Taylor Made Hull Gard Fender 6.5" x 23" Blue | 41023

The Taylor Made Hull Gard is the fender you hang over the rail when you're coming into the dock, rafting up with a buddy, or riding out a night at a rough slip. This one's the 6-1/2 inch by 23 inch size in blue, and it's built for boats in the 20 to 25 foot range. Runabouts, bowriders, small cuddies, center consoles. That's its sweet spot.

It's a smooth-sided cylinder made from marine-grade vinyl, so it wipes clean and won't scuff a gelcoat hull the way a hard bumper can. Hang it vertically from either end, or run it horizontal along the rail, depending on how your rub rail lines up with the piling.

Here's the part a lot of folks overlook. It ships pre-inflated, but it has a real inflation valve, so you can tune the air pressure to the job. Firm it up for a concrete seawall that isn't going anywhere. Let a little out for a softer, more forgiving cushion against another boat's topsides. A fender that's rock-hard actually transmits more shock into the hull, so don't be afraid to bleed a few pounds out of it.

One fender rarely does the whole job. Most 20 to 25 foot boats want three or four down each side when they're tied up for real, more if you're rafting. Buy a matched set so they sit at the same height along the rail and share the load evenly. And check the valve at the start of every season. Vinyl holds air well, but temperature swings and a long winter will soften one up.

If you're not sure this is the right size for your boat, give us a shout. Fender sizing comes down to boat length and how much freeboard you're working with, and it's the kind of thing we sort out with boaters every single day.