OUTRAGE 18 Keel Repair - Moderated Discussion Areas

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Author Topic:   OUTRAGE 18 Keel Repair

frstevec posted 02-10-2013 05:47 PM ET (US)
Greetings. [I] am removing bottom paint [from a Boston Whaler OUTRAGE 18] to reveal needed repairs and then new bottom paint. The big problem [I] found is wear through the gel coat and into fiberglas on the keel, about 5-feet total, 1-1/2-inch wide at widest point. Looking at other threads it seems thickened epoxy repair will do the repair with a gel coat covering. [I] am considering adding a keel guard strip 5-feet to protect the repair, but [I] the boat is kept on a keel roller trailer. Today a boat repairman suggested that [I] make the repair with 6-inch wide woven kevlar, epoxy, and gel coat, and skip the keel guard. He said the kevlar would be strong and the guard unnecessary. [I] haven't seen anything about kevlar repairs over fiberglass. [I]s this a good option? Thanks. Steve
prj posted 02-11-2013 09:49 AM ET (US)
My bow roller did, in fact, delaminate my KeelGuard. I rec'd a second KeelGuard from that exceptional company and modified my trailer to eliminate the deep forefoot contact with the bow roller.
I had a local metal fabricator weld up a vee-bunk configuration and mounted that just astern of the bow roller, and a bit higher. This is a 1990 Outrage-18. I don't have any experience with Kevlar keel shields.
Here are a couple images of the modification:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25169902@N00/4897468765/in/photostream/ lightbox/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25169902@N00/4898069984/in/photostream/ lightbox/
jimh posted 02-13-2013 08:35 AM ET (US)
I don't think that Kevlar is normally used to make keel guards. I think materials like ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) plastics are more typically used to provide resistance to abrasion in an application like a keel guard.
Cf.: http://continuouswave.com/whaler/radio/media/westPart2.mp3
DVollrath posted 02-13-2013 02:34 PM ET (US)
A nice article describing the relative characteristics of 2 common fibers in an epoxy layup is discussed here.
While the kevlar may have relatively good abrasion resistance, I'd be most concerned about using it as a keel guard due to its propensity to absorb water, leading to a loss of strength and possible delamination according to the article. If you break through the gel/epoxy when beaching, the kevlar would be exposed.
On the other hand, I know of some high end sea kayaks that are made with a kevlar layup. Anyone have any personal experience with one? Ours are glass, and I beat them up pretty good without issue.
jimh posted 02-13-2013 03:20 PM ET (US)
Kevlar might have good abrasion resistance, but it will not be on the surface of the keel to take abrasion. Kevlar will be encapsulated in the resin, under the resin surface. When the keel abrades against an object, the resin will be what wears away. Only after you have worn off the resin will you have the Kevlar material exposed.

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Author	Topic: OUTRAGE 18 Keel Repair
frstevec	posted 02-10-2013 05:47 PM ET (US) Greetings. [I] am removing bottom paint [from a Boston Whaler OUTRAGE 18] to reveal needed repairs and then new bottom paint. The big problem [I] found is wear through the gel coat and into fiberglas on the keel, about 5-feet total, 1-1/2-inch wide at widest point. Looking at other threads it seems thickened epoxy repair will do the repair with a gel coat covering. [I] am considering adding a keel guard strip 5-feet to protect the repair, but [I] the boat is kept on a keel roller trailer. Today a boat repairman suggested that [I] make the repair with 6-inch wide woven kevlar, epoxy, and gel coat, and skip the keel guard. He said the kevlar would be strong and the guard unnecessary. [I] haven't seen anything about kevlar repairs over fiberglass. [I]s this a good option? Thanks. Steve
prj	posted 02-11-2013 09:49 AM ET (US) My bow roller did, in fact, delaminate my KeelGuard. I rec'd a second KeelGuard from that exceptional company and modified my trailer to eliminate the deep forefoot contact with the bow roller. I had a local metal fabricator weld up a vee-bunk configuration and mounted that just astern of the bow roller, and a bit higher. This is a 1990 Outrage-18. I don't have any experience with Kevlar keel shields. Here are a couple images of the modification: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25169902@N00/4897468765/in/photostream/ lightbox/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/25169902@N00/4898069984/in/photostream/ lightbox/
jimh	posted 02-13-2013 08:35 AM ET (US) I don't think that Kevlar is normally used to make keel guards. I think materials like ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) plastics are more typically used to provide resistance to abrasion in an application like a keel guard. Cf.: http://continuouswave.com/whaler/radio/media/westPart2.mp3
DVollrath	posted 02-13-2013 02:34 PM ET (US) A nice article describing the relative characteristics of 2 common fibers in an epoxy layup is discussed here. While the kevlar may have relatively good abrasion resistance, I'd be most concerned about using it as a keel guard due to its propensity to absorb water, leading to a loss of strength and possible delamination according to the article. If you break through the gel/epoxy when beaching, the kevlar would be exposed. On the other hand, I know of some high end sea kayaks that are made with a kevlar layup. Anyone have any personal experience with one? Ours are glass, and I beat them up pretty good without issue.
jimh	posted 02-13-2013 03:20 PM ET (US) Kevlar might have good abrasion resistance, but it will not be on the surface of the keel to take abrasion. Kevlar will be encapsulated in the resin, under the resin surface. When the keel abrades against an object, the resin will be what wears away. Only after you have worn off the resin will you have the Kevlar material exposed.