View Full Version : Keel Protectors
rodman
11-10-2009, 02:36 PM
Are there keel protectors available for aluminum boats ?
Tom Cooney
John in Mn
11-10-2009, 02:54 PM
Saw a boat recently that had the keel sprayed with a truck bed liner. (Rhino Liner) Looks like it worked pretty well.
The same ones made for fiberglass boats will work on aluminum boats as long as the rivets off each side of the keel are spaced far enough apart for the protector to lay flat at the edges. However, Some aluminum boats have such a sharp keel angle that you'll never get get results. I asked a few dealers about them and they say it is really hard to roughen up the aluminum enough that they will stay on.
You'll be surprised just how tough aluminum is without the protector. Unless you are constantly beaching the boat on concrete ramps you'll never have a problem with wear. I'd venture to say that an aluminum hull has less wear after its hundredth night being beached on gravel than a fiberglass boat has after its first night.
1625rebel
11-10-2009, 03:16 PM
My father in law has one on his Crestliner Fishhawk. I'm assuming purely to protect the paint, not the aluminum. No issues with adhesion that I'm aware of. It has gotten kind of a stained look to it over the years, but he fishes the Mississippi A LOT.
One reason I love my Lund Rebel XL's with painted freeboard, but bare aluminum keel/bottom. Who decided we needed painted to paint alumunim boat bottoms anyway?