Keel fenders anyone??

[bluedragon]

This might seem stupid..BUT...has anyone found a way of protecting the bottom of an encapsulated ballast keel (solid GRP I guess) when drying out against a wall with a stony bottom? I've looked at two interesting harbours in the last few days, with decent wall, protected from the weather, but with broken stones of various sizes just where the keel would lie. Maybe it's not an issue anyway, but with I presume iron ballast in the layup, I really don't want water getting in through damage cracks and punctures. I thought about hauling ropes with thick flexible plastic piping covers under the keel before settling, to act as fenders, but is this just plain daft /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif. Would anyone else actually even worry about this?

 

[davidwf]

You could mould a sacrificial shoe for the keel, I had these on a Leisure 18, they were held on by sikaflex.

 

[ebbtide]

For only a tide? It wouldn't worry me. But a permanent berth on a rough bottom and in a disturbed seaway is different. You could consider something permanent - like a 2" stainless strip fastened the length of the keel (he said smugly . . .)

 

[donncha]

Plank of wood?

 

[BobnLesley]

As noted earlier, provided it's not every tide don't worry; where do you fancy going, Solva perhaps? A lovely spot, we've dried out on the wall there more than once.

 

[fisherman]

If you think it's needed, next time you lift out, scuff the gelcoat with a grinder and polishing disc, lay on about 3 layers of 600 gm mat/resin and pigment, a different colour from the original. No more than 3x 600 gm at a time, sand reasonably smooth, finish with gelcoat resin
and pigment (flo coat). If it wears through the colour will show. I have a sacrificial patch on my hull, below the waterline, put it on between tides 8 years ago. Still there despite having pots dragged up across it every day. Don't penetrate the original gelcoat.

 

[bluedragon]

Yes, only occasional visits, and yes Solva is one the places.

 

[landlockedpirate]

How about Keel Guard, its designed for powerboats, but could be useful to you.

Link here.

 

[savageseadog]

Perhaps something similar to the big rubber fendering seen on the back trucks or on dock sides

 

[bluedragon]

[ QUOTE ]
How about Keel Guard, its designed for powerboats, but could be useful to you.

Link here.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey, that looks interesting! I wonder how good the bond is with permament immersion during the season. I'll look into it. Thanks.

 

[PembrokeshirePromise]

Having recently discovered that some catamarans have their keels held on simply by sikaflex (not bolts etc) - apparently they are sacrificial if you hit something - I would suspect that the biggest problme you may have is getting the thing off again should you ever need to !

P.S. Another vote for Solva ...

 

[landlockedpirate]

I have seen a few on berthed boats, if they are applied correctly they will stay on quite happily-even at 40+ kts.

 

[rob2]

Cedar ply strip canoes are glassed with epoxy and among practices for improved impact and abrasion resistance for whitewater and sea use are graphite loaded final coat (stirred into the epoxy) and a layer of Kevlar cloth as the final lamination.