I have an Old Town canoe made of Royalex. I want to put a keel guard on the bow and stern. What would you use for the guard?
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Keel guards
- Thread starter DBix
- Start date
The factory offers a skid plate kit as shown at https://oldtownwatercraft.johnsonou...ries-parts/parts-repairs-other/skid-plate-kit and other suppliers offer similar kits for less. Good luck,
Benson
Benson
For canoes, these protective layers along the stems and part of the keel are called "skid plates". We have many threads here discussing whether and when skid plates are needed—people disagree—and how to make and install them with many photos. Use the site's search function for the term "skid plates" and check the box to search titles only.
Buying your own materials and installing yourself is much less expensive than buying a kit. As to what material to use, my memory of the consensus here is that Kevlar felt is too bulky and ugly, that Dynel is probably the most durable material to use, and that S-glass is probably in second place.
Buying your own materials and installing yourself is much less expensive than buying a kit. As to what material to use, my memory of the consensus here is that Kevlar felt is too bulky and ugly, that Dynel is probably the most durable material to use, and that S-glass is probably in second place.
I use Dynel fabric with West Systems G/flex epoxy.
You might post a picture(s) of the ends in their current state, application might change slightly if they are heavily worn vs just a few light scrapes.
The required tools are very simple and cheap, maybe most important is a good pair of scissors to cut the fabric and a roller of some sort to ensure you wet out the fabric fully without over using the epoxy.
Another good thing to get in addition to the fabric would be a piece of peel ply.
If you read some of the posts mentioned by @Glenn MacGrady you'll find the lots of details of what is needed and tips on little thinks that will make the final result look good and last a long time. My boats are beat up, I do a lot of messy patch jobs but even I am able to produce a reasonably nice skid plate.
You might post a picture(s) of the ends in their current state, application might change slightly if they are heavily worn vs just a few light scrapes.
The required tools are very simple and cheap, maybe most important is a good pair of scissors to cut the fabric and a roller of some sort to ensure you wet out the fabric fully without over using the epoxy.
Another good thing to get in addition to the fabric would be a piece of peel ply.
If you read some of the posts mentioned by @Glenn MacGrady you'll find the lots of details of what is needed and tips on little thinks that will make the final result look good and last a long time. My boats are beat up, I do a lot of messy patch jobs but even I am able to produce a reasonably nice skid plate.
Can you link any videos/threads shopwing the Dynel/G/flex epoxy mothod? I can only find kevlar video. Is it the same Method as Kevlar, just the different materials?
More Skid Plate Repairs and Retrofits
The skid plates on my favorite RX big boy tripper, the soloized Penobscot 16, are kevlar felt with OT urethane resin, still firm and flush-ish to the hull. That was one of the last kevlar felt skid plate kits I ever installed; even done properly, smoothed down with beveled edges, I curse the day...
www.canoetripping.net
