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RDW · 27-10-2012, 08:17

I have a rib dinghy. over the past 4 years I have managed to wear the hard bottom down to the fiberglass by pulling it on the sand. I know that I should do better but I usually do not have enough people to carry it up far enough, especially when I am in Maine.
I am planning to repair the bottom. I have thought about putting something like a rubbing strake running fore and aft on the back of the bottom to take the wear instead of the bottom. I have not researched this much. I am interested in any thoughts out there.
RDW

**Sailmonkey** · 27-10-2012, 09:04

It took you 4 years!!!! I pulled off that little trick in 9 months!

I'm looking to do something like the keel guard product, just haven't gotten around to it yet.

**senormechanico** · 27-10-2012, 10:37

If it's just gelcoat, why not mix up some MarineTex epoxy and call it good?

**colemj** · 27-10-2012, 15:28

Keelshield.com has products for that, but they are expensive.

How about epoxying one or two layers of kevlar tape on the keel?

Mark

**Wanderlust** · 27-10-2012, 17:49

The repair shops can glue a hard rubber strip to the bottom of the V on the keel for a reasonable price.

I just got my Zodiac RIB back from a transom reglue, and it was $100 extra to repair a hole worn in the keel and glue the strip on.

No doubt you could buy the materials and do it yourself but probably not save much.