When boat owners talk about dock bumpers for pontoon boats they can be one of two things. Either the pontoon dock bumpers that fit onto your boat, or dock edge pontoon fenders that get attached to the actual dock.
This guide here is all about the fenders and bumpers that you attach to the dock edge.
Handy Hint: If instead you are looking for fenders to fit to your actual boat, then you can read this alternative guide to the best products for fitting to your actual boat.
If you are wanting something that you can screw into the wooden decking at your marina or personal dock area, then read on, as I will present the best options to buy online and why.
The recommended items below don’t just apply to pontoon boats, they can be fitted to any dock where you need them to protect your valuable investment.
Table of Contents
Best Dock Edge Bumpers for the Money
These are the premium end of the market and are the best dock bumpers for pontoon boats (or any boat for that matter) that are currently available to purchase on Amazon.
I have selected them due to not just how well they have been reviewed, but also due to the simplicity of assemble and fitting, plus the fact I have seen these in use on deck edges around the country.
Dock Edge Premium Pack of 2 x 8 Foot Sections
Dock Edge are a name synonymous with quality, and it’s easy to see why. Their premium PVC foot sections are simple to install and can be fitted along the dock edge line, or vertically on pilings.
As well as protecting your boat, then can also help to stop people getting on and off your pontoon from getting splinters, so even more reason to buy.
Made from marine grade PVC, they shouldn’t crack or splinter in the sun, and you can attach them easily just by using stainless steel screws as they aren’t filled with air.
The only negative point I can think of is that they will not work on round pilings due to the design as the flanges are set at a 90-degree angle. You won’t be able to wrap them around a round piling shape.
Taylor Made 90 Degree Dock Edge Corner Bumper
If you do decide to buy the Dock Edge product listed first, then you might also want to get the corners of the dock covered up, as these can really damage your pontoons if you get knocked into them.
Taylor Made offer some good value corner edge protectors which can also be screwed in using stainless steel screws. After a few minutes of drilling and screwing you should have these in place, offering a protective cap over those risky wooden dock corners.
Dock Edge PVC Dock Bumper Corner Edge
For complete compatibility with the original Dock Edge fender pack, they also offer their own corner fenders.
This product is just a corner profile but can be arrange vertically or horizontally on the dock pilings to offer a great cushion against any bangs and scrapes.
It definitely pays to add these end caps and corners, as other than the protection they offer, it also gives you a clean and professional look once the job is complete.
Cheap Pontoon Bumper Dock Fenders
The two products below are the most affordable, but as you would imagine, the reviews are no way as good as the recommended dock edge bumpers shown above. I felt I should list some alternatives though, just in case you are on a budget.
But, if it were me, I wouldn’t spend thousands of dollars on a boat, and then take any chances when it comes to protecting it against the dock edges. You can take a look below though.
Dock Edge Boat Saver Dock Protection
This product comes with molded caps to keep the air inside, with a mounting groove which they say offers a simple and easy installation process. With a ribbed design to offer better deflection, the soft material used it says to act like a cushion and can be attached to docks and pilings.
But, the reviews don’t really stack up too well, with many purchasers stating that it’s a very cheap product that doesn’t stand up to well when a boat hits against it. In fact, one reviewer stated that the caps popped out when he parked his pontoon up in dock.
I don’t recommend that you don’t buy these dock edge bumpers, but given the low price point, you might have to shop again after a couple of summers.
Taylor Made P-Shape Dock Coil Retail Pack
If you are a regular reader of Pontoonopedia, you will know how much I love Taylor Made’s pontoon accessories. They tend to make amazing products that last for years and do exactly what you want them to do.
However, and for full disclosure, I have not purchased these dock bumpers for my pontoon boat purely due to the fact they don’t seem to have a great reputation when looking at online reviews.
What I do like is the fact that this pack is made from 85% recyclable materials, which is an important consideration in this day and age, but the actual product is quite small, and is very hard to straighten out. You might find yourself having to work for quite a few hours to get it properly attached onto the wooden dock edges.
A lot of people say that they have experienced the same, with their main frustration being the assembly process, sometimes needing two people to get it to lay flat before being able to screw it in to the dock wood.
Why Buy Pontoon Dock Bumpers?
Whether you have fenders already on your boat, I still recommend that you get dock edge pontoon fenders to fit the actual dock itself.
Some of the manufacturers listed above will tell you that by fitting these protection systems, you won’t need to have bumpers on your boat anymore.
I don’t agree with that.
You’re not always going to be taking your pontoon boat into a dock.
Sometimes you might be anchored up at a beach where there are also other boats coming into land. Or you could even be attending a pontoon block party and have other boaters right up close to you.
For those reasons alone, and there are more, don’t think of these dock edge bumpers are alternatives to the actual fenders on your boat.
Instead think of them as an absolute necessity to offer you a level of protection against bangs, scrapes, dings, and dents that your hanging or attached fenders won’t always offer.
Not only that, if you store fenders on your boat, and only have them hanging when in use, it only takes one time to forget to put them out as you come into the dock or boat slip to lead to some expensive repairs.
Recommended Reading
If you want to bomb-proof your boat and give it as much protection as possible then I recommend that you also take a look at the following guides that can be found elsewhere on Pontoonopedia.
