I'm looking to see what you guys are using to protect your boat when your hooked up to other boats. We have a crew going out to Crab island in Destin, FL. this Memorial day weekend.. and I dont want to mess up the new X2.... I appreciate all info guys.

Fenders.. Every boat should carry 4-6 on board as a matter of basic equipment.

i haven't personally tried them, but a lot of people use the smaller sized hippidy-hops from toys-r-us. they're like $20. i plan on buying a couple for my summer road trips to try them out. i also have the smaller sized white fenders from boaters world that work okay, but not great.

toys r us hippidy hops. they are only actually ilke $10 and softer material that won't scratch gelcoat.

Another vote for the Toys R Us balls. They are easy to blow up without any kind of pump so they store nice and small. Cheap, readily available, and give more seperation than most bumpers.

We use these....(Hippity Hops, not the dog). <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/580442.jpg" alt="Upload">

Do you just put them on the rope between the two boats and let them float in the water?

they guys are going to give me heck about this..... it's all they have at toys-r-us.... oh well...<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/580452.jpg" alt="Upload">

do the hipity hops... people will laugh for a bit and then i guarantee all your buddies will have them.... protect the boats so much better and they are cheaper... you can even let the air out if you need storage space.... <BR>i will never go back to real bumpers... if i had a white boat maybe

diggs, do they leave marks at all?

I've left mine tied up overnight at a marina and they left no marks. I have a white MB. <BR> <BR>I was concerned that they might pop rubbing all night so I used regular bumpers as backups. They didn't pop or lose any air. I use them all the time. <BR> <BR>When tying up side by side with another boat we use those short elastic dock lines from Straightline. One on the front cleat and one on the back cleat with the hippity hop in between. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>(Message edited by Millerda31 on May 15, 2008)

I have never thought about the hippity hops like this before. I guess a visit to Target or Toys-R-Us is in order now... Great idea guys. <IMG SRC="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0>

thanks Dave, i'll go pick some up <BR> <BR>18in'ers right?

I don't know the size. I have the Lighting McQueen ones as Sean posted above. <BR> <BR>Credit to PDXWake for this idea. <BR> <BR>(Message edited by Millerda31 on May 15, 2008)

I would think they are roughly 18 inches.... they are rated for small children... so they cant be very large. I like the idea that they are of size and will space the boats off a fair amount.

the only reason I could see them leaving marks on your boat would be.... if you left them in the sun and the sun started to break them down.... I know you can get a powdery film on plastics and such.... that would be the only way to get marks on the boat. Most of the time the only sunlight they would get is when your on the boat.... so i dont ever seeing it being a problem... shouldnt be enough sunlight to do anything to them when you look at it that way.

hmm..I might have to try one of those. I carry a g6 in my boat because of where the tower mounts. any normal sized bumper wont protect other boats, but that takes up a ton of room that I dont have to spare.

dj, sounds like you can deflate them after you are done and when you need them, pray that you have a lot of hot air. <IMG SRC="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0> j/k but, ppl seem to say that deflating them will work.

Very easy to inflate/deflate. We carry a little 12v air pump that plugs into the outlet on the dash. ten seconds tops to fill and not much more to let the air out. <BR> <BR>Really, for $10 a pop you can't go wrong.

dave, where you finding them for $10? <BR> <BR>been searching no luck...

<a href="http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2342878" target="_blank">http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2342878</a>

lol, sweet! thanks!

They have them here for $11.99 (small), different colors, and the total shipping is only $3 or so for entire order. Pics weren't coming up so I assume the were similar to the ones on the home page. Never thought of this, great idea. Funny thing is my kid actually has one of these things. <BR> <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.jumpingballs.com" target="_blank">http://www.jumpingballs.com</a>

Another vote for hippity hops. And with a name like that the ladies cant help but flock. No seriously after hanging out with the pdx crew I was sold. Best 40 bucks you will ever spend. I've been tied up with some serious rollers coming in with out problem. Plus we use them to mark off a swimming area when we are anchored off the beach keeps the kids more than busy!

I use these to determine whether i should really look out for a boater, bumpers hanging out = stay the hell away from them. And if you add the machyo man in his big cobalt its even more get the hell outta the way haha <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/biggrin.gif" border=0>

newty.... we missed you and your big hippity hops tonight.... another successful use of them... <BR> <BR>you can actually blow them up by mouth if you want, but yeah you can make them huge with a mini compressor. they will definitely protect your boat, but if you tie up a lot and have a black (or colored) boat it will leave a scuff that is buffable at the end of the season. most marine bumpers scuff my black gel coat real bad.....not these

We went out today in the couve. I had to work @ 6 pm we finished up early. There was no mention of a get-to-together on pdxwake.. Whats up widat? <BR>Maybe your just weeding out the garbage. I get it.. no really.. its cool.<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/biggrin.gif" border=0>

How many hippity hops can you spot.... see none... but every boat in this pic has them... <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/580670.jpg" alt="Upload">

K I read a little closer and there is only 4 pages on PDX regarding whos riding. Prolly not enough.<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/crazy.gif" border=0> <BR> <BR>(Message edited by newty on May 15, 2008)

i have an 07 X2 and i added a 3rd set of cleats under the window

I was a lil skeptical of the hippity hops but I went to toys r us this morning and tried out a couple and they are by far the best bumpers ever. I had normal bumpers last year and these are incredible. We tied up to 2 other boats today and they were so much better than the old school bumpers. I would tell everyone to make sure they get these and use them. You can deflate them so they dont take up much room . I will be goin to toys r us to get another 2. PLus the cars theme and sponge bob square pants is a conversation starter...lol

mike I agree the cleats in the front and back on the x2 are worthless without putting a fender by the racks, makes me wonder why they didnt put one there... }

"How many hippity hops can you spot.... see none... but every boat in this pic has them... " <BR> <BR>Here's one... What's my prize??? <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/biggrin.gif" border=0> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/581213.jpg" alt="Upload">

mine are from west marine. there a little over size but they work great. not cheap though.<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/581235.jpg" alt="Upload">

In action <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/581301.jpg" alt="Upload"> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/581302.jpg" alt="Upload">