Setting fenders when docking should be as habitual as buckling your seat belt when driving a car. Although fenders won't save your life the way a seat belt can, they will save your boat from wear and tear, extending its life and increasing its resale value. Most people are good about setting fenders when docked for an extended period, but too often they skip the fenders, and leave the hulls and gel coats to the elements of the docks and pilings. Setting fenders only takes a few seconds, so brush up on the basics and show your boat some love.

Invest in a Set
Fenders can't be set if they're not already on board, so the first order of business is to invest in a set. You can get by with as few as two fenders, but since they're relatively inexpensive, go ahead and get four or six to keep on board at all times. Matching fenders to boats is an inexact science; the best way for a novice to get the right fenders is to simply take a walk around the marina and note what size and what type of fenders people are using on similar-sized boats. Generally speaking, most recreational boats under 30 feet in length will do fine with a set of 5-inch-by-20-inch horizontal fenders, each with 4 or 5 feet of line attached.

Get Set Early
The best time to set your fenders isn't when you're at the dock, but well before you arrive. Setting your fenders early protects your boat from bumps and grinds that may occur during the docking (especially in windy or otherwise rough conditions), and also means you have one less thing to do when you dock. Before you begin your approach to the dock, stop and take a moment to set the fenders. You don't have to deploy fenders all around the boat, unless you're going to be docking in a slip. Decide how you'll dock - portside to dock or starboard side to dock - and deploy fenders appropriately. As a general rule, attach a fender to each gunwale cleat and hang them so the bottom of the fender barely reaches the water. This should put the fenders in position to provide good protection when you reach the dock.

Deploy and Secure
Once you've arrived at the dock and set your dock lines, it's time to make sure that the fenders are properly deployed and secured. Use your common sense to position the fenders correctly: They should be positioned so they provide the maximum cushioning at the point where the dock meets the hull. It's sometimes helpful to use a dock line to pull the boat right up against the dock for a second to see just exactly how to position the fenders. Once you've determined the correct positioning, secure the fender to your gunwale cleat by using a cleat hitch to attach the line to the cleat. (To tie a cleat hitch, take the line up and around the cleat; start a figure eight across one ear and lock the knot by turning the final hitch under.)

Raise and Run
It's not the end of the world if you forget to raise your fenders when you're leaving the dock, but it's definitely in poor form, and it's never a good idea to have loose things like fenders bouncing against your hull when you're attempting to get under way. Leave the fenders in place, though, until you've released the dock lines and safely pulled well away from the docking area - that way you can avoid damage to your boat if you have to return quickly to the dock, or the current unexpectedly pushes you back in. As soon as you're away, stop the boat and raise the fenders. Once raised, stow them securely where you can easily access them when you need to. Now you're ready to make the run to the next dock, ding-free.