Hobie Gary did use boat fenders.

However, I liked how the cat slid on the rigid and somewhat slick ABS surface, as opposed to the softer and much less slick boat fender surface.

Either the fenders or the ABS pipe is much better than trying to push the boat through sand or rock to get it up onto the beach.

I liked how the ABS rolled across the sand or how the boat slid on the ABS if it cuaght on a rock or rocks.

I also like the two pipes that supported more of the boat as oposed to the two boat fenders Gary used.

I didn't like how soft the fenders were or how the boat slid across them.