Dock and Marine Fender Pads

• 60A–80A (Soft–Medium): Cushiony Shore-A pads (60A–80A) have very high elasticity and absorb shock and energy efficiently. These softer durometers cushion impacts and reduce stress on dock and vessel structures.
  
• 80A–90A (Hard): Stiffer Shore-A pads (80A–90A+) offer higher load-bearing capacity and excellent abrasion resistance. These harder pads stay rigid under heavy static loads and in high-traffic areas.
  
• Above 90A: For extremely heavy-duty fendering, Shore-A approaches 90A (and above 90A moves into Shore D range) provide maximum stiffness and wear life. In practice, 60A–80A pads are used for energy absorption, while 80A–90A (up to 95A) pads are chosen for high-load service (as per engineering standards).
  

Universal Urethane stocks polyurethane in both sheet and bar forms, so fender pads can be cut or machined to any custom shape. Standard urethane sheets (0.125″–4″ thick) and square/rectangular bars (widths up to 8″) are offered across durometers from 40A to 90A. Sheets provide flat stock for large pads, while bar stock can be cut into long bumper strips or blocks. For example, small pads and longer bumper strips can be quickly cut from our stocked sheets and bars using CNC or water-jet cutting. Both sheet and bar stock are cast urethane (ester-based), so they share high chemical and abrasion resistance.

Standard sheet thickness options range from 0.125″ up to 4″. For most marine fender pad applications, we recommend using ½″ to 2″ thick pads, sized to the vessel class and expected impact energy. Thicker pads (2–4″) can be used for very large ships or extreme service. Pad thickness is chosen to provide the right balance of cushioning and structural support: thicker pads offer more energy absorption, while thinner pads can be more rigid under load.