Keelguard and the like

Anyone using some sort of protectorant tape on their keel? 
KeelShield

Or the patch on the stern skeg?
Scuff Buster

That's something that's been on my mind lately.  I noticed that with my Tridents, there's a spot that takes A LOT of abuse.  It's the spot the yak rests on when on my cart and a fulcrum when lifting.

I hadn't gotten to investigating a method of dealing with it yet.  Thanks for pointing out some options!

-Spot-

Has anyone ever seen someone wear through the keel?  I haven't  ... and I've seen quite a few "abused" yaks.

-Allen

Has anyone ever seen someone wear through the keel?  I haven't  ... and I've seen quite a few "abused" yaks.

-Allen

I remember reading on NCKA about a guy wearing thru his keel by always dragging his yak thru the sand.

I remember reading on NCKA about a guy wearing thru his keel by always dragging his yak thru the sand.

That probably falls under the "don't do that" category.

-Allen

I remember reading on NCKA about a guy wearing thru his keel by always dragging his yak thru the sand.

d'oh....   



Forgot my paddlecart last time I was at the beach, didn't even think about the long term affects of the abrasive sand...

Sand isn't too much of a problem, just don't go dragging the kayak up trough the parking lot like that.

I can see some kind of guard for a composite yak but don't really see the use for our poly yaks. Like Pole, I've seen some messed up yaks but yet to see the need for a guard. Just my .02

Z

I'll take a picture of my keel tonight, its pretty worn through from putting it up on my truck... (picking up the front end and dragging the rear as I rotate it upwards to rest on my roof before picking it up from the rear and pushing it forward.)

I could always plasti-weld more poly onto the back, but I'd prefer to have something of a more permanent nature and less sacrificial.  I was thinking of making a stainless steel keel guard for the rear.

I'll take a picture of my keel tonight, its pretty worn through from putting it up on my truck... (picking up the front end and dragging the rear as I rotate it upwards to rest on my roof before picking it up from the rear and pushing it forward.)

I could always plasti-weld more poly onto the back, but I'd prefer to have something of a more permanent nature and less sacrificial.  I was thinking of making a stainless steel keel guard for the rear.

Why not just lay a piece of carpet down where you drag it?

-Allen

I have the same concern. I haven't ever seen a spot worn through on a yak from dragging and what not, but the back edge of the keel on mine is beginning to look pretty gnarly.

I was thinking of making a stainless steel keel guard for the rear.

I like that idea. Be sure to post pics if you put something together.

Good topic!

When I get around to cutting out a skid plate for my ATV from my 1/4" x 4' x 10'  UHMW sheet of plastic, I'm sure I'll have some scraps that I can cut into a keel skid and goop it on my yak.  This stuff is naturally tough and takes a hell of a lot of abuse to wear through, thus the reason for using as an ATV skid plate. 

I can see some kind of guard for a composite yak but don't really see the use for our poly yaks. Like Pole, I've seen some messed up yaks but yet to see the need for a guard. Just my .02

Z

I'll try to remember to get a picture of mine to post later....

We've rubbed a few holes in the stern corner of the hull on poly boats. Not allot you can do, but there is a new product called "rec repair" we've got at alder creek that supposedly sticks to plastic pretty well.

Other than that, duct tape works pretty good.

for composite boats you just add a layer of kevlar/glass etc. along the keel and expoxy it.

We generally advise people to wait until you've rubbed it raw and then apply a keel strip rather than adding one first and rubbing it raw.

We've rubbed a few holes in the stern corner of the hull on poly boats. Not allot you can do, but there is a new product called "rec repair" we've got at alder creek that supposedly sticks to plastic pretty well.

Other than that, duct tape works pretty good.

for composite boats you just add a layer of kevlar/glass etc. along the keel and expoxy it.

We generally advise people to wait until you've rubbed it raw and then apply a keel strip rather than adding one first and rubbing it raw.

Do y'all recommend a particular kind/brand of "keel strip"?  100mph tape?  Anyone used Gorilla Tape?