Marine plastic fenders (usually made of UHMW-PE or HDPE) are installed on docks, fender systems or the sides of the hull to protect the structure from impact damage. The installation method should be safe and stable, and also easy to replace and maintain. The following are standard installation methods and precautions:
I. Common installation methods
- Bolt perforation fixing method (most common)
Steps:
Drill holes in the plastic fender (pre-drill or on-site), the holes are usually countersunk holes or slotted holes;
Drill holes in steel structures or concrete;
Fix with expansion bolts, stainless steel bolts or chemical anchors, and it is recommended to use anti-corrosion materials;
Tighten the nuts, and the exposed parts can be closed with protective caps, which are beautiful and corrosion-resistant.
Applicable to: concrete docks, steel structure lock walls, rubber fender front covers, etc. - Embedded installation method (slide/card slot type)
Steps:
The fender structure reserves a U-shaped or T-shaped groove;
Slide the plastic fender into the groove;
It can be fixed with a pressure strip or a limit device to prevent sliding out.
Applicable to: floating docks, marine pontoons, container slide rail fenders - Gluing + bolt-assisted method (only for low-strength applications)
Use special marine-grade polyurethane glue for bonding;
Mechanical fixation is used to enhance the connection strength;
It is not recommended to use glue alone because of its poor durability.