Best bumpers for G23

[Infinity]

I bought 4 of the BABZ balls (similar to the exile) and they will blow up to 24". (I have a small air compressor on boat and blow them up when needed, takes less than 30 seconds each). Deflated, I roll them up and wrap my paracord line around them to keep them compressed that I use to hang the balls. They take up very little room and I keep 3 of them in the boat for when I want to use them.
You cant beat these big balls when tying up to other boats, or for docking when on main channel or in rough water. Last summer I was at a sand bar party on a holiday weekend and water was super choppy due to traffic. I tied up to a G25 and for the first 30mins would not leave the boat cause I was so worried since the boats were rocking so hard. But after several hours of this, when ready to leave we both inspected our boats and neither of us had even a single scuff on the boat hulls. In fact, boat were rocking so hard that on one of the balls where I had the docking line wrapped around the handle, the rope tension literally cut the handle in half. That required some serious force considering how thick the rubber is on the handles of these BABZ balls (I emailed a picture of what happened to the owner of BABZ and he sent me a new ball the following day, impressive customer service considering it was the conditions that cause the failure, not a product problem).

For regular docking, I have 3 of the 8x20 TaylorMade fenders. Have had them with boat since 2015 and they still look good and have never marred or scuffed the boat and my hull is black, blue and metallic flake.

@GLMIII, thank you. Those fender clips you posted a link of will look WAY better than the rope knot I have currently, I just ordered a 3-pack on Amazon for $16.

[markj]

I bought 4 of the BABZ balls (similar to the exile) and they will blow up to 24". (I have a small air compressor on boat and blow them up when needed, takes less than 30 seconds each). Deflated, I roll them up and wrap my paracord line around them to keep them compressed that I use to hang the balls. They take up very little room and I keep 3 of them in the boat for when I want to use them.
You cant beat these big balls when tying up to other boats, or for docking when on main channel or in rough water. Last summer I was at a sand bar party on a holiday weekend and water was super choppy due to traffic. I tied up to a G25 and for the first 30mins would not leave the boat cause I was so worried since the boats were rocking so hard. But after several hours of this, when ready to leave we both inspected our boats and neither of us had even a single scuff on the boat hulls. In fact, boat were rocking so hard that on one of the balls where I had the docking line wrapped around the handle, the rope tension literally cut the handle in half. That required some serious force considering how thick the rubber is on the handles of these BABZ balls (I emailed a picture of what happened to the owner of BABZ and he sent me a new ball the following day, impressive customer service considering it was the conditions that cause the failure, not a product problem).

For regular docking, I have 3 of the 8x20 TaylorMade fenders. Have had them with boat since 2015 and they still look good and have never marred or scuffed the boat and my hull is black, blue and metallic flake.

@GLMIII, thank you. Those fender clips you posted a link of will look WAY better than the rope knot I have currently, I just ordered a 3-pack on Amazon for $16.

Which air compressor do you use? I haven't received my bumpers from Exile yet and I've never seen them in person. Do you need a needle to inflate them?

[Infinity]

Which air compressor do you use? I haven't received my bumpers from Exile yet and I've never seen them in person. Do you need a needle to inflate them?

Not sure if Exile is the same as the BABZ, but on the BABZ balls, you don't need a needle. There is a plastic piece that pops in/out that looks like a golf tee. The air compressor I have comes with some end attachments and the one that is pointed fits in it and will blow it up very quickly. To deflate, you just pull the golf tee piece and squeeze to get air out (also only take 20 seconds or so to deflate).

My air pump is similar to the one in this link below. I dont have link to exact one since I bought it 3yrs ago, but works like a champ. I just clip to one of my accessory batteries when I need it.
https://www.airhead.com/products/12v-high-pressure-pump

[markj]

^^^Thanks!

[Tallredrider]

BABZ work great too.

https://babzusa.com/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Another vote for these. I kept my boat on the back of my houseboat during a pretty good windstorm. No problems and protected the boat very well. Very durable.

The worst part was that last year we also had swarms and swarms of gnats and they attached themselves to the side of the boat. The ball then rolled over them and smashed them into an awesome bug paste that was a bear to remove once the 100 degree sun heated and dried them onto the side of the boat. Somehow I missed getting a picture of the BABZ ball in action, but here are some bugs for ya'll to appreciate.

[GMLIII]

I bought 4 of the BABZ balls (similar to the exile) and they will blow up to 24". (I have a small air compressor on boat and blow them up when needed, takes less than 30 seconds each). Deflated, I roll them up and wrap my paracord line around them to keep them compressed that I use to hang the balls. They take up very little room and I keep 3 of them in the boat for when I want to use them.
You cant beat these big balls when tying up to other boats, or for docking when on main channel or in rough water. Last summer I was at a sand bar party on a holiday weekend and water was super choppy due to traffic. I tied up to a G25 and for the first 30mins would not leave the boat cause I was so worried since the boats were rocking so hard. But after several hours of this, when ready to leave we both inspected our boats and neither of us had even a single scuff on the boat hulls. In fact, boat were rocking so hard that on one of the balls where I had the docking line wrapped around the handle, the rope tension literally cut the handle in half. That required some serious force considering how thick the rubber is on the handles of these BABZ balls (I emailed a picture of what happened to the owner of BABZ and he sent me a new ball the following day, impressive customer service considering it was the conditions that cause the failure, not a product problem).

For regular docking, I have 3 of the 8x20 TaylorMade fenders. Have had them with boat since 2015 and they still look good and have never marred or scuffed the boat and my hull is black, blue and metallic flake.

@GLMIII, thank you. Those fender clips you posted a link of will look WAY better than the rope knot I have currently, I just ordered a 3-pack on Amazon for $16.

Beware - I can't remember the diameter of the bumper rope I used, but one of my ropes was a smaller diameter then the other 2 bumper ropes. . When I used the TaylorMade Big B bumper clips and the smaller diameter rope had some tension pressing against the dock, it would pull through the clip thus causing the bumper to float away. Nonetheless I found the bumper floating in the cove; just make sure you have the proper diameter line when using these Big B bumper clips.

[Infinity]

Beware - I can't remember the diameter of the bumper rope I used, but one of my ropes was a smaller diameter then the other 2 bumper ropes. . When I used the TaylorMade Big B bumper clips and the smaller diameter rope had some tension pressing against the dock, it would pull through the clip thus causing the bumper to float away. Nonetheless I found the bumper floating in the cove; just make sure you have the proper diameter line when using these Big B bumper clips.

Thank you or the heads up! I got the fender clips on Friday and installed them, I have 3/8" rope on my bumpers which is what the fender clips called for and install seemed nice and tight. Definitely be watching these after a couple times out tho to be sure they all hold.

[Cadesun]

Any gel coat scuffing using the exiles to raft up?

[Tallredrider]

Any gel coat scuffing using the exiles to raft up?

The exiles and the BABZ are essentially the same soft rubber compound and are about as impossible to scuff your boat with as you can get. The extra size is helpful when rafting up as well. I worry about towers banging together in big waves and such, and being able to have the boat farther away helps a lot.

[surfnjosh]

Google "Hull hugr" they work pretty awesome whenever I need a bumper on the go.



At my normal dock location I run the regular Large white plastic ones horizontally along the side of dock, then have a piece of felt carpet hanging over top of them. Since there is dock in front of the bow as well I use a clip to attach to the bow hook and ropes in a V shape prevent the bow from moving so far to the left or right and essentially only allows for the stern of the boat to just touch the bumpers on the side of finger every so often.

[markj]

Not sure if Exile is the same as the BABZ, but on the BABZ balls, you don't need a needle. There is a plastic piece that pops in/out that looks like a golf tee. The air compressor I have comes with some end attachments and the one that is pointed fits in it and will blow it up very quickly. To deflate, you just pull the golf tee piece and squeeze to get air out (also only take 20 seconds or so to deflate).

My air pump is similar to the one in this link below. I dont have link to exact one since I bought it 3yrs ago, but works like a champ. I just clip to one of my accessory batteries when I need it.
https://www.airhead.com/products/12v-high-pressure-pump

^{my Exile ones just showed up. I’m really happy with them. They are exactly as you describe yours. I’m betting they’re the same exact thing with different labels.}

[ScarpsCCFL]

I have 4 of the Taylor made Big B 10 x 26 fenders...paired up with the fleece fender covers and the clips for the 3/8 rope and they are perfect. When they came in the mail I thought maybe a little overkill but no way...these fenders are clutch and all 4 fit perfect in the back compartment.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/taylo...05?recordNum=3

[DWhitt]

So I was about to order either the Exile or BABZ when I stumbled across a review online where someone realized that they're just rebranding these "hoppy ball" kids play toys.

Amazon

So if you want different sizes, colors or want emojis or unicorns on yours... just search amazon. Most of them come with a hand pump FWIW.

[GMLIII]

So I was about to order either the Exile or BABZ when I stumbled across a review online where someone realized that they're just rebranding these "hoppy ball" kids play toys.

Amazon

So if you want different sizes, colors or want emojis or unicorns on yours... just search amazon. Most of them come with a hand pump FWIW.

What size ball and figure did you end up choosing?

[DWhitt]

What size ball and figure did you end up choosing?

I went with the 15" balls because I have a 220 and I'm thinking that will be big enough. And I don't think I would be able to store anything larger in my boat without deflating it.
Almost went with blue balls but I resisted the urge...