There’s nothing like having nice, big, fat fenders when it comes time to raft up with another boat or tie up alongside a nasty-looking dock. The problem is what to do with them given the limited storage aboard a sailboat when you’re underway, a problem that becomes especially acute aboard bluewater passagemakers. Enter Fendertex inflatable fenders, now marketed in the United States by PYI Inc. Rugged enough to be used with even the largest boats and 95 percent lighter than their PVC counterparts, they can be quickly deflated and rolled up when not in use for storage in any medium-sized cuddy. When it comes time to tie up again, simply fill them with air using an electric or foot-operated pump. How cool is that? Available in either spherical or cylindrical configuration, the fenders also come in a wide range of colors and can be easily customized with your boat’s name or logo. $NA. PYI Inc., pyiinc.com
