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Best Boat Dock Bumper Reviewed
The sea is turbulent and unpredictable; you can never be sure what might happen to your boat while it’s docked in terms of its movement.
You can’t take the safety and security of your boat for granted. If you want to ensure your boat is as secure as it possibly can be, you need to make sure that you have the best boat dock bumpers in place. That way, when your boat knocks against the edges of the dock, you won’t have to worry.
If you currently have your boat docked in a location where there’s not much protection on the sides or edges of the dock that surround your boat, you might not think you’re doing much wrong. But that’s not necessarily the case.
Just because something hasn’t gone wrong yet and your boat hasn’t sustained any damage, that doesn’t mean you can be sure that that won’t happen in the future.
With the right dock bumpers in place, you’ll have peace of mind. A boat is not a small financial investment for most people. It’s something that has to be protected at all costs, and you can’t be there to ensure it’s protected at all times.
When you’re away, you’ll want a boat cover and the right boat dock bumpers surrounding it just in case a strong wave does throw it against the side of the dock.
There are so many different types of boat dock bumpers out there, and it’s up to you to ensure you find the one that’s going to work for you. From recycled tire bumpers to plastic edging or thick padded bumpers, there’s a solution for just about every need. It’s up to you to find the best of them. But if you’re not sure where to start and want to find out more, this guide will give you all of the information you need to make the right decision.
If you’re looking for a boat dock bumper you can trust, we’ve picked out some of the very best options on the market right now. Each of these 5 dock bumpers will be capable of protecting your boat and delivering the benefits you’re looking for, so find out more about them below.
Check Out How to Choose The Best Boat Dock Bumper
Top Boat Dock Bumper Comparison Chart
Best Boat Dock Bumpers
1. Dock Edge + ProDock Dock Bumper
Dock Edge + ProDock Dock Bumper
It’s also very easy to install thanks to the way in which the bumpers are molded, which makes it ideal for a wide range of uses and situations. It’s the molded mounting groove that makes it particularly easy to install and put in place.
And once it’s in place, you can be confident that it’s going to stay there. The mold also uses UV-inhibitors as well as fungicides to keep the bumpers in good condition for as long a time as possible.
It can be mounted to both curved and flat services, which really makes this bumper product stand out from some of the other options out there. The versatility and the ease of use is very impressive here and it’s why it’s considered one of the best dock bumpers you can find out there today. You don’t won’t want to overlook it entirely.
2. Goplus 4-Pack Ribbed Marine Dock Bumper
Goplus 4-Pack Ribbed Marine Dock Bumper
The ribbed design offers strong protection, as well as offering extra strength and durability.
You won’t have to worry about abrasions or punctures if you put these in place at your docking port. You can hang them vertically or fit them horizontally depending on what you’re looking for. The non-abrasive PVC will offer you protection no matter how you use them.
Collisions are resisted well thanks to the rounded design of the bumpers, and the 3mm wall thickness is another factor that adds extra security and durability, both to the bumpers themselves and your boat.
The vinyl material that’s used is also UV resistant and is very easy to clean. From your perspective, those kinds of quality of life benefits are vital. You don’t want to be left with bumpers that are fading and difficult to clean.
These bumpers come with a good manual that tells you exactly how to use them and fit them in a wide variety of situations. They’re adaptable but they’re also very reliable, and that’s what matters most when you’re purchasing bumpers for your dock. These Goplus bumpers are also an affordable option, making them ideal for anyone who wants security without a huge price tag.
3. Hull Hugr Marina Dock Bumper
Hull Hugr Marina Dock Bumper
They’re commercial grade, meaning you shouldn’t have any trouble relying on these bumpers for the protection you want and need. They’re strong, reliable and offer more than enough to protect the vast majority of boats out there.
The inside of the bumpers is made using high density closed-cell foam. So despite using foam, this is actually very thick and padded, offering the protection you need, even against strong knocks that might occur.
The closed-cell foam is the key here; it’s protected to offer more than you might expect when you initially read the word foam. When you see them in person, you quickly realize just how strong and protective they are.
The exterior of the bumpers is made using tear resistant and anti-UV material. This means they’ll stay the same color and not fade in the sun, and should offer the strength you’re looking for from a bumper like this.
The specific material used here is a polyester tri-laminate. They’re easy to put in place and can be used in multiples for more comprehensive docking protection. Once they’re in place, you won’t have to worry about a thing; let them do their work.
4. Vestil Horizontal Laminated Dock Bumper
Vestil Horizontal Laminated Dock Bumper
The thing that makes this one different is the way in which rubber is used to offer that docking protection you need when you have a boat moored up in a marina or a similar situation.
This type of bumper is often used for situations in which boats are being loaded and unloaded at the shore. That’s when there’s lots of impact and that impact can be absorbed by the reinforced rubber that acts as the material of this product.
That doesn’t mean they can only be used for commercial loading tasks though. It just goes to show how trusted this structure is and how good it is at absorbing continuous impacts without any problems.
The elasticity that these bumpers offer is really important. The impact is simply absorbed and the boat can then bounce back off them without sustaining any damage from the impact. They’re strong enough to be durable and offer a consistent level of performance.
To put them in place, you weld them to the dock. And this, again, offers a more secure solution. All in all, it’s a very solid and reliable option and one that people should certainly consider if they haven’t already.
5. Dockmate Corner Dock Bumper
Dockmate Corner Dock Bumper
These are obviously dangerous because if your precious boat is thrown into a sharp corner by the movements of the sea, it’s probably going to cause a significant degree of damage to your boat if there’s no bumper or protection in place on the corner of the dock. And that’s obviously not what you want to be dealing with.
It can be bolted in place from the top, meaning the bumper offers a secure and reliable level of performance. It’s not going to move out of place or fail to offer you the protection you need when you need it most.
It’s a product that offers a different solution to a different problem when compared to the other bumpers we’ve discussed here today. But if you have a corner that you’re concerned about, this is one that you should certainly consider.
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Top Boat Dock Bumper Features To Consider
There are lots of options out there to choose between when you’re in the market for a boat dock bumper. It’s up to you to find the one that meets your needs best. But if you want to know what to look for and what your bumpers should offer, here are some of the characteristics that matter most.
Size Suitability
First of all, you want to think about size sustainability when you’re choosing your dock bumper. The size of the bumper you choose really needs to line up well with the size and scale of your boat.
If you use bumpers that are made and designed for boats smaller than yours, you might end up with some problems sooner or later, and that’s not what you want.
The bumper needs to be able to handle the size and weight of your boat when that weight is thrown against it. If the bumpers aren’t able to do that, it’ll essentially mean that the bumpers aren’t fit for purpose and won’t be worth the investment you’ve made in them.
Quality and Effectiveness
The way in which the bumpers are made and constructed is something that’ll also be very important. Ideally, you should look for strong build quality, and that includes the materials that are used. If they’re up to scratch and constructed in a way that delivers protection, you can go ahead and make that purchase.
It’s always a good idea to read reviews and ensure you’re buying from a retailer that can truly be trusted. Because if you can’t do that, you’re going to run the risk of being let down. Find out how other boat owners protect their boats and see which bumpers they recommend.
Water and Weather Conditions
If your boat is docked in a saltwater environment, you need to make sure that you choose bumpers that are able to deal with that. This again comes back to choosing bumpers that are made of the right materials and that are able to deal with whatever is going to be thrown at them from day to day.
Weather conditions and the impact of the sun also have to be taken into account. These are going to be outside so any bumper that’s worth your money will be protected against damage from things such as the UV rays of the sun. It’s definitely a good idea to check that’s the case before you go ahead and buy.
Affordability
Finally, it’s important to mention one thing that you shouldn’t overlook, and that’s affordability. There’s a balance to be struck here. You don’t want to keep your budget so small that you end up buying bumpers that are simply not up to the task because that’s a waste of money and a false economy.
At the same time, you definitely don’t need to spend a huge amount of money to get your hands on dock bumpers that are going to offer you the protection you need. There are many reliable and good-quality options out there at affordable prices.