SS Steel guard at the bow

[jfkal]

Are there any objections on trying to protect the bow (GRP) at the waterline with a sort of an nicely shaped stainless steel plate from getting damaged by hitting stuff floating? Or am I introducing another problem by doing so. (Yes it might look ugly to some)

 

[heerenleed]

Apart from the looks it does not really sound rediculous. Only, fixing it at and below the waterline may put you in trouble. You would'nt want any screws in your GRP hull there, would you....

Peter o/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[Jacket]

I'm not sure if it would really help much, except in the case of hitting small stuff which might scratch the hull.

If you hit anything large, the plate will bend (steel plate isn't very strong in bending) and the GRP will splinter, just the same as if the plate wasn't there.

 

[jfkal]

Nope, thought of using SIKA.

 

[ccscott49]

My boat has a large stainless plate, about 1/8" thick, from the central hawse, down to 1' below the waterline and a foot back each side, screwed to the hull (wood) and sealed on, it has protected my bow on numerous occasions, even from very big bits of wood, trees in fact, I'm very glad it's there. I see no reason to not have such a plate, if the conditions dictate one, especially in and around rivers in spate. But not really an idea for a shapely planing boat bow.

 

[jfkal]

Thanks guys. Will do it then )