Replacing KeelShield or KeelGuard

[biffdotorg]

Video and Pics to come.

For anyone having the joy of replacing their Keelshield, I have a couple quick tips for you as you tackle this fun job. Keep in mind, it is rewarding once done, but nobody will ever appreciate it as much as the guy who has done it before.

First off, removing the old Keelshield is not horribly difficult. A heat gun will loosen the adhesive and a partner to either pull, or run the heat gun would help. I do believe that a heat gun on this step may lessen your work later removing glue from the hull.

I had a couple inches of the trailing edge pulled loose, so I attached to it with a vise grip. I then looped a nylon figure 8 strap over the vise grip to give me a winch point. I then used the winch on the trailer to pull the Keelshield off the hull. This worked great and with very little effort.

After that, I spend a few quality hours under the boat on a creeper with heat gun in one hand, and plastic scraper in the other peeling off the left over glue.

Last night, I did this all over again with Goo Gone, and a Scotchbrite pad. I also had a palm sander with Scotchbrite pad attachments. This got 95% of it off. I ended up using a fine sand paper to get the tough stuff and the epoxy off that I had used to try and patch the peeling Keelshield off.

So now, I have a prepped hull for the new Keelshield. (thanks Walt) I just need to prep the spot with alcohol wipes and lay the new 10' Keelshield.

Prior to that, I am going to hit every inch I can reach with my orbital buffer and 3M buffing compound. I have realized how yellowed the hull is once this was removed. By the time I'm done, this hull will be as bright white as the top half.

Sorry for the lack of pics and video. I will have that up soon.

 

[biffdotorg]

Well instead of buffing the stained hull, I suspected something biological.

So I hit it with and algae remover. I have the front quarter of the hull done and it finally got too dark to see. I shot a couple photos. I hope it looks as good come daylight! Wow, I can’t wait to wash and polish it now!

I also included a photo of two “white” keelshields. It will give you an idea of how badly stained this hull was! It’s like it was never properly washed.

 

[biffdotorg]

Here is a quick edit of my removal of the damaged Keelshield. I thought someone may find it entertaining. I know Marley did. He looks so interested. HA

 

[Nick Barr]

Thanks for sharing!

Looks like you are going to get that hull back to brand new shape with the buffing and new KeelShield.

 

[biffdotorg]

I was pretty impressed at what that Starbrite EZ On EZ off chemical could do. I put gloves on the second it dripped on the driveway and bubbled up! WOW.

I had to check it out in the morning, as it got so dark, I could no longer see what I was wiping. I will have to redo some areas once I get it back on the lift. As the bunks on the lift are in a different position than the bunks on the trailer.

I'm thinking with a good coat of wax, I may pick up 5-10mph! HA!

Thanks for the kinds words. BTW, MY PECKS ARE POPPIN!!!! I can't lift my arms anymore laying under this thing and scrubbing!

 

[biffdotorg]

New Keelshield installed and hull is whitened. I love the finished look. And she is ready for water again!

Next will be time for the semi annual lick polish and buffing! And then time for bed. We are looking highs in the 50s this next week with overnight lows in the 30s.

 

[veedubtek]

We are looking highs in the 50s this next week with overnight lows in the 30s.

Hey! This is a family friendly site, no cussing like that!

Looks good buddy

 

[biffdotorg]

Welcome to MN in September. I had to beg the kids to drive the waverunners to the landing yesterday to load up for the season. It was 90 degrees yesterday and they could not understand why I wanted to winterize them

Today, we woke up to 45 degrees. We are not supposed to see below 43 this week. But the lakes have cooled off because of it. Right around 68 degree water yesterday was "refreshing" to say the least.

Since I have yet to actually clean and polish the boat for the season, I may be forced to host a catfishing happy hour on the Red River of the North. Chemically, it's very clean, but its super silty. So it leaves a nice residue on the hull. Nothing that won't wash off. But I will have to keep the fish isolated to the rear deck. But I think this boat with a half dozen friends and some 18-20lb catfish may be a blast. Let alone people will wonder why we would put a 24' glass boat into the river.

We have done this with our prior boat at 20ft and tower it got plenty of looks. But we are all about the fun factor. I will be sure to post up a video if we get out! Pray for sun!

 

[biffdotorg]

Just to milk this thread a bit longer, this is the time of year that I put on my weatherman's cap. I manage a facebook snowmobile group of roughly 168 members. One of the biggest topics this time of year is the weather.

We track weather models weeks outside of what the local meteorologists do. We see potential storms well in advance of any weatherman wanting to admit, as it is highly probably of being wrong. But snowmobilers always have an optimistic attitude towards potential snow. (just not this yearly)

Here is a graphic of a potential system coming in next week. Even if it doesn't snow, it means cold is coming and I need to get my cleaning and winterizations done this week!

 

[jetboater4life]

Thanks for the tips. I have to tackle the task of replacing my keelshield this week. It's coming off at the top and got destroyed on the bottom by my drive on lift. It lasted 8 years.

 

[biffdotorg]

Thanks for the tips. I have to tackle the task of replacing my keelshield this week. It's coming off at the top and got destroyed on the bottom by my drive on lift. It lasted 8 years.

The vice grip and winch worked really well. I would highly recommend it.

 

[jetboater4life]

The vice grip and winch worked really well. I would highly recommend it.

That approach worked great. As you can see in these photos 90% or more of the black spongey stuff came off. I had three helpers. One to slowly crank the winch, and one on the other h side under the jacked up trailer on a creeper with plastic scrapers in hand. We had a heat gun heating it up as we went and were able to keep the black stuff peeling back with the heat gun and scrapers. It was a three person job but saved a ton of time. Probably 10 man hours total time into it, including using the spray on gel goo gone.