Page 34 - Des Pawson "Des Pawson's Knot Craft" 2 edit.

KNOTCRAFT 2009:Layout 1 23/10/09 12:17 Page 33

HIT CHING O VER A PLAS TIC FENDER
of old rope with a loop at one or both ends and cover that in
exactly the same way. Building up on a plastic fender base is a
good idea for larger fenders, as the core will be nearly all air
and the finished fender a lot lighter than if a bundle of old
rope had been used.

MATERIALS
The hitching of the cover depends so much on the size of the rope
and the size of the fender, and on how tight and close the hitches
are, that it is only possible to give a very rough guide of the quantity
of rope needed. I reckon that about 160m of 10mm or 12mm rope
will give about a square metre of cover. If you can keep track of the
material you use you will get a closer picture for yourself, but you
will still have surprises. It always seems to take more material and
more time than I estimate!
This means that, to cover a 400mm x 125mm diameter sausage
shape fender, you need about 24-26m of 10mm 3 strand rope.
A 600mm x 200mm diameter sausage fender needs about 55–60m
of 10mm 3 strand rope. This can either be a natural material like
sisal, manila or hemp, or a synthetic, but try not to have a too hard-
laid (stiff) rope as this makes it more difficult to get the hitches to
pull tight and bed down.
It is possible to use braided rope or the strand from a bigger rope
but you are then restricted in your method of joining in new ends.

KNOTS USED Half hitch
Long splice if you prefer to make a spliced join in
the rope, but see method

METHOD
Cut 20m of line and tape the length takes forever to pull
ends into 100mm long points. through. Start hitching from the
Put the rope round the middle centre, putting the first row of
of the fender, and adjust to give about 14 hitches for the 125mm
two equal ends of 10m. A 10m diameter fender or about 22
length is probably the most hitches for the 200mm diameter
efficient length; if shorter there fender. Space these evenly round
are too many joins and a longer one side, then pull the other end

33