Boat fenders are one of the many great arts in seamanship. They are designed to protect the boat from hitting the dock, other moorings, and other boats. In this modern, disposable culture, there are many fenders that are cheap and readily available, usually made from plastic. Far from being a way to enhance your sea-going vessel, these cheap, plastic fenders are offensive to traditional seamanship.

This instructable will show you how to make a nice fender, that if treated with a preservative, such as Stockholm tar, could conceivably last a lifetime, and look really nice in the process.

There are many complex ways to make a fender to protect your boat, but this one is simple and low-cost. Based on the crown knot, all that is really needed is a few basic tools, some decent rope, and a little whipping twine, and pride.

This is my first instructable, so please let me know how to improve! Thanks!

Step 1: What You Will Need

1. Rope. 3/4" hemp or manilla rope should work fine. Other ropes will work, but these are most authentic and hold up well to sunlight.

2. Sharp knife to cut the rope.

3. Whipping twine. If this is not available, it's OK. Some sort of strong twine will work fine, because it will be buried inside the fender anyway.

4. Fid or marline spike. If either of these is unavailable, then you can use a large tent stake, the rigid plastic kind will do perfectly.

Step 2: Making the Core

The core of the fender is an important part. Some fender designs get pretty complex here, but as this fender is for smaller boats, the core need not be too elaborate.

1. Start by taking 15 feet of rope and folding it in half.

2. 3-4 inches below the bight (loop) that is formed, tightly and securely bind the rope together using the twine. There are several methods of doing this. The method I used is a standard seizing. Again, as long as it is secure and very tight, you should be fine.

3. Approximately 12-14 inches below the first seizing, apply another one in exactly the same manner.

You have now formed the core of the fender.

Step 3: Beginning the Crown

Now you have the two pieces of rope side by side. Unlay the rope so that you have six strands.

Using either tape or the twine, whip the ends of the strands so that working with them is easy.

This fender is based on a basic crown knot. When tied one after the other, a crown sennit is formed, and it makes a beautiful pattern.

Forming a crown is simple. Start with any strand.

1. Holding the fledgling fender in front of you, take any strand and form a small open loop, or bight, with the "elbow" pointing left.

2. With the next strand to the right, bring it front of the previous strand, and make a loop that "cradles" the previous strand. See picture.

3. Repeat this all the way around.

4. The last strand should neatly go into the first loop you formed!

5. Pull tight. Work around, one strand at a time, and pull until all the slack it out and the loops are tight.

You have formed your first Six strand crown!

In the pictures, you can see the first fully formed crown.

Step 4: Working Down the Core

Continue adding more crowns until the seizings have been covered. As you add crowns, you will see the characteristic pattern emerge.

Work this pattern until you are about 2-3 inches below the loop/bight.

At this point, you can work the ends into the fender, and bury them, or you can make another layer of crowns for a beefier fender.

This is where the fid (or tent stake) comes in. In order to properly secure the ends, you need to slip the fid (or tent stake) under one of the bights in a previous crown. It takes considerable force to pry that thing loose.

To tuck:

1. Where you have stopped, slip the fid in and open the loop below and to left of the end that you would like to tuck.

2. Once you have the loop open, stuff the end that you are securing into that loop, and pull tight. Repeat for all ends.

3. If you are stopping, tuck once more in the crown below, following steps 1 and 2.

4. OPTIONALLY: After you have tucked all ends once, continue making crowns until you are about 3 crowns from the bottom. Then, perform the same tucking procedure above. When you have tucked down and left for all ends, then tuck back up and right. This will ensure a secure ending to your fender.

Step 5: Finishing

This is where the fid (or tent stake) comes in. In order to properly secure the ends, you need to slip the fid (or tent stake) under one of the bights in a previous crown. It takes considerable force to pry that thing loose.
To tuck:
1. Where you have stopped, slip the fid in and open the loop below and to left of the end that you would like to tuck.

2. Once you have the loop open, stuff the end that you are securing into that loop, and pull tight. Repeat for all ends.

3. If you are stopping, tuck once more in the crown below, following steps 1 and 2.

4. OPTIONALLY: After you have tucked all ends once, continue making crowns until you are about 3 crowns from the bottom. Then, perform the same tucking procedure above. When you have tucked down and left for all ends, then tuck back up and right. This will ensure a secure ending to your fender.

The second image in step 4 is really the final product, should you only decide to apply one layer of crown knots. If you have a larger boat, you can make this longer and add another layer of crowns for additional protection.