Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | If you spend any time at a bass boat forum, you'll see this comes up alot. The best hands-down is the factory installed Hamby's, which will run you about $900! Hamby's does have a do it yourself version, but it's not as highly regarded.
Either KeelShield or Keel Guard will do you well, but the KeelShild brand seems to be a bit more popular. The adhesive is MONSTROUS on either one! They'll stick! That said, prep and conditions make all the difference in the world. Make sure to follow the prep instruction precicely, and make sure it's warm enough. I think KeelShield calls for 70*. Make sure it's 70*. I've got a Keel Guard on my boat now, but I'm taking it off, and putting on a KeelShield. My KG is white, and is buckling a bit and coming off because it wasn't put on 100% straight. That, and I don't like the white, because they tend to "yellow" over time. So I'm swapping to a black KeelShield, which I do like a bit better than Keel Guard. Either will do well.
Also bear in mind that they're not bombproof. They're good for beaching the boat, or running across gravel. Hit a rock, and you can still damage your boat. They're better than a bare keel, but they're not impervious to damage. |
