What should I do when my boat starts leaking along the keel? Well, the first thing I should ask is what caused it to start leaking and how can I prevent it in the future. My boat started leaking from a damaged keel. I paid little attention to dragging it on and off the concrete ramps or the rip-rap after someone gets in or out. I realized one day it would catch up with me and boy, did it? It got to the point where my automatic bilge pump would stay on. It’s something you know you need to fix but you dread doing it yourself and it’s also hard to find someone that willing to fix it correctly.
Fixing and preventing a keel leak is a two-step process, patch the leak and protect the keel. I ran across a
product made by Gator Guards (www.gator-guards.com) called KEELSHIELD. It comes in
standard and Kevlar. It’s a lifetime guaranteed hull protection against abrasions,
scratches, and scars from concrete ramps, docks, and rocky shores.
If you fish the places like Grenada, Sardis, Enid, or any of the flood-control US Army COE
Lakes, you know what I’m referring to. The lake levels vary so often that installing a dock
is almost impossible at all the lake landings. You have no choice but to pull up onto the
concrete or rip-rap to load and unload. That’s where KEELSHIELD takes over, it is Total Hull Protection.
The KEELSHIELD works on any type boat, aluminum or fiberglass and it comes with detail install instructions.
I watched the installation video a few times and I followed the instructions precisely. I laid the shield out in the sun for about 30 to 45 minutes. This gets all the wrinkles out and ensured it was as flat as possible.
In my opinion, the two most important steps are preparation, cleaning the installation area with alcohol
several times. The alcohol does not leave a film like other cleaners. Scuffing the installation area is the second important step. Next comes the activator, apply this to the area and wait 5 minutes. While this was setting, I measured the area and cut the KEELSHIELD. I peeled the center sticker off and began sticking the shield. Once it was stuck in the center, I peeled each side and pressed it to the boat.
The KEELSHIELD bonded to the keel perfectly. I next applied a small bead of marine grade
sealant at the top and bottom of the shield. I waited approximately 12 hours before putting
the boat in the water. Check out their installation video at https://youtu.be/q42qqfafjpk, it
thoroughly explains the installation process step by step.
Gator Guards make several other neat products. The SKEGSHIELD protects the skeg of your engine. The
BOWSHIELD the installs above and around the trailer hook. It protects your bow from scratches caused by
bumping into docks, trailer hitches, and bow rollers. The Hitch Guard installs over your hitch ball eliminating
the painful injury to your knee or shin.
Finally, you can tell how good a product is based on the guarantee. KEELSHIELD has a lifetime warranty for the original purchaser. 100% satisfaction guaranteed for as long as you own your boat. That’s an excellent
warranty for a 100% USA Made Product. I like it because I only have to buy it one time. Bernard
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