This Taylor Made set gives you two 6-inch by 22-inch inflatable vinyl fenders, ready to hang the day they arrive. Each one comes with its own 6-foot black fender line, so you're not hunting for rope before you can tie up.

The ribbed vinyl body does two jobs. It cushions the hull against pilings and dock edges, and the ribs add a little extra give when a wake rocks the boat against a piling. White keeps them looking clean and matches just about any hull. The round shape means they roll and settle naturally between the boat and the dock instead of catching on an edge.

Inflation is simple. There's a needle-type valve on each fender, the same kind you'd use for a basketball, so you can top them off with a common pump needle and get them firm. Firm fenders protect better than soft ones, and the needle valve lets you dial in the pressure and let a little out at season's end for storage.

Who are these for? Runabouts, center consoles, pontoons, and smaller cruisers that tie up at a fixed dock or raft up with friends. The 6-by-22 size is a sweet spot for boats roughly in the 20 to 30 foot range. Bigger boats or heavy commercial docking usually want a larger fender, so match the size to your freeboard and how hard the boat works against the dock.

A few practical notes from the dock. Hang them so the fat middle of the fender sits right at the rub line where the hull meets the dock. Two fenders handle a calm slip, but keep a third aboard for windy days or an unfamiliar marina. And check the lines now and then, because sun and salt will eventually stiffen any rope.

You get the pair, both lines, and the valves. Inflate them, tie them on, and you're protected. That's it. Simple gear that does exactly what you need it to.