keel guard is it worth it?

[bigdawggie]

hello

I went to a marine shop and saw a product called keel guard. Has anybody used it? is it worth the money? I beach my fiberglass boat all the time so I think it will be a good investment but am also concerned about performance. will it create a noticable decrease due to drag? is there an alternative / cheaper solution? you would think that you can buy the raw material from the manufacturer such as 3M.

thanks

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: keel guard is it worth it?

If you beach your boat, keel guard is the way to go.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: keel guard is it worth it?

I hope so, i just ordered a 12' kit. If you could only find out what the stuff is manufactured for that is a good question, it appears to be an extrusion of a plastic composite material, It's probably the scraps from their dumpster out back that were paying high dollar for LOL.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: keel guard is it worth it?

besure to follow directions to the T.

 

[bilmon]

Re: keel guard is it worth it?

definitly worth it, I beach and would'nt be without one. No affect on performance. Easy install but as tashasdaddy mentioned follow instructions exactly.

 

[stevens]

Re: keel guard is it worth it?

If you beach your boat, you'll appreciate the protection the keel guard offers. Over here, many boat manufacturers supply keel guards made of steel, but even the rubber Keel Guard is bound to be less brittle than the fiberglass hull itself is.

Performance decrease? Not likely. Most of the keel guard is out of water at speed anyway, and whatever remains under water is in the form of a small longitudinal protrusion, much like a small strake. You will probably notice absolutely no difference in drag or speed.

Cheaper DIY alternatives? Maybe, but why shrimp on a $150-something item that should remain glued to the boat for the remainder of the boats' life? Isn't it more important that it stays on, remains intact and does its' job?

 

[bigdawggie]

Re: keel guard is it worth it?

thanks guys

I did some searching on the web and found a couple guys using line-x they say it's cheaper and just as durable plus it won't peel off without a chisel. has anybody had experience using line-x