KeelGuard

dawesy · 07 July 2011, 15:57

I am considering fixing KeelGuard to my rib. Its a stick on strip which looks good but who knows.The product I think is made by 3m who have a good reputation with all kinds of adhesives and sold by GMT marine. Has anyone ever fitted one or can give useful info other than the advertising blurb.

dawesy

Erin · 07 July 2011, 16:00

Excellent stuff. had it on my last two boats. Make damn sure you apply it straight 'cos once it's on it won't be coming off without taking gel-coat with it. It has certainly protected my keel when drying out on a stony beach and hitting a log on the River Seine.

Nick Hearne · 07 July 2011, 16:06

I fitted it to one of my ribs, easy to fit dose not come off again once on, but you do need a nice hot day to fit! If not the stuff is very hard to handle as it is very stiff!

LyamGalpin · 07 July 2011, 16:59

There effective if your gonna be beaching the RIB as it definitely does protect the keel. However they do take a lot of work to get off

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donald463 · 07 July 2011, 17:52

Fitted one to mine two weeks ago. Two hours lying under boat was no fun but certainly sticks fast and easy. Left it lying in the sun while prepping boat to help flexibility. Wouldn't like to have to try and take it off.
Bought mine mail order from USA . Took a couple of weeks and even after paying VAT at this end was more than 30% less than anywhere in UK.

Razorbill RIBs · 08 July 2011, 10:28

Great product.....whilst it says in teh blurb 'not for trailered craft' or similar, that is why we fitted ours (to save any trailer damage, launched and recovered daily).....

As has been said....preparation is key....we cleaned and cleaned and then keyed gently. We were lucky enough to use a friends bodyshop with a large space heater to warm the strip....its becomes really easy to work when warmed through.....also used a heat gun locally to get it to bend to the hull.

One section did lift loose when it caught on the trailer once, but restuck with sika and its still going strong months on.....

PS, try buying from the US, ours was sooooo much cheaper!

BogMonster · 08 July 2011, 21:16

Interesting - I was going to get this but IIRC the advice was that it was no good on trailers so I didn't. May have to look at it again - it would be great for beaching, which I do every time I recover the boat.

LyamGalpin · 09 July 2011, 00:46

Our little 4.5m valiant has a keel guard. No problems in regard to the trailer. It sits just as well as if there wasn't one. But yes, very good if your beaching it. Saves gel coating at the end of each season

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Nick Hearne · 09 July 2011, 14:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Interesting - I was going to get this but IIRC the advice was that it was no good on trailers so I didn't. May have to look at it again - it would be great for beaching, which I do every time I recover the boat.

My viper sat on a roller at the front with out any problem, it did make a indention in the keelguard, but it did not course any problems!