Re: Keel sheild for worrsome spot?
Don't waste your money on a keel shield. Get a couple of cans of 'Plasti-Dip' at Home Depot. Tape off the areas you want to isolate. Abrade the surface LIGHTLY with a 220 grit sand paper. Wipe all of that down with a damp cloth, and let it dry thoroughly.
Next, lightly spray the Plasti-Dip inside the taped off areas in light coats. Let each coat dry for a minimum of 45 minutes. Add as many coats as you'd like, but the key is to build up the surface with light coats instead of one heavy coat. This makes it stronger this way.
Let the whole thing dry for 48 hours before you put it in the water, and enjoy. Whenever you have a light spot that needs to be touched up just spray a dab of it on, and let it dry.
The stuff works miracles.
The drag caused by the plasti-dip application is minimal compared to the problem of letting it set unprotected. I only lost 2 mph on top end on my boat, but my peace of mind is there when I beach it on sandy beaches.
