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Author Topic:   Keel Guard Coming Off

JonGold posted 08-23-2009 10:55 AM ET (US)
Hi:
I just got a 1987 Montauk and the previous owner had put on a keel guard.
It is coming off in 2 places. The 3M adhesive is stuck to the hull real good but the guard itself has pulled away from the tape in a couple of places. My question is which adhesive should I squirt on the tape? I plan on pushing the guard back against the tape, holding it with stripes of plywood, and dowels wedged to to ground. Any other ideas or suggestions? I am sure you guys have had to fix this problem before. I've now completed 39 items on a 46 item better fix-it list.
Thanks.....
Oh yea, this is my first post. Tons of helpful information on this website.

high sierra posted 08-23-2009 12:29 PM ET (US)
Jon, rip it off and redo it with a new one. It wasn't prepared right. high sierra
skred posted 08-23-2009 01:11 PM ET (US)
Why not contact 3M and ask them to send you some of the same adhesive used on the guard, then prepare the surface according to their instructions?
SC Joe posted 08-23-2009 03:42 PM ET (US)
Keel Guard recommends a flexible epoxy like FlexSet to fix the loss of adhesion from tape keel guard. The separation described has nothing to do with surface prep.
I have had two keel guards on two different boats do the same as was described by the original poster; they both separated from the tape where they went over the ends of the boat's strakes.
I applied the FlexSet epoxy and put pressure on it while it dried by wedging a 2x4 cut to length between it and the trailer. While it did fix it, I was a somewhat let down with Keel Guard as they know the product will do this, but they will not provide the flexible epoxy to repair it. The Flexset cost about $20; add this to the cost of the KeelGuard and it makes a $130 product a $150 product.
Slippery Eel posted 08-24-2009 10:40 AM ET (US)
I too have had both sides of my Keel Guard separate from the adhesive. Mine separated at the top of the guard that is shaped around the bow ridge. I used 5200 to fix the separation. Wedged some wood in and let cure for a few days. The first fix done last year has held up so far.
Tohsgib posted 08-24-2009 12:12 PM ET (US)
I would not rip it off, I would try and fix the spots. Mine came loose and was flapping around so I cut it, keel-guard sent me a new one for free which was nice. I have yet to put it on because I need to adjust my lift. I think the point where it rested on the lift caused it to seperate. Because of this be carefull if using keel rollers, etc.
kwik_wurk posted 08-24-2009 01:31 PM ET (US)
From my own installation of the keel guard; I stopped just short of the first rakes on my Montauk for this reason.
I suggest to anyone putting a new one on: avoid the sharp corners/radii (strakes), because it can only lead to problems. (Or use a filler.)
I really like my keel guard, with black bottom paint it's not noticeable. And I did seal up the adhesive edges with bottom paint. (But the paint is permeable, so I don't know how much it is really helping.)
tedious posted 08-24-2009 02:55 PM ET (US)
I spoke with Keelguard customer service myself about 6 weeks ago, and they provided a list of products to re-attach my Keelguard where it pulled loose at the bow. The one I remember (and used) is from Devcon, called "plastic welder." It is a 2-part epoxy and is hands-down the nastiest-smelling glue I have ever used, but it worked very well.
I would call Keelguard customer service before doing anything - they were very helpful. You might even end up with a free replacement, as it's my understanding that the 3M product should never pull loose from the Keelguard itself. In my case, the 3M product pulled off the hull, so they called it an installation problem.
Tim
Denny posted 09-02-2009 04:32 PM ET (US)
If you have rollers on the keel and not bunks the Keel guard will eventually separate from the hull. Use of Keel guard on a boat with rollers on the trailer is not recommended. I have had the guard replaced twice(at not cost)but with the same eventual results. The company has been very good standing by the produce but unless I alter my trailers design the guard will come off.
I think Keel guard is a good product I just wish they had a adhesive that would work with rollers.
JonGold posted 09-05-2009 12:07 PM ET (US)
Gentlemen:
I emailed Keel Guard and they responded the next day.
They offered to sell me another one at 50% off of retail.
I did the 1x3 and dowels to the ground and trailer in the 2 places it had come loose with some 2 part epoxy from Home Depot (nothing fancy). I prepped it by wiping all surfaces down a couple of times with acetone to clean it. It went back on perfectly. Now we will just have to see how long it lasts.
I do have keel rollers on my trailer so we will have to see what impact that has on the fix. The keel guard was originally installed above the first strake and that is where it began to separate (for a distance of about 20") in one of the locations. The other separation was at the rear end of the keel guard (about 6"long). I'm guessing the rear end bumps on the rollers at launching. It is a 5 ft. section overall.
Thanks for all your suggestions......
Jon

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Author	Topic: Keel Guard Coming Off
JonGold	posted 08-23-2009 10:55 AM ET (US) Hi: I just got a 1987 Montauk and the previous owner had put on a keel guard. It is coming off in 2 places. The 3M adhesive is stuck to the hull real good but the guard itself has pulled away from the tape in a couple of places. My question is which adhesive should I squirt on the tape? I plan on pushing the guard back against the tape, holding it with stripes of plywood, and dowels wedged to to ground. Any other ideas or suggestions? I am sure you guys have had to fix this problem before. I've now completed 39 items on a 46 item better fix-it list. Thanks..... Oh yea, this is my first post. Tons of helpful information on this website.
high sierra	posted 08-23-2009 12:29 PM ET (US) Jon, rip it off and redo it with a new one. It wasn't prepared right. high sierra
skred	posted 08-23-2009 01:11 PM ET (US) Why not contact 3M and ask them to send you some of the same adhesive used on the guard, then prepare the surface according to their instructions?
SC Joe	posted 08-23-2009 03:42 PM ET (US) Keel Guard recommends a flexible epoxy like FlexSet to fix the loss of adhesion from tape keel guard. The separation described has nothing to do with surface prep. I have had two keel guards on two different boats do the same as was described by the original poster; they both separated from the tape where they went over the ends of the boat's strakes. I applied the FlexSet epoxy and put pressure on it while it dried by wedging a 2x4 cut to length between it and the trailer. While it did fix it, I was a somewhat let down with Keel Guard as they know the product will do this, but they will not provide the flexible epoxy to repair it. The Flexset cost about $20; add this to the cost of the KeelGuard and it makes a $130 product a $150 product.
Slippery Eel	posted 08-24-2009 10:40 AM ET (US) I too have had both sides of my Keel Guard separate from the adhesive. Mine separated at the top of the guard that is shaped around the bow ridge. I used 5200 to fix the separation. Wedged some wood in and let cure for a few days. The first fix done last year has held up so far.
Tohsgib	posted 08-24-2009 12:12 PM ET (US) I would not rip it off, I would try and fix the spots. Mine came loose and was flapping around so I cut it, keel-guard sent me a new one for free which was nice. I have yet to put it on because I need to adjust my lift. I think the point where it rested on the lift caused it to seperate. Because of this be carefull if using keel rollers, etc.
kwik_wurk	posted 08-24-2009 01:31 PM ET (US) From my own installation of the keel guard; I stopped just short of the first rakes on my Montauk for this reason. I suggest to anyone putting a new one on: avoid the sharp corners/radii (strakes), because it can only lead to problems. (Or use a filler.) I really like my keel guard, with black bottom paint it's not noticeable. And I did seal up the adhesive edges with bottom paint. (But the paint is permeable, so I don't know how much it is really helping.)
tedious	posted 08-24-2009 02:55 PM ET (US) I spoke with Keelguard customer service myself about 6 weeks ago, and they provided a list of products to re-attach my Keelguard where it pulled loose at the bow. The one I remember (and used) is from Devcon, called "plastic welder." It is a 2-part epoxy and is hands-down the nastiest-smelling glue I have ever used, but it worked very well. I would call Keelguard customer service before doing anything - they were very helpful. You might even end up with a free replacement, as it's my understanding that the 3M product should never pull loose from the Keelguard itself. In my case, the 3M product pulled off the hull, so they called it an installation problem. Tim
Denny	posted 09-02-2009 04:32 PM ET (US) If you have rollers on the keel and not bunks the Keel guard will eventually separate from the hull. Use of Keel guard on a boat with rollers on the trailer is not recommended. I have had the guard replaced twice(at not cost)but with the same eventual results. The company has been very good standing by the produce but unless I alter my trailers design the guard will come off. I think Keel guard is a good product I just wish they had a adhesive that would work with rollers.
JonGold	posted 09-05-2009 12:07 PM ET (US) Gentlemen: I emailed Keel Guard and they responded the next day. They offered to sell me another one at 50% off of retail. I did the 1x3 and dowels to the ground and trailer in the 2 places it had come loose with some 2 part epoxy from Home Depot (nothing fancy). I prepped it by wiping all surfaces down a couple of times with acetone to clean it. It went back on perfectly. Now we will just have to see how long it lasts. I do have keel rollers on my trailer so we will have to see what impact that has on the fix. The keel guard was originally installed above the first strake and that is where it began to separate (for a distance of about 20") in one of the locations. The other separation was at the rear end of the keel guard (about 6"long). I'm guessing the rear end bumps on the rollers at launching. It is a 5 ft. section overall. Thanks for all your suggestions...... Jon