Boat repair advice/methods.

[tribs]

Hi All,

After a few suggestions here. I have recently taken to running my boat down the beach bow first as the shingle has piled up unusually of late due to the spate of easterlies. It made backing stern first down the beach difficult. I the process though in always rotating the boat 360' on the shingle beach, the poly-tubing shield which covers the original keel band has ripped off. This is a seasonal occurance now and the keel was already looking like a swiss cheese before. Do I redrill new stainless screws in new places yet again for another season or should I add a stainless band? Or, who knows?

Tribs

open to any sensible suggestions

out

 

[Jonny250]

Hey Tribs, got any photos?
i would suggest keeping/using the stainless keel band rather than any other alternative. Dry out the original screw holes and fill with an epoxy filler/adhesive, then re-use those holes, maybe with a few extra?
Some people suggest bonding the keel band with an adhesive, but if you prep it properly then the bond would be stronger than the laminate - ok until you do want to change the keel band!
Some other people suggest glassing over the keel band, but imo thats just creating hassle and why would you want to grind off the gelcoat to do that?
here's a linky:
keel band help - World Sea Fishing Forums

 

[tribs]

Hey Tribs, got any photos?
i would suggest keeping/using the stainless keel band rather than any other alternative. Dry out the original screw holes and fill with an epoxy filler/adhesive, then re-use those holes, maybe with a few extra?
Some people suggest bonding the keel band with an adhesive, but if you prep it properly then the bond would be stronger than the laminate - ok until you do want to change the keel band!
Some other people suggest glassing over the keel band, but imo thats just creating hassle and why would you want to grind off the gelcoat to do that?
here's a linky:
keel band help - World Sea Fishing Forums

Great link! I reckon the keel has been replaced 4 maybe 5 times judging by the number of holes in it. I know this boat has been kept on my local beach for 20 years plus, its only the owners which have changed. We have only repaired it since we've had it my fishing buddy and I. I was considering: filling all holes, adding some fibre glass to cover it all in, then adding a soft wood false keel, enclosing that it fibreglass to screw into and then finely adding a new band on the top. Seems like the priciest option may last the longest.

Opinion? Thanks again Jonny

Tribs

 

[bobdonny]

Great link! I reckon the keel has been replaced 4 maybe 5 times judging by the number of holes in it. I know this boat has been kept on my local beach for 20 years plus, its only the owners which have changed. We have only repaired it since we've had it my fishing buddy and I. I was considering: filling all holes, adding some fibre glass to cover it all in, then adding a soft wood false keel, enclosing that it fibreglass to screw into and then finely adding a new band on the top. Seems like the priciest option may last the longest.

Opinion? Thanks again Jonny

Tribs

I'd say the cheapest option and keep fixing it, I would have no problem re-doing the screws every year. Even re-filling each year. In my boat the rule of thumb is strip out all the crap and keep it simple... less to go wrong that way