How many types of inflatable fenders are there?
Cylindrical inflatable boat fender
The cylindrical inflatable boat fender is the most common one and the least expensive. It is easy to manipulate it and can be used both vertically and horizontally. Made of an air chamber for the air intake, an external cover made of technical tissue will protect it from external factors. The idea behind this system is that the air chamber gathers the air and the cover protects the chamber against external friction.
The achoring points need to be placed on the cover and not directly on the air chamber. This way, traction forces will affect the cover and not the chamber. The cover can be more easily replaced and it's far less expensive.
Round inflatable boat fender
It offers an excellent protection and it can be easily rolled down on the haull to meet the obstacle. That makes it the perfect fender to use while maneuvering in tight places or sluice gates. It is also a good choice as an additional boat fender. We can use it as a mooring buoy or a laid mooring too.
Round inflatable boat fender has a diameter equal to its height.
Flat inflatable boat fender
The flat inflatable boat fenders are very useful in tight pontoon places.
They also offer a large contact surface and a good protection accordingly.
They don't roll against the obstacle, so they do not have the opportunity to slide alongside the lenght of the boat.
It's based on the cylindrical fender construction with an air chamber and an external cover.
Pontoon inflatable bumpers and stern fenders
These type of fenders are placed on the pontoons edges or on the back side of the boats. The latter ones limit the shocks while backwards docking.
Most of the times they are realised from cylindrical fenders placed horizontally or flat multi-fenders.
They come in different lenghts and diameters, usually custom made.
Here also we find the same principle with the air chamber and external cover to reduce chafing.
Other types of inflatable fenders
A large choice of inflatable fenders for specific use are available. For example, the flat platform for an eased boarding access.
