The fender size should be matched to the dock's construction, the size of the mooring boats, and the expected intensity of use. For smaller vessels, private docks and places with limited space, narrower models are usually chosen. In marinas, yacht harbours and for larger boats, wider fenders are recommended, as they provide a larger protective surface and better distribute the pressure of the hull. MARINA fenders are about 6 cm thick and available in several widths, including 8 cm, 12 cm and 20–22 cm. When choosing, you should also take into account the freeboard height, the water level, and the point where the boat most often touches the dock.
EVA fenders can be installed on docks made of, among others:
The installation method should always be matched to the material and construction of the dock. Suitable screws, bolts, anchors or mounting dowels and washers of the correct diameter should be used. Before starting installation, check the condition of the dock structure and make sure the surface provides a stable mounting base.
The primary installation method remains mechanical fastening using suitably selected screws, bolts and washers. However, the manufacturer recommends additionally using adhesive wherever the material, surface and dock construction allow it. Gluing increases the stability and strength of the whole mounting — the fender is then not held only at a few points by screws, since the adhesive creates an additional bond over a large area of the fender's back, distributing loads more evenly.
Adhesives that can be used include:
The adhesive should:
The application method must follow the adhesive manufacturer's instructions — some adhesives need to be applied in strips or spots to cure properly. Before installation, it's recommended to do an adhesion test on a small, inconspicuous area.
Yes. EVA foam is a flexible, cushioning material, which reduces the risk of direct contact between the hull and the hard structure of the dock. A correctly installed fender helps reduce the risk of:
EVA fenders can be used with motorboats, sailboats, pontoons, personal watercraft and other recreational vessels. Keep in mind, however, that a fender mounted on the dock does not replace correct mooring or properly placed fenders hung on the boat's hull.
EVA fenders do not leave the typical black streaks on the hull that can occur with many rubber products or old tyres used as makeshift dock protection. This also applies to black EVA fenders — the colour is part of the material's structure, not an external coating that can rub off. This is especially important for white and light-coloured hulls, where rubber marks are very visible and often hard to remove. Even so, the fender's surface should be cleaned regularly of sand, mud, oil and other dirt that could be transferred to the hull on contact.
EVA foam has a closed-cell structure, meaning it doesn't absorb water the way a sponge or open-cell foam does. The fenders can be used in places exposed to:
The closed-cell structure limits water absorption and makes the material easier to keep clean. However, mounting points should be checked regularly, since prolonged moisture can affect poorly chosen screws, bolts or dock structural elements.
MARINA fenders are made from EVA foam intended for outdoor use. The material is resistant to moisture, sunlight and changing weather conditions. Long-term exposure to intense UV radiation, salt, dirt and mechanical loads may, over time, cause natural changes in the surface appearance, as with other outdoor materials. A gradual change in shade or surface appearance does not necessarily mean the fender's basic cushioning properties have been lost. Regular cleaning and inspection help extend the product's service life.
Yes. The fenders can remain installed all year round, provided they have been correctly mounted and the fasteners and adhesives used are resistant to frost, moisture and temperature changes. Before the winter season, it's worth checking:
Special attention should be paid to docks exposed to ice pressure, moving ice floes, or seasonal lifting of the structure. The fender is not designed to withstand the pressure of large masses of ice.
The fender should be mounted using screws, bolts or other fasteners suitable for the dock material. Wide washers should be used, as they distribute pressure over a larger area and prevent the screw head from sinking too deeply into the foam. Fasteners should not be over-tightened — excessive pressure can permanently deform the fender or weaken the material at the mounting point. The fender should:
Wherever the dock surface allows, it's recommended to additionally use a suitable flexible outdoor adhesive.
Yes. EVA foam can be cut to adjust the length of the fender to a specific section of the dock. Cutting tools that can be used include:
The cut should be made evenly, without tearing or crushing the surface. Before cutting, carefully measure the installation location and mark the cutting line. For corners, dock ends or finger dock tips, it may be a better solution to use fenders specifically designed for these locations, such as corner models or Y-Boom. Cutting the product yourself can affect the appearance of the finished end, so it should be done carefully.
For regular cleaning, the following is usually enough:
After washing, rinse the fender thoroughly with water. It's not recommended to use:
If used in salt water, it's worth periodically removing salt deposits. Sand and small stones should also be removed, as they could act abrasively between the fender and the boat's hull.
Yes. EVA fenders can be used both on small private docks and in:
Their advantage is the ability to protect long sections of dock while maintaining a uniform, attractive appearance. Individual sections can be mounted side by side, creating a continuous protective zone. Unlike randomly sourced tyres or mismatched rubber fenders, this solution keeps a consistent look across the whole marina. For large-scale projects, the following should be selected individually:
The fender's durability depends on:
No single lifespan can be given for all applications, since a private dock used by one boat experiences different loads than a heavily used marina. The lifespan of the fenders can be extended by:
A loosened or partially detached fender should be re-secured as soon as possible, before the loads cause the damage to increase.
No. A fender mounted on the dock and a fender hung on the hull perform complementary functions. The dock fender protects the fixed dock structure and creates a cushioning surface at the point of possible contact with the boat. Fenders hung on the hull move with the vessel and can also protect it while moored at other docks or alongside other boats. The best protection comes from combining:
Dock fenders are especially useful in places where many different vessels moor, or where it's difficult to perfectly position hull-hung fenders every time.
MARINA dock fenders are proprietary products of CREA-FORM. Their designs have been registered and are protected within the European Union by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Registration of a design with the EUIPO confirms protection of the product's appearance and construction — however, it is not a quality certificate or a materials test report.
The EVA materials used to manufacture the fenders come with technical documentation and laboratory test reports, carried out among others by the SGS and CTI laboratories. The available material documentation includes:
The RoHS tests include checking the content of restricted substances, including:
According to the available documentation, the levels of the tested substances do not exceed the permissible limits set for the tested material. Material documentation can be made available to business customers, marinas and trading partners upon reasonable request.
