Thoughts about a Keelguard?

Creekside22 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 15, 2012 4:51 pm **Posts:** 28

Does anyone here have one? How do they hold up? Any experience with it would be appreciated, as I sit in the cold and impatiently wait for boating season...

hutch9900 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:14 pm **Posts:** 456

I am kinda interested in this myself. I would like to be able to beach my next boat. I know it runs around $100+.

Partycove2 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:25 pm

I "had" one on my Vista as I would frequently beach, year #1 there were no problems.
Year #2 it started to peel off the upper front, the adhesive was still attached to the boat but it started coming off the guard iteself. I called Keelguard and they recommend some 2 part epoxy which I did. When I pulled the boat at the end of year #3 more than 50% of it was hanging off so I just removed and and will not be installing another one, and won't beach anymore.

They warranty it "if its prepped and installed correctly" Safe to say mine was considering it did not come off what I prepped (the keel) but instead came off what they prepped (the guard).

Paul I. · **Posted:** Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:58 pm

I put them on the 19 & 21 footer I had. I trailered both boats, so it times, I had to put its bow onto the ramp. One time the wind blow the boat more side ways than I would like as I was putting it on the trailer under power. I was glad I had it!!

Just make sure the bow is clean and the wax has been removed before installing it. They use a 3M glue that works very will and it should last for years. If my memory is right, it comes in 3,4 & 5 foot lenghs. I used the 4' one on both boats.

Bottom paint will stick to it.

For handeling, it does nothing. I think they were claiming that it helped the boat go stright.

Walt · **Posted:** Tue Jan 29, 2013 6:23 pm

Have had mine since '07, and frequently leave the boat beached on weekend camping trips. Starting to peel away on the tail end where I didn't get the adhesive in too well, but on the front great!... I did get a big gouge in it last summer from inadvertently beaching on a rock, but no damage to the hull. Well worth it IMO.

Creekside22 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 15, 2012 4:51 pm **Posts:** 28

Thanks all.. $180 seems like cheap insurance compared to fiberglass repair and I forsee beaching in my future... Thanks to your experience, I'll give it a try... if it lasts one season without damage to my boat, I figure it's worth it...

Surface Interval · **Posted:** Tue Jan 29, 2013 9:19 pm

There are two main brands....Keel Guard and Keel Shield. I had the Keel Shield on my '95 190 Horizon for 15+ years, and it is still in good condition. After 3-4 years I did need to remove about 6 inches of the back end of the Keel Shield because it was coming loose. Since then it has been fine for more than ten years. I was satisfied enough that I put one on my 268 Vista last summer. Surface preparation is very important so follow the directions carefully, and it helps to buy it reasonably soon before installation to get one with the most recent adhesives possible. Many adhesives and chemicals do have a "shelf life". The older they are the more likely they may not perform as well. In other words, don't buy one this year if you are not installing it for a year or two. I've only had contact with one boat that had a Keel Guard. The dealer that installed it did a poor job and it was coming loose within a year. If you beach your boat very much at all and care about the gelcoat on the keel I think a Keel Shield is a good idea. Without it you can wear through the gelcoat, or scratch and gouge the keel. Hope this helps.

deafwish · **Posted:** Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:58 pm

Does either brand have a better selling point than the other?
Will the adhesive (2 pac?) seal already worn out gelcoat on my keel?

Creekside22 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 15, 2012 4:51 pm **Posts:** 28

And thanks Surface, I didn't know about the Keel Shield, but will definitely research it too! (sounds like a better product)

JDW250 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 03, 2013 1:01 pm

I don't know the brand, but a keel guard came with my 2005 FW (I bought used in 2010). I believe it was added at the factory or dealer. It's holding up well with no sign of separation. Note I trailer my boat. It sits in the water for a week or two at a time about once per year during extended water vacations. It's mostly used by trailering to the river 10 miles away for a few hours at a time. I don't know if that makes a difference in the longevity or not, I'm just stating those are the conditions my boat is typically used.

That being said, keel guards are pretty rare where I boat. And like me, many boaters beach their boats frequently. Rocks are not a major concern around here, although some of the sandy areas can have bigger grains (pebble-like sand). My previous boat, a 1975 Delta that my Dad originally bought new, never had a keel guard on it. That boat survived 35 years (and still going strong when I sold it in 2010) without one and was frequently beached throughout its life.

So in this area, I would say they are not a necessity. If my current boat didn't already have one when I bought it, I highly doubt I would have added one. At the end of the day, it all depends on where you boat, how you boat, and how much risk you are willing to assume.

Surface Interval · **Posted:** Sun Feb 03, 2013 5:46 pm

It has been my observation that most lake boaters do not beach very often, but a significant percentage of river boaters here do beach on the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers. While sand will not generally gouge the keel like a rock will, sand will eventually wear away the gelcoat and then wear away the first few layers of fiberglass. Also, boaters never seem to know where all the stray keel gouging rocks are hiding. The Admiral has an issue with scuffing the gel coat, so we decided to take measures.... Because of this we chose to install a Keel Shield on the Vista. The "sharp edge" of the keel takes most of the pressure and the wear. We considered applying frequent coats of bottom paint to this isolated area of the keel throughout the season, but opted for the Keel Shield. The installation process includes roughing the surface with ScotchBrite, thoroughly cleaning with Isopropyl, applying an adhesive primer, installing the Keel Shield, thoroughly pressing into place, and sealing the edges with a good underwater sealant.

The Keel Shield has 13 evenly spaced lengthwise ridges and 12 grooves. The Keel Guard has 5 lengthwise grooves closer to the centerline. I believe the Keel Guard is also just slightly wider.

john55c · **Posted:** Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:02 pm

My father has had one of the two products, don't remember which one, for the past 8 years or so on a 19' bowrider. He keeps it on a mooring in a lake (go figure, we are surrounded by ocean and he loves the lake!). The shore is sand and small rocks (1-2" or less) and the guard has protected it for years with no issues. We haven't touched it since installation and they use it every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

One note if you add one of these products, if your keel rests permanently on a trailer roller, it is not recommended from what I have heard. It puts extra pressure on the keel.

pickledboater · **Posted:** Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:41 pm

This is one of the must have things if you care at all about keeping your boat attractive and functional for a long life. (That is if you are going to actually use the boat.) Mine has been on for over 10 years and is holding up just fine. I would say to follow the instructions to a tee when installing it. One point of advise I might offer is to install it on a good HOT day and let the guard sit in the sun for a few hours first so it is really pliable when you work with it. Then you can beach your boat and have frito pies right in the bag, never having to worry about your bottom!!!

ric · **Posted:** Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:59 pm

I beach all the time, I've considered one but 3M adhesive isn't water friendly no matter how much they claim. It's way too expensive for a piece of vinyl with tape.

Surface Interval · **Posted:** Tue Feb 12, 2013 5:48 pm

Ric, I hear you. But, religiously following the installation instructions, including the part about putting a bead of below water type sealant around the edges of the Keel Shield made a lot of difference on mine.

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Thoughts about a Keelguard?

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