SS keelguard?

[11 footer]

We'd like to put a keel guard on our 1980 17' Boston Whaler Montauk.<br /><br />The only kind I've seen are plastic, and not that attractive looking. I'm thinking a SS or metal one would be better looking, as well as more practical. I've never seen one on a smaller boat before. Anyone know of a company who makes them?<br /><br />I was thinking it anyone does make them, they wouldn't make one for a boat like a small whaler. I was thinking of getting some kind of flexible sheet metal, forming it to shape the V of the hull and finding a permeate way of installing it.<br /><br />What do you guys think? Any idea's?

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: SS keelguard?

Ryan, for short money you can get a keelshield that in any color you want and put it on in a few hours. If you have a white bottom you can get a white one and you won't even notice it. Check out eBay and just search for keelshield. The ridges actual improve performance as well.

 

[11 footer]

Re: SS keelguard?

May end up doing that, Ralph but I'd rather put something metal on there.<br /><br />I think something shiney would look pretty cool as well.

 

[WadeSc]

Re: SS keelguard?

Some companies that do spray-on truck bed liners also do spray-on Keel guards in several colors. Around here BullHide and Rhino Lining both will do Keel guards and the pictures I've seen look quite good.

 

[PAkev]

Re: SS keelguard?

Ryan,<br /><br />There are indeed aftermarket keelguards that are available in many colors. Keelguard and Keelshield are two products readily available through marine suppliers. I was able to match the color of my hull fairly well with one of the colors Keelguard offers. Another but more pricy alternative is from a company known as Hambly's.<br /><br />As far as the "do it yourself" project, these sometimes have a way of turning out to look more like a sore thumb than the real mccoy and very well may end up costing you a few more sheckles.<br /><br />I bought my Keelguard through Bass Pro Shops and also got a free SS bowguard. Sign up for their credit card and you also get another deduction. Not sure if the offers still stand but it might not hurt giving them a call.<br /><br />Kevin

 

[11 footer]

Re: SS keelguard?

I'm intersting in hearing about anywhere I could get a metal one.

 

[PAkev]

Re: SS keelguard?

Ryan,<br /><br />Now that you mention it.........I don't think I've seen any full SS keelguards in the marine marketplace.<br /><br />I am sure you can get someone to custom make one for you but will end up costing $$$$$$$$$$$$.<br /><br />Kevin

 

[Mark42]

Re: SS keelguard?

I was thinking the same thing about protecting the keel. Look at the aluminum and stainless rub rails for boats. They are nicely formed, solid metal, easily bent to the shape of the keel and shiny. A 3/4" or 1" strip about 5 feet is all I'll need. I think that is the way I will go. <br /><br />Here it is in stainless by Taco: <br /> [url]http://www.tacomarine.com/diypages/sssolidback.asp [/URL]

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: SS keelguard?

Just thinking out loud...<br /><br />SS is so stiff how well would it conform to the shape of the Keel? Could you get a good fit without making it so thin it gave little protection or have to spend so much time working the metal to fit the shape it would take a lot of skill and time? Don't know... <br /><br />Is there an issue getting a good bond chemically between a metal and fiberglass? It may be good enough for a bow shield which does not take the kind of beating a keel shield would (from beaching, etc.) and is relatively small...<br /><br />The other thing to at least think about is how it is designed to work. The thick urethane polymers have some give to them while SS wouldn't give nearly as much so would it protect the keel as much? No sure...<br /><br /><br />These questions may be why you don't see versions made of SS.

 

[Mark42]

Re: SS keelguard?

Hi Ralph,<br /><br />Good questions....<br /><br />The SS rub rail is flexable enough to be bent by hand to conform to the curves of a boats rub rail area. The keel (at least on my boat) is very thick. I was going to use shallow SS screws (3/4" or so) with sealer to attach it. I was thinking that it will protect the fiberglass from abrasion and chipping when I pull it up onto concrete ramps, or onto stony beaches. Not worried about severe impact protection. But the purpose of the rub rail is to protect against impact as well as abrasion damage, so I think it should perform just fine for my intended use.<br /><br />The same product is available in aluminum, and should be easier to bend, but wear and oxidize quicker.<br /><br />I saw some old wooden boats with a brass strip in the same place. That would work too, but not look right on my boat.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: SS keelguard?

Wood boats can use the flat stock cause the woods flat at the boats stem, keel, ect.. Most glass boats I've seen come to a V so using flat stocks not gonna work. Are you really gonna drill and stick 3/4" screws into the bottom of the boat?? Don't like the idea myself......<br /><br />I'd glass or bond something on there, like..... Keelguard???

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: SS keelguard?

Rub rail is totally different situation. The curves are gentle and fastening with screws above the water line is not an issue. That is a very different situation from the keel. There is no way I'd put a bunch of screws on both sides of my keel... You risk water penetration an buckling as the boat flexes and the SS doesn't... water will find its way between the boat and the SS in the places where it is floating (not screwed) that may cause stress pulling the SS away from the boat and hence pull the screws out... What if you decide to remove it? The only way I'd even think about trying it on the keel is to glue it on...

 

[rnsi]

Re: SS keelguard?

If you don't like the looks of the vinal guards, what will a ss guard look like the first time you beach? I would think that it would get scratched up real quick, and would look awful.<br /><br />Maybe I'm not just visualizing this right.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: SS keelguard?

Not to mention the crap it could snag if it becomes partially unfastened.<br /><br />Ryan, wanna beef up the Whaler? Since you've got all kinds of energy and motivation.......<br />How bout masking off an area and glassing some 2" fiberglass cloth to the hull. You'd have the toughest "keelsaver" in the harbor....

 

[11 footer]

Re: SS keelguard?

I couldn't *******ize JB's belovod Sunshine lll like that, Luna Sea <br /><br />Whaler put an SS keelsaver on there comerishal boats, which would include the classic 17' hull which I'm talking about.<br /><br />Put in during constriction, they where had layers of glass over them.<br /><br />Still brainstorming for ideas.

 

[Mark42]

Re: SS keelguard?

What I had in mind is a single length of 3/4 or 1" wide SS rub rail extending from below the bow eye to about 5 or 6 feet back along the bottom of the keel. The keel is about 2" thick. I'm not worried about a 3/4" screw doing any harm. <br /><br />As far as bending, solid ss rub rail makes some pretty sharp bends around the stem of boats, and the corners of the transom. The stuff is only 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, depending on which style you choose. So I don't think bending is really an issue. <br /><br />Regarding how it will look after contact with the beach: I won't know because it is on the bottom of the boat out of sight. <br /><br />The water soak issue has me thinking that maybe epoxy is the way to go....<br /><br />I havent done this yet, and I do appreciate all the input. Not trying to be argumentative, just was to get input from all angles and hash it out.

 

[rnsi]

Re: SS keelguard?

If you don't care how it looks, the why don't you just use the keelguards that are available? No sense re-inventing the wheel.

 

[wvit100]

Re: SS keelguard?

putting holes in the fiberglass will most probably cause blister like problems as the water enters along the screws and the migrates along the glass fibers. I don't think you can seal this well enough to stop this from happening as you will have water pressure forcing the water into every little place it can get. I would glue or glass something on there. Besides, if the hull is 2" thick there how much additional protection could it need?

 

[Mark42]

Re: SS keelguard?

Ok, you folks make good arguments. So using the ss rub rail may not be such a good idea. <br /><br />$150 is more than I am willing to invest for keel protection at this time. <br /><br />Even though it is a thick point of the boat, it still gets chewed up by concrete ramps. And having the exposed fiberglass may be worse than glueing on the ss.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: SS keelguard?

you can get them cheaper on eBay. Just search for "keel" and you'll find them.