Keel Protection

[dropbear68]

I have just had to repair the keel on my boat, being 30 year sold shes seen many launchings and retrievals, this means lots of rubbing on the front section of the keel with trailer rollers and wear and tare with beachings, cement ramps and the odd rock lol, it developed a split which was about 4 inches long but was enough to let in enough water to the stage she wouldnt come of the plane or have the power to get onto the plane, I have sanded it out and repaired with 4 layers of glass and resin plus a coating of plastibond, its only going to rub out again over time is there a method of protecting this area of the keel ? Is dynel any better then chopped matt or woven matt? the idea of sinking doesnt appeal to me so I fitted two 1000GPH pumps, it will play on my mind now and drive me insane until I fix it, I have to replace my floor as its rotting so maybe an internal fix while the floors up, appreciate any ideas.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Keel Protection

What you need is Megaware KeelGuard, available at many boat supplies, like West Marine and that Big O over in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

It comes in different lengths and runs between $129 and $180 for most boats.

It's a 5" wide heavy vinyl strip with a heavy adhesive on the back, and it's easily installed. Different colors are available.

 

[Decker83]

Re: Keel Protection

The keelgauard is a good ideal.. What would worry me is the fact you state that enough water was let in to prevent the boat to plane..
If this boat has water logged foam it will never dry out and can cause major problems with rot under the deck ( or sole or floor ).
You really need to find out how much water is still in the hull..
I'm no expert but I do have first hand experience about water logged foam and what it can do over time..

 

[dropbear68]

Re: Keel Protection

No foam in my boat, it runs a floor over an open bilge, it has two bilges port and starboard side, last trip when we did get it back in and on the trailer dropped the plugs and we had about 100 litres I reckon, when I cut holes to fit the pumps the floor is flaking and dropping crap into the bilge which will bung up the pumps, so Im going to chop the floor out, once the floor is up ill get a better idea off any more cracks in the GRP, you see why Im concerned about keel protection , no point fitting pumps if there not going to work due to bilge full of rotten ply flakes floating around, the vinyl coverstrip is a top idea I shall look into one, thanks Troops.

 

[pauloman]

Re: Keel Protection

cheap fix is epoxy mixed with sand - stone against stone - apply more when it wears down

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Keel Protection

4 layers of glass seems kinda thin on a keel. No matter if it was woven roven. Did you do any inside glassin ?

Got any pics of this repair ?

YD.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Keel Protection

Keelshield is another one that comes to mind.

LK

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Keel Protection

4 layers of glass seems kinda thin on a keel. No matter if it was woven roven. Did you do any inside glassin ?

Got any pics of this repair ?

YD.

I would like to know ..

YD.