Keelguard, is it worth it and what colour should I get??

[Markyboyo]

Thinking of fitting "Keelguard" to the RIB. Is it worth it and if so what colour? I do tend to end up beaching quite regularly over the summer but £165 seems like an awful lot for 8 feet of "sticky back plastic"!
My hull is white with navy tubes and black strake. I'm tempted to go for the black rather then white.......

[Tony]

I have Keelguard on mine. It was a tough choice whether to have or not to have. We nose our rib onto the beach quite regular in the summer to drop people off, so I thought it was essential. We have white hull and yellow tubes so we bought white.
Try Ebay, it worked out the cheapest option.

[Markyboyo]

Thanks for that. I see Ebay is the same price but there is no Postage charge! I'm still tempted to go for the black stuff!

[willk]

Originally Posted by Markyboyo

Thanks for that. I see Ebay is the same price but there is no Postage charge! I'm still tempted to go for the black stuff!

I was having a peek at a number of overwintering ribs at Redbay recently (time to get her back in the water Paul ) and quite a few had white hulls and a black keel-band. I thought it looked well, certainly better than stainless. It gave them a purposeful look. I'd have thought white would have picked up very obvious rubber marks from the trailer rollers?

[Tony]

Originally Posted by willk

I was having a peek at a number of overwintering ribs at Redbay recently (time to get her back in the water Paul ) and quite a few had white hulls and a black keel-band. I thought it looked well, certainly better than stainless. It gave them a purposeful look. I'd have thought white would have picked up very obvious rubber marks from the trailer rollers?

I see your point about roller marks, but mine is on a mooring so it wasn't an issue.

[Nick Hearne]

I had white on a white hull & bought it direct from Keelguard in the USA worked out much cheeper but that was when the pound was worth something!

[Ribshop]

We are currently clearing our stock of Keel Guard, we are selling at below cost, only have 8’ whites left. £113.18 inc vat and P&P http://www.rib-shop.com/product.asp?...hFor=&PT_ID=23

[iainmartins]

I have one it does the job, but it is starting to come off slightly. Think I am going to take mine off and put a metal one on instead. Onlything is I think it will be really hard to get the thing off without scratching the keel.

[Mollers]

Roycruse reckoned that fitting a keelguard pinched a knot off of his top end.

[Markyboyo]

Thanks for all the input guys! I'm pretty sure I'd go for the black but am tempted by RIBSHOPS offer! Has anyone actually had issues with the white stuff being marked by the keel rollers? Thats a good point Mollers, I couldn't see how keelguards claim that it may improve performance would hold true. Losing a knot of my top end wouldn't be the end of the world but I wonder if there would be a noticeable increase in fuel consumption?? Have you made it out yet? Apparently the weather has been great....I'm stuck in Angola...in the rainy season

[Downhilldai]

If the trailer is set up so the keel rests on rollers, then a keelguard should not be fitted.

[Erin]

Originally Posted by Markyboyo

I couldn't see how keelguards claim that it may improve performance would hold true. Losing a knot of my top end wouldn't be the end of the world but I wonder if there would be a noticeable increase in fuel consumption?? (

I think the theory is that by fitting the keelguard you don't end up with dinks and chips in your hull which would slow you down more than the keelguard alone would. Mine has certainly protected the keel. Where it isn't fitted there are bits of gel coat missing from the pebbles and rocks that the boat settles on each tide.

[iainmartins]

I have no difference or speed or fuel economy due to my keel gaurd