Looking for pics of rubrails on a W36 sedan. Headed south soon where pilings are common, floating docks are not. Would appreciate comments on usefulness too. 

Thanks in advance. 

Peter 
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M/V Weebles
1970 Willard 36 Sedan Hull #40
Ensenada, MX

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Capt Bob on “Patience”, a 30-foot Fales.

Pete, I spent 3 years in Mexico and Central America. Mexico has marinas and they are what you are used to. Central America is nearly devoid of marinas or even pilings to use. The very few marinas you do find in C. America are either med-moor or if floating dock, so expensive you will not consider them. Owning a boat in C.America makes you “rich,” so you will be gouged as if you were. Panama is not much better. Ecuador is ok, but few marinas exist. 

If you want something temporary, a couple of fenders and a sturdy plank for contact work well. There are also rubber fender board holders if you can find them.

Weebles will eventually live in Florida where pilings are almost always the style (except for fuel docks/pump-outs). GIven the guidance from Patience/Capt Bob, I may wait and make a decision later. I don't relish thought of stowing fender boards and such. Maybe it's me, but I've always thought of docking as a contact sport where laying-up against a piling is normal. Guess that will have to change. Buy a bigger anchor will remeidate the risk I suppose.

Peter
Weebles 1970 W36 Sedan
Still in Ensenada MX
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M/V Weebles
1970 Willard 36 Sedan Hull #40
Ensenada, MX

Peter, I can only offer what has been our solution to dealing with pylons or random telephone poles or what not.  With the Kettenburg, that gets babied.  But in the Philippines and surrounding areas we use what ever is available.  If you can find 2 adjacent pylons, tie one end on each opposing pylons with lots of slack for tide and such.  Some times off of two pylons, we use LARGE truck inner-tubes tied in the middle of the lines to act as shock absorbers.  If only a single pylon, what I did was purchase a rather ugly and beat rubber boat.  Mine is 8 foot, buy what suits you.  When moving in open sea or even in harbor, toe it behind.  Snug up in harbor.  Mine is painted with a brush, stripped black and yellow.  NO one wants to steal that, too obvious.  When at the pylon bring the rubber boat about on the side, pull it up and tie one side along the rail so it now sets vertical like a slice of toast in a toaster.   Tie both ends of your main boat off the pylon.  A little slack to let your boat and side tied rubber boat to bounce off the pylon.  In my case I made up a strong web strap with buckle and to large D Rings into the strap.  I simply buckle the strap on the pylon and then tie both ends of the boat to the large D Rings.

Works in the Pacific.  If out on anchor, one can use the rubber boat to go the beach or dock or what ever out there.  Again, mine is so ugly and obvious, not so worried about theft.

Dan McN