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Posts: 158
Location: Burlington, WI | Last year I ran the keel of my boat straight into a rock that I didn't see, and took a chunk of gel coat off. I have since repaired the keel, but I want to avoid having to do that again. This year I am going to have the boat better prepared for such occurrences. Therefore, I was looking into putting on either a keelguard or keelshield. Does anyone have any experience with either of these products? How well do they protect the keel of the boat? How well does the adhesive really stick to the boat? I just wanted to get some feedback before I stick one of these on my boat.
Thanks for the help.
Greg |
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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. |
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Posts: 253
Location: Birchwood, WI. | ran keelguard for 6 years on my ranger, & now for the last 3years on my skeeter. no problems!!! just follow directions!!!!  |
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Posts: 1453
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | I have a non-Hambeys brand and now wish I had gotten the factory installed Hambeys. My home install lost a chunk off a rock clear through to the gel-coat. Get what you pay for. |
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