Keel strips

I used Keel Easy on a couple of my boats. It is quite wear resistant, still looks new after quite a few years, although I am fairly careful launching and landing. Mine has stayed firmly attached to the hull, which was my initial concern. I'm not sure, at this stage, if it would remove easily.

I used a heat gun during the initial application... Stuck it on, then warmed it and rubbed it down onto the hull. This helped it conform too.

Scratches on the hulls of the protected boats, wouldn't ya know it, always seem to just miss the keel easy strip, so perhaps engaging with Sod's law is where it truly excels.

Overall I am happy with it, although it is not cheap, but it is easy.

Et

You are welcome, Randy.

Last thing I did on the boats, after the varnish had cured for a couple of weeks. I think the application of heat helps with good adhesion, as well as having a smooth surface to bond to. I sense it would not stick as well on a sanded or abraded surface. The instructions advocate the judicial use of a bit of heat.

I did keep an eye on it for the first couple of outings, giving it an extra rub down or two for good luck. It seems to stick more tenaciously as time passes. I had some offcuts stuck to scrap cockpit cutout to test. They did pull off, cleanly, with a bit of effort. I doubt it would be so easy now, but I won't test it for you. Anything can be tested to destruction, with enough determination.

Good products can get poor reviews if they are not used correctly, or the preparation is not right. Fortunately, this stuff is noninvasive, and if it doesn't work out it is only at the cost of a few $$$, and not major surgery.

Et

Hi,

    I have used the product to cover a worn keel section on the curve portion of the bow of a kayak I was asked to repair. The one thing I discovered is that the material did not like to stay stuck on a curve. The next time I use it I will apply heat (thanks for the idea ET) and use some fiberglass reinforced tape (super packing tape) to hold it in position for about a week while the glue cures and hope the material's shape memory is NOT strong enough to overpower the glue's holding strength. I feel it is a great product for use where the curves are gentle. It is a definite improvement over merely replacing worn through gel coat.  But it needs some help to stay stuck when applied to a curved surface. 

John Van Buren

Et said:

 it is only at the cost of a few $$$

It's not cheap - $4+ USD per foot.

There's a lot of good info (product and install) at the Kayak Academy website (KA has also given me very good mail order service in the past):

https://www.kayakacademy.com/products/keel-eazy-keel-strip-by-the-foot?variant=1019113559

There are 2 different types of Keel Eazy with different adhesives.

I've helped friends put KeelEazy on their boats but don't use it myself. I can repair the boat if it gets scratched or worn.

KeelEazy is a bit 'soft' and several people have told me that they felt their boats 'got hung up' on underwater rocks more easily after they added KeelEazy.

Full length keel strips work best on V-bottom boats - examine the scratch pattern on a boat that's been used and you will see that many scratches in the mid-boat  region aren't on the mid-line. Keel Eazy will peel off if you try to use a short strip to protect the keel aft - full boat length is better.

Adding a thick 'stripe' of silica-loaded, pigmented epoxy, with or without glass tape will be cheaper and harder than KeelEazy, IMO.

John is right. Keeleasy's main function is to ensure that any rocks encountered catch you at least an inch and a half off the centreline.

Et.

Shameless plug... I am a dealer for KeelEazy and have black and white 2" strips in stock.

https://www.moonlightmarine.net/store/p19/Keeleazy_keel_strip.html

Cheers,

Dan

Dan Thaler said:

Shameless plug... I am a dealer for KeelEazy and have black and white 2" strips in stock.

Is that the 'Plastic boat' adhesive or the 'Composite/Regular' adhesive product?

According to Kayak Academy, the 'Plastic' version is recommended for all boats.

John, what I have is the Original KealEazy which  "has a universal adhesive that adheres to materials such as ABS, Polyethylene, varnish, plastic, metal, and wood as well as fiberglass and Kevlar. "

Thanks for your order, Randy!

Randy, I opted to use brass strips, each about 4 feet long, set in epoxy and screwed down. Been using them for about 15 years now, they've only now just loosened a bit so as a part of my kayak restoration project I'll shove some thickened epoxy under them to reset them firmly into place. I bought them at a boat supply shop in Edmonton, Alberta. They're heavier than tape style strips but I bang em up pretty badly 

I think it would be a good addon!