KeelGuard

Nick Hearne · 27 February 2004, 10:07

KeelGuard
Hi any one used this product? I tend to beach the boat a lot to let the wife & kids off & it dose not do the keel much good!
Any comment or alternatives much appreciated.
Nick

stuart hedges · 27 February 2004, 10:38

I have it on a couple of RIB's and I think they are really good, they really protect the keel on beaching and launch/recovery etc.

They are quite expensive tho and I would like them to stretch the full length of the boat not just the bow. Speak to Garry at GMT he is very helpfull

jwalker · 27 February 2004, 11:54

Can't you use a piece of rubbing strake?

MeMe · 27 February 2004, 12:10

Quote:

Originally posted by jwalker
Can't you use a piece of rubbing strake?

I'd be tempted to use a bit of cardboard !

mstacey · 27 February 2004, 12:54

I have had it fitted to a number of my ribs.

Excellent stuff in my opnion.

On my prvious Rib, a 4m Avon, I had it fitted from the bow eye to the transom as the boat was often hauled up a pebble beach to above the high tide line.

Nick Hearne · 27 February 2004, 12:55

At £21.00 a foot.....

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by jwalker
Can't you use a piece of rubbing strake?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'd be tempted to use a bit of cardboard !

Is that £21 per foot of rubbing strake or carboard?
As for the Keelgaurd if I get it from the US it should cost about $23 per foot including shipping!
Nick

ribraff · 27 February 2004, 13:24

don't get it, this is basically a type of rubbing strake which is applied with the same adhesive. How the hell do they justify £21 a foot!!!!

tue · 27 February 2004, 13:26

I don't think they are the same company, but I have used a product called KEELSHIELD on a SIB. Looks exactly the same and I think the price was about the same. Does the job though.

Pete7 · 27 February 2004, 13:29

Quote:

How the hell do they justify £21 a foot!!!!

Well, in the same way that it costs £3k for a set of tubes.

Pete

Mike B · 27 February 2004, 14:31

Nick

I've put one on my boat and now would put one on any future boat I have.

It does seem expensive but IMHO is worth it.

I'm not sure if a rubbing strake would have the same adhesive or not but I am sure you would have no come back with the company if the rubbing strake fell off after a couple of weeks.

It was easy to apply and sticks like the proverbial sh** to a blanket .

Cheers

Mike

ozz · 27 February 2004, 14:40

No complaints with mine.
Not sure if you lose any speed though.
Mine was already fitted. Anyone done a before and after speed test?

JCW · 27 February 2004, 14:52

I had a Keelguard fitted to my 4.8 Ribcraft. Good bit of kit in my opinion. There was no difference in speed at all after fitment.

jwalker · 27 February 2004, 20:21

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike B
Nick

I am sure you would have no come back with the company if the rubbing strake fell off after a couple of weeks.

Why would it fall off? It doesn't fall off your tubes, does it? It's able to scrape along barnacled walls, rocks and jetties for years without failing. You're being conned.

Bobaw · 27 February 2004, 21:48

Had it for three years and not seen any depriciation in speed,

Never had to use it in anger, but it is there

Nick Hearne · 28 February 2004, 09:50

Many thanks for all your comments.
I do think that it is over priced! But it dose look very easy to fit which is a plus point & it looks like any one who has used it likes it!
Nick

Mike B · 28 February 2004, 09:56

JW

<quote> You're being conned.

Possibly so - but like most things I buy I get what is designed to do the job and has at least a hint of guarantee it will do it.

<quote> Why would it fall off? It doesn't fall off your tubes, does it?

Nope not yet - but it is stuck to PU / Hypalon not GRP. I have no knowledge of adhesives but seem to remember you need different ones for PU and Hypalon so guess you probably need a different one for GRP.

Guess we will probably have to disagree on this one but I'll stick to the official keelguard. If anyone tries rubbing strake and it stays on for multiple seasons I'm sure i will be swayed.

Cheers

Mike

jwalker · 28 February 2004, 12:45

Mike, I understand your reasoning on the adhesives but consider the join of your tubes to your hull: Fibreglass to fabric.

Nick Hearne · 28 April 2004, 16:08

Hi well I did go for the Keelguard in the end, ordered 12' from Keelgard them selves in the US cost £150 including shipping delivered in 6 weeks that’s 12.5 per foot!
UK price £228.50 not a bad saving now what can I spend the £78.50 I have saved?
Well I still have the job of fitting it yet!
Nick

dgpw · 28 April 2004, 17:26

sounds like you have got a good price there. I have one on a ribtec and it is good. I don't think that £20 a foot is to bad if you look at the cost of standing rigging on a yacht, or the price of dylema for example. Boats are expensive.

Has anoyone hit anything hard with a keel gaurd and if so what happened. IE a sinking container ect.

Dirk Diggler · 28 April 2004, 17:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

UK price £228.50 not a bad saving now what can I spend the £78.50 I have saved?
Nick

Hmm, what about duty + vat? and then what do you do if it falls off after a couple of weeks. I'm all for saving money but sometimes it's better to have the backup of a uk agent!!