When it comes to maintain the bustling and historic Bristol Harbour, the Bristol Harbour Authority has got its hands full. At the heart of their work is The Albion – a specially designed low-profile workboat built by David Abel’s Boat Builders – that’s been pulling its weight since 1986. From laying and lighting buoys, to recovering debris or small sunken boats, and towing vessels that get into difficulty The Albion is the Swiss Army knife of the harbour, getting into tight spaces and ensuring everything runs smoothly.
But even the hardiest of boats need a little TLC. While undergoing a much-needed refit, it came to the attention of the team that the boat’s marine fendering – essential for protecting both the vessel and others she assists – was severely worn. Torn and degraded, the fendering no longer provided the adequate protection and left the boat looking worse for wear.
A Google search for its replacement led James Kemble at the Bristol Harbour Authority to find Walker Rubber. And after browsing our range of extrusion profiles in our online catalogue, he found a fendering profile that matched The Albion’s original design.
What was the requirement?
The Albion needed durable, high-quality fendering to replace the old, damaged strips. Not only did the new fendering need to restore the boat’s protective functionality, but it also needed to enhance the boat’s appearance and fit seamlessly with the ongoing restoration work. With the vessel already out of the water for repairs, time was of the essence and delays were not an option.
What solution did Walker Rubber provide?
Here's how we delivered:
- High-Quality Bespoke Fendering: We supplied 30 metres of durable fendering that matched the profile of the original design. Our customer was particularly impressed by the consistent quality of the rubber throughout the fendering, which has restored the protective capabilities of The Albion and improved its overall appearance with a clean, professional look.
- Fast Turnaround: The fendering was quoted as having a two-week lead time but we manufactured and delivered the product well ahead of schedule. This allowed the Authority’s team to stay on track with painting and prepping for their refit, ensuring The Albion could get back in the water quickly.
- Flexibility with Council Payment Processes: Navigating the council’s specific payment processes could have slowed the project down, but we adapted to their processes to ensure that there were no delays in production or delivery.
What were the results?
With its refit complete, The Albion quickly got back to work, towing a floating ecosystem to its installation site! The Bristol Harbour Authority team was impressed with the quality and delivery of the fendering, and the smooth, efficient service provided by Walker Rubber.
Here’s what James Kemble had to say:
“I was really pleased with how quickly the fendering arrived because we already had the boat out of the water. We were able to crack on with the painting and prepping, and the fendering arrived before we’d even finished painting, so it was really helpful. The quality was consistent throughout and it arrived perfectly. I’d definitely recommend Walker Rubber and wouldn’t hesitate to place another order with them."
Need rubber for a marine application?
Whether it’s replacing fendering for hardworking workboat or tackling a complex custom project, Walker Rubber is here to help. With a wide range of ready-to-extrude profiles, custom tooling capabilities and exceptional customer service, we are the go-to manufacturer for marine rubber solutions.
Get in touch with our experts today to discuss your needs and find the right solution for your project!