Keel band

redthunder · 25 July 2015, 07:49

I am looking to get some sort of keel guard/band any recommendations to go on 7.4m rib.

M.Thornton · 25 July 2015, 08:05

KeelGuard.Best fitted with two people ,pick a warm day,take your time and follow instructions.Great result

Bushrider · 25 July 2015, 10:06

I used Keelshield with Kevlar on the Vipermax .
Great stuff .

http://www.gator-guards.com/keelshie...ar-keel-guard/

macattack101 · 08 August 2015, 11:51

When measuring for a keel guard, do you go all the way to the stern. My wife thought it would be fun to take the navigation bread crumb trail with a touch of salt and go her own way through the rocks back to base on the west coast. I was hanging over the bow at the time filming with the go pro underwater and suddenly I was looking down at rocks. Makes interesting viewing on the go pro as a wall of rock looms out of the gloom 😲Luckily it was at walking pace so no damage. The keel guard will be to protect the keel as I let the boat dry out at low tide on my 2 weeks holiday up in Arisaig.

M.Thornton · 08 August 2015, 12:03

Normally just do the front third,but I can't see any harm in going to the stern unless you have a planning pad.It will certainly offer some protection against damage but don't forget the boat will tilt over when she dries out so take care of rocks under your bilges

macattack101 · 08 August 2015, 17:24

Only the keel and the tubes at the stern touch when dried out and a lot of the time it sits upright. Always on lovely highland sand.

Ducie · 13 August 2015, 07:02

I am also thinking of having KeelGuard fitted to the RIB. We are considering taking the boat up to Scotland where the beaches are fairly rocky. Does anyone know if KeelGuard has an effect on the performance? Thank you.

M.Thornton · 13 August 2015, 07:30

Had a keel-guard fitted to an 11m Redbay and an 8m Scorpion,no noticeable effect on performance or economy.have no experience on smaller ribs but cannot see them making any difference

Andre · 13 August 2015, 14:57

Whisper fitted Keel Shield on Never Enough cos when the WUKSART guys took the rib round Britain they did some damage to the keel and I guess this was in Scotland of all places see attached photo. last weekend I was more or less beaching at Newtown Creek and was very pleased to have had Keel Shield fitted
Keel Shield and Keel Guard are more or less the same and for sure have not influence on the performance. Keel Shield also make such from Kevlar so if you think you need extra protection go for that type. I believe the Keel Shield importer (specialistsmallcraft) is a forum member so buy from him and support the RibNet Trade members. we buy a lot from them . Do not use it if you launch & recover with trailer unless you have the whole length of the keel covered in one single strip.

look here : http://www.rib.net/forum/f16/tlc-for...ugh-69119.html

whisper · 14 August 2015, 18:15

I sell Keel Shield by the foot if that helps?

Working on Never Enough was cool, wish I had taken something to lay on though

Im getting some gater skin next week to have a play about with it.

M.Thornton · 15 August 2015, 07:30

Is the Gator Skin for you or the boat Alex

Dave Cowell · 15 August 2015, 11:14

We have fitted Keelshield to several customers Ribs.
Choose a warm day as the material is much more supple when warm.
It is easier with two people but can be done by one.