Hull protection strip

totallydave · 07 March 2013, 19:41

Hi, not sure what the right technical name is but I am wondering about the protective strips that are on some hulls which appear to be there to prevent some of the gel chips you often get in launching and recovery. See picture (thanks Ribquest for being my example).

Do the work? Where can you get them? Are the worth considering?

gotchiguy · 07 March 2013, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by totallydave

Hi, not sure what the right technical name is but I am wondering about the protective strips that are on some hulls which appear to be there to prevent some of the gel chips you often get in launching and recovery. See picture (thanks Ribquest for being my example).

Do the work? Where can you get them? Are the worth considering?

Yes, they work very well as the keel is very prone to nicks and cracks when beaching or recovering or whatever.

A popular brand is Keel Guard, and they are available from all good chandlers both online and in stores...

For smaller boats that are constantly launched and recovered and used for beach hopping they are fantastic, and are a very useful addition on sub 5.5m craft.

Leapy · 08 March 2013, 04:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

... keelguards ... are a very useful addition on sub 5.5m craft.

What's the significance of the sub 5.5m?

Nos4r2 · 08 March 2013, 07:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leapy

What's the significance of the sub 5.5m?

They're for paupers who don't have a chauffeur to bring them ashore

Anything that might ever be beached will benefit from keelguard. Make sure the prep is done right though when you glue it on.

Erin · 08 March 2013, 08:07

He may be alluding to the fact that it is hard to get Keelguard over a certain length, which really limits its use to 5.5m boats or therabouts if you want protection for the full length. There again, he may just be making a pratt of himself once more

Nos4r2 · 08 March 2013, 08:15

Getting 5.5m of keelguard is bloody expensive. As far as I've seen, it's used to protect where the impact point would be and thats about it so in theory you don't need massive lengths.

Incidentally, I removed some from a 3.5m rib last year where the glue bond had failed. It doesn't look much different to rubbing strake (if you could get strake to bend round the hull)and the glue doesn't look dissimilar to normal glue for Hypalon repairs.

Pikey Dave · 08 March 2013, 08:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

the glue doesn't look dissimilar to normal glue for Hypalon repairs.

Looking at the piccies on their website it looks like it comes with the 3M self adhesive strip similar to the stuff on GoPro mounts. I wonder if the one you worked on was second hand & they had used an aftermarket glue. The 3M stuff is like sh*t to a blanket.

gotchiguy · 08 March 2013, 10:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leapy

What's the significance of the sub 5.5m?

Because dragging anything more than 5.5m up a beach is blummin' hard work!! I just meant that that's about the max size for a boat for grounding easily and dragging it around. We beach ours occasionally but only when it's sandy and currentless. Beached the old 4.2m all the time and in surf a couple of times, and its when you're trying to get it off and its bumping and rubbing against the sand/shale that you're really going to need the protection. I don't really agree that you just need a little bit at the front, it doesn't need to go all the way to the back given, but I think at least half way along the hull.

Leapy · 08 March 2013, 13:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Because dragging anything more than 5.5m up a beach is blummin' hard work!!

We have a RC5.3 with a full length keel guard. I'll beach it somewhere nice during the summer and you can show me how to drag it

Nos4r2 · 08 March 2013, 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Looking at the piccies on their website it looks like it comes with the 3M self adhesive strip similar to the stuff on GoPro mounts. I wonder if the one you worked on was second hand & they had used an aftermarket glue. The 3M stuff is like sh*t to a blanket.

No, was warrantied and it had been fitted by the retailer in the US who was an authorised fitter. It was replaced under warranty.

GJ0KYZ · 08 March 2013, 15:28

Keelguard is rubbish; don't waste your time buying or fitting it. My boat is only five years old and last year had to go back to the UK to get its KG replaced as it had come away in several places. Within six months the new strip had also started to come away. If you have a pebbly mooring it will wear through in no time at all. At the moment my boat is getting a kevlar renforcement strip fibreglassed to its keel. That's the only way to go and is much cheaper than getting RB to fit more keel guard.

kubcat · 09 March 2013, 07:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Because dragging anything more than 5.5m up a beach is blummin' hard work!! I just meant that that's about the max size for a boat for grounding easily and dragging it around. We beach ours occasionally but only when it's sandy and currentless. Beached the old 4.2m all the time and in surf a couple of times, and its when you're trying to get it off and its bumping and rubbing against the sand/shale that you're really going to need the protection. I don't really agree that you just need a little bit at the front, it doesn't need to go all the way to the back given, but I think at least half way along the hull.

Our 8.9m rib is very easy to beach. My 38ft Cigarette even easier. It seams the longer it is, the easier it is to drive up a beach and then back out but only in flat water. Wouldn't want to do it in the surf with a heavy boat.

If you stay too long and get your tides wrong I imagine it would not be fun.

Never bothered with keel guards but we do have antifoul.

gotchiguy · 09 March 2013, 08:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by kubcat

Our 8.9m rib is very easy to beach. My 38ft Cigarette even easier. It seams the longer it is, the easier it is to drive up a beach and then back out but only in flat water. Wouldn't want to do it in the surf with a heavy boat.

If you stay too long and get your tides wrong I imagine it would not be fun.

Never bothered with keel guards but we do have antifoul.

Yeah, like I said, we beach our 7.2m no problem but only in circumstances where the hull is not going to be damaged and it won't be hard getting off. With a smaller boat you can afford to be a little rougher with it which is where the keelguard comes in.

Maximus · 09 March 2013, 15:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

Keelguard is rubbish; don't waste your time buying or fitting it. My boat is only five years old and last year had to go back to the UK to get its KG replaced as it had come away in several places. Within six months the new strip had also started to come away. If you have a pebbly mooring it will wear through in no time at all. At the moment my boat is getting a kevlar renforcement strip fibreglassed to its keel. That's the only way to go and is much cheaper than getting RB to fit more keel guard.

Yeah....But Yours would be Better Fitted with TRACKS!

Locozodiac · 09 March 2013, 20:10

Keel guard is perfect for beaching, sliding sib on to concrete surface while trailer is being painted, unspected floating debris bumping into keel, pier issues, etc. Assume that like all glued parts will eventually will peel off with time, use & abuse, but completely bondable again. This nice example is a moldable yet compact V rubstrake glued with a super cement.

Happy Boating

totallydave · 12 March 2013, 15:22

Thanks everyone for your most knowledgable responses. Looks like I am in the market for some KG and a nice sunny day.