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Posts: 215
Location: Twin Cities | Looking into a keel guard and I wanted to get everyones opinion on who makes the best, and what price they run for. Thanks in advance.
Edited by The Dogger 8/8/2007 12:22 PM
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| Hambys. |
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Posts: 61
| You can get one from Cabela's or a marine supply for about 1/3 the price. Is there really much difference? |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i got the "other" one being the ribbed rubber one and it's become a real p.i.t.a .... pretty much one per season ... once it tears a little then you might as well be done and it doesn't take much. i thought i had a trailer problem which doesn't make sense and i've only drifted onto a stump but for cry-eye-eye i use the stupid boat ... keel protectors at replacement cost each year ... i might as well go without and pay the deductable if i wreck the boat ... i too would go to the hambys or do nothing at all based on my experience ...
so, now i just run it with it flapping around and just cut more off when it flutters ...
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Posts: 1086
| Hambys ONLY works on glass boat hulls...that's what I found out when talking to Hambys directly a year or two ago trying to get a keel guard for my aluminum hulled Crestliner.
I also "hear" that in order to get a good, solid seal with any type of keel guard that there needs to be 100% even pressure all across that guard as it's being applied and glued down.
I see other companies offer keel guards for aluminum boats, but with my Crestliner's hull, there's a pronounced keel in the hull design that would require the keel guard to make some 90* bends for a complete seal.
I believe those of us with aluminum hulls are s.o.l. Maybe I'm wrong?
I'd love to get one if one was available and was ensured it'd stick.... |
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| I'm with Mack. I also have a Cretliner Fishhawk as well and would love to find a keel protector for it. |
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Posts: 381
| Hamby's
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Posts: 385
| Only keel protector that guarantees adhesion on an aluminum hull is Keelshield. Hambys is the thickest, most durable and also most expensive, but once they're on a fibreglass hull it's there forever. |
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| I have been doing some research on keel protection since my last post. Keel Shield says they will adhere to aluminum. I emailed the company with my make and model 06' Crestliner Fishhawk and they responded saying they were pretty confident it would work. They then asked for my address and shipped me about a 10" sample of the material so I could test fit it around the keel. It appears as though it will work fine. Installation may take some patience but the keel shield is flexible enough to bend around the keel without leaving a gap between it and the hull. I am going to order one in and install in next spring when things warm up (it must be 70* out to get good adhesion). I will let you all kow how it turns out.
Driver79 |
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Posts: 8840
| Anybody ever tried spray-on bedliner material?? (Line-X comes to mind)
Considering what it goes through in the bed of my truck, it seems like it would work??? |
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| I have a Rhino liner in my pickup, I think the spray on material might work to prevent scratching. My only concern would be that it doesn't off much impact resistance. I don't think it would prevent denting a hull like a thick rubber keel guard would. The installer would also have to spray it on extra thick.
Driver79 |
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| I hope that keel shield works out for you!! |
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Posts: 331
Location: Stevens Point, Wisconsin | I installed a Keel shield on my Stratos a few years ago. It was actually pretty easy to install. But with that said I was putting along in Canada when I ran up on a reef. Didn't hit the reef that hard but the reef cut thru the keel shield like butter! When having the keel repaired I had them install a Hamby's. It might cost more and will require an experienced installer but it's worth the money! I know for the price and ease of install it’s tempting to go with keel gard (that’s why I did) but Hamby’s will in the long run be a better investment.
My 2 cents
Ed
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Posts: 1086
| I think all of us with aluminum hulled boats, with the large, pronounced keels, WOULD go with a Hambys if we could. No doubt, I would. But....after talking directly with Hambys on the phone....I'm s.o.l. They're specifically for the glass boats only. Which is a bummer.
What would be cool, is if Hamby's developed one to work for those of us in the aluminum hulled boats as well...to target both markets of boats....
Edited by MACK 11/8/2007 3:13 PM
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