homemade keel guard

[TenE307]

i was loking at the keel guards they have on the market and noticed that you dont get a heck of a lot for the price.<br />i noticed is what they are selling looks just like the ribbed mat i used to let my old car leak oil onto.<br />oh yeah and they give a little glue too.<br />my question is can i go to any home store and by rubber matting and cut it to size and glue it on.<br />or is there something special enough to spend another hundred bucks for a brand name keel guard.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: homemade keel guard

my question is can i go to any home store and by rubber matting and cut it to size and glue it on.<br />

I don't see why not.. Only thing is, what to use to glue it on?.. I suppose you could find some super strong double side'd tape (thats what keelguard uses, i think).. 3M probably makes something that would make the rubber stick to the hull..

 

[Bondo]

Re: homemade keel guard

I gave it Serious Thought.........<br />Then decided I don't need one......<br /><br />But,<br />My Choice of Glue, would have been a tube of the Urethane used to Glue Windshields into Cars......<br /><br />The stuff makes 5200, look like Bubble Gum.......

 

[flashback]

Re: homemade keel guard

I thought about glassing a couple of layers of kevlar on the keel. seems like it would work....tough stuff...........

 

[ZmOz]

Re: homemade keel guard

If you do it let us know how it turns out...I'm thinking of doing the same thing.

 

[Bondo]

Re: homemade keel guard

I thought about glassing a couple of layers of kevlar on the keel. seems like it would work....tough stuff...........

That's Exactly how they add a "Skid Plate" to a Canoe...........

 

[flashback]

Re: homemade keel guard

don't think I'll get around to it this year, the bottom is fresh on my boat, but maybe next year..I guess if I were going to do it, I would carefully grind the gel coat off in the area I want to cover with kevelar, (probably about 6 inches on either side of the stem and keel, then epoxy the kevlar in place, coat bottom with several coats of barrier paint and 2 coats of bottom paint. presto instant turtle shell...