We explore the reasons why you might want to think twice before opting for Carbon Fibre Tender Mooring Whips and what options are available when you want the same look without the performance compromise
Tender Mooring Whips – their purpose
Through correct setup and tension of the whip line, a Tender Mooring Whip is designed to flex to provide an adequate level of force, constantly forcing the tender away from the yacht’s topside. For this purpose, it is essential that the Tender Mooring Whip has sufficient strength AND flexibility in order to be able to constantly adjust to conditions/swell as it changes.
- If the Tender Mooring Whip is too rigid – then the complete whip, line and deck mount/fixing will be subjected to extreme amounts of force. This will likely result in sudden failure to one or more of these components.
- If too flexible, then the whip will be insufficient in maintaining the Tender at a safe distance and risk a collision between the two vessels.
Solid Fibre Tender Mooring Whips
Tender Mooring Whips have traditionally been manufactured using solid Fibreglass poles. This material offers a reliable and cost-effective way to securely moor a Tender or Chase Boat alongside a Yacht and is the preferred material for our Fendequip Tender Mooring Whips, including our PROduty Tender Mooring Whip range which is suitable for vessels up to 22,500kg.
Carbon Fibre Tender Mooring Whips
More recently, Carbon Fibre Tender Mooring Whips have emerged in the market – traditionally comprising of a hollow carbon fibre pole, through which the Tender Mooring line is run (also referred to as a Thruline).
This option provided an alternative aesthetic for customers who were seeking a more contemporary look – Carbon Fibre is often regarded as a more stylish and premium looking finish, whilst running the Tender Mooring line inside the Whip itself can give a neater appearance when compared to externally run lines.
Material comparison: Carbon Fibre vs Fibreglass
There are numerous studies and opinions as to which material is ‘strongest’ or ‘most versatile’. These articles often centre around specific industrial uses which can limit their independent assessment of both materials. In the case of Tender Mooring Whips, strength and flexibility is critical – allowing the right amount of flex is essential.
From our experience of supplying both types of Tender Mooring Whip to crew from vessels of all sizes, we firmly believe that Fibreglass is the most suitable material for this purpose and is now the only material we offer/would recommend customers when choosing a new set of Tender Mooring Whips.
For independent opinions, we would recommend also reading the articles below:
- “Carbon Fiber vs Fiberglass: What’s the Difference?” courtesy of Zoltek (Carbon Fibre Manufacturer)
- “The Real Difference Between Fiberglass And Carbon Fiber Panels” courtesy of Protech Composites
Pole comparison: Thruline/Hollow vs Solid pole
It is worth considering also the difference between a hollow pole vs solid pole for a Tender Mooring Whip application. For a tube to be stronger, it needs to have the equivalent mass of a solid bar within its outside wall, which would ultimately resort in a larger diameter overall. This requirement can be a issue when working with limited constraints e.g. existing Tender Whip mounts, originally designed for Solid Fibrelgass poles (which likely were of a smaller diameter). Other than this, the remaining differences focus either on material properties and aesthetic qualities (as explored above).
Further information regarding the strength of Carbon Fibre vs Fibreglass can be read below:
- “The Difference between Carbon Fiber and Glass Fiber” courtesy of Notchtex
- “Carbon Fiber VS. Fiberglass Tubing: Which Is Better?” courtesy of Cubic Carbon
Conclusion
Based upon our experience and the independent research above, Fibreglass should be regarded as the optimum material for Tender Mooring Whips – providing a greater balance between flexibility, durability affordability when compared to a Carbon Fiber equivalent.
Yacht Crews looking for the best all-rounder solution for their Tender/Chase Boat mooring requirements, even for the heaviest of Tenders (up to 22,500kg with our PROduty range) can be reassured with the Tender Mooring Whips range from Fendequip.
Style & Substance?…
For those who prefer the look of Carbon Fiber (or looking for an alternative to white) but don’t want to compromise on performance and durability, we have recently launched a selection of alternative finishes that are available for our complete PROduty Solid Fibre Tender Mooring Whip range.
Choose from Gloss Black, Matt Black, Carbon Fibre effect, Gloss Midnight Blue, Gloss Grey and more:
