Keel Guard

[HawkTX]

Has anyone put a keel guard on their boat? Texoma has a few places we love to beach and currently we've just been sliding up face first on the beach and throwing a shore anchor down. I know this probably isn't the best thing to do since your rocking back n forth on sand and possibly a few rocks so we are hoping the keel guard does its job and protects the hull when we beach up. Any thoughts?

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Do it now! It doesn't take many beachings before the gel is rubbed off and you open up the fiberglass to water penetration. It's an easy mod to install on the trailer.

 

[DUSTOFF]

Does the keel guard decrease efficiency or top speed very much?

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Does the keel guard decrease efficiency or top speed very much?

None at all.

 

[swatski]

Keel guard or keel shield - SO worth doing. I found a big gash in mine washing it the other day (I used Keel Shield) - just thinking what it would do to my my gel coat and underlying fiberglass had I not have it there...

 

[Gym]

If you consider the gelcoat that gets rubbed off on the trailer bunk carpet, imagine what the sand is doing to it. It's a little work lying under the trailered boat but well worth it.

 

[McMark]

Keel guard is great. No performance issues. Properly prepped, it's not coming off. I'd suggest getting a little extra primer or activator. What's included is just barely enough.

 

[Seadeals]

Years of keelgaurd protection and still a no-brainier. I liked mine to start right at the waterline. There is no way it would ever noticeably affect speed performance.

 

[tdonoughue]

I agree with everything said. Simple install. A little time on your back, but nothing challenging. I think they modified and put more primer in, because I had plenty (and left over). Two people probably makes it a cinch, but I put on mine myself. And I hardly ever beach--I just have it in case I am in some area too shallow (which has happened) or hit a rock. Cheap insurance.

 

[JCKC]

DO IT! Cheap insurance. I had my son help me keep it straight. Follow prep instructions. When I see all the nicks in that piece of rubber I realize those are all that would have been on the boat if I hadn't done it.

 

[Matt Phillips]

Do it now. As others have said, it's cheap insurance especially if you beach at all.

On a side note, when I purchased mine, they recommended a 9' Keel Guard however, I installed a 10' instead. The reason was simple: the 10' one was $25 cheaper and the extra foot of Keel Guard won't hurt anything down there. Morale of the story: check a longer length than needed, and maybe save yourself some $ for another mod...

 

[msavold]

One of the first things I added to the boat - just for insurance. One whole season and never actually came close to "using" it, but it sure felt better approaching a beach knowing it was there. Like others said, no performance hit.

 

[Kevin1741]

Any particular brand better or where to buy?

 

[Murf'n'surf]

I have always used Keel Guard but both products are very similar. Search online for your best price.

 

[prorider17]

Why don't people use 3M vinyl wrap instead of the keel guard? I feel that it'd reduce any potential turbulence better than the keel guard. I also saw an AR210 that had the keel line-x'd. Pretty sweet idea in my mind.

 

[DCB-270]

I just put one on my boat this fall. It was showing some wear so i thought why not. It will help when we are just pulling in and not staying long. Not having to get the anchors out. The boat seems to track straighter now. I can take my hand off the wheel it it just goes straight. (No fins)

 

[blacksapphirez]

looks good! will try them out on water next week