Page 42 - Des Pawson "Des Pawson's Knot Craft" 2 edit.

KNOTCRAFT 2009:Layout 1 23/10/09 12:17 Page 41

BUTT ON FENDER

the bow fender already described. The button requires a different
approach to the building of its core to ensure that it is solid and
stable enough to withstand the hard treatment it will receive.
When the button fender is first fitted, it’s a good idea to find
a quiet spot to very gently push square up against something, to
bed the fender in place before it is used in anger!

MATERIALS For a button fender 300mm diameter 200mm deep
Scrap rope for the core, preferably synthetic
1 x 1200mm of 6mm chain or 1 piece of 1200m
with a second 1200mm piece doubled and joined
to the middle of the first chain to give 2 top chains
32m of 12mm rope for the cover (natural or
synthetic as you wish)

KNOTS USED Packer’s knot: see page 9
Hitching: see page 34
Long splice (if this is your preferred method of
joining extra line when hitching): like page 70

METHOD

The core is basically just a solid pieces of synthetic cord about
coil of old rope 230mm diam by 3mm diam down the middle of
180mm high tied nice and tight. the pipe, bring their other ends
The problem is how to make down the side of the pipe and
and to tie your coil good and lay them out evenly round the
tight. I use a method explained base with their ends hanging
to me by Ike Argent, an old down the sides of the disc. Start
boater who was greatly respected wrapping the core material
for his well made fenders. A thin round the pipe keeping the thin
metal pipe of about 25mm diam lines in place. If your core
is held upright in a vice (a material is all the same diameter
workmate type bench works very you can build up your coil in a
well), sticking up through a disc series of flat discs, working out
of wood a little over the to the required size (230mm)
maximum diameter of the base then back in again. When the
you want to make. It helps if the disc is about half the height of
disc is marked with a number of the fender, place the chain or
concentric circles. Drop 3 or 4 chains in the middle and carry

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