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A Simple Side Fender

‘Any piece of cable that is cut off, most commonly any part of
an old cable, is called a junk. Such as this they hang for fenders
by the ships sides.’

OWROTE Sir Henry Mainwaring in 1623 in his Seaman’s
SDictionary, the earliest Nautical Dictionary in English. Today
it is still a good way to make a beefy side fender for a barge or
tug, I have made them using old ships mooring cables, and off-
cuts of heavy coir from wrap-round fenders. The cable may be
just stitched together with some line, but I prefer to either make
a proper seizing or even better, if I have the time, to make two
or three Turk’s heads round the cables thereby giving these sim-
plest of fenders that proper seaman’s look. I think that 3 or 4
hanging over the side can really look quite smart and not cost a
great deal.
If you use your imagination, the same idea can be developed
to make a fender with lanyard at each end, so it can be hung
lengthways to protect the leeboard on a barge.

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