For most sailors, tying a knot is a bit like breathing; you do not realise you are doing it until the action is completed.

But not all of us find tying knots easy, especially if the dexterity in your fingers has diminished or you have arthritis in your hands.

The Adjustable Fender Mate is a very smart solution to this problem.

It comes in two pieces: a plastic toggle with a strong spring and the plastic Fender Mate, which has two legs and a hole in the middle.

To set it up, you make sure the legs are pointing down and then thread the Fender Mate onto your fender rope.

You then pass the rope through the hole on the toggle and move it down the rope, before tying a knot towards the end of the rope (it is best to leave a hand’s width between the toggle and the knot).

The fender height can be adjusted by depressing the button and moving the line. Credit: Katy Stickland

To set the fender, place the Fender Mate under the guard rail, ensuring the legs are pointing down. Then, position the toggle between the legs.

To adjust, you press the toggle button and pull down on the rope. I found it easy to set up, and if needed, there is even an instructional video on the Marine Innovations YouTube channel.

I tested it on a recent charter holiday with two inexperienced crew who were on fender duty every time we moored.

In the busy harbour, this made their experience a lot less stressful when rafting up or coming alongside.

Admittedly, it took a while for us to fully trust it, especially the skipper who has been tying knots onboard since he was knee-high to a grasshopper.

But the Fender Mate won us over. It kept the fender in place the entire time, with no slippage or movement, even when the wash of a passing ferry battered us around.

It is suitable for 8mm to 14mm rope.

Buy the Adjustable Fender Mate direct from Marine Innovations