I’ve made my own keel guard from sch 40 1” pvc. Cut it to the length you need, then cut it in half. Use a heat gun to flat it out somewhat then carefully heat it and form it to the shape you need. Once it’s cooled I trim the ends down so theres a smooth transition from the front of the keel to the pvc. Paint it. Once it’s dried, put 3m outdoor double-sides type on the side that is going to the kayak. Then seal edges with marine grade sealant. Once I do start to wear it down I can just make and replace it. You can get a foot of pvc for less than $10 bucks so there’s enough to make multiple keel guards. 🎉
Truckers knot and Rope. I use 3 pieces of "Mule Tape" (a type of "strap" used for pulling wire under ground, has about 3500 lbs of tensile strength) tied in 3 different locations to my roof rack. You can pull it as tight as you like you Won't over tighten. Everything I know about loading or beaching my kayak has come from watching your videos. Thanks for the tips.
You and Jeff Little @the little stuff on RUclips are the 2 most informative/teaching channels here. The Wendell guy has some good content as well. Thanks for the info Chad.
Not to take away from Wendell Fishing, I do subscribe to his channel and find his tips very helpful, but Berkley Pro has keel guards for most kayaks. Just incase someone is not as handy as Darren Wendell is to make their own. Thanks to Both you and Wendell Fishing. Both are very helpful to us kayakers.
Thanks Tod, I guess that I overlooked them because they don’t make one for the SS127 and it’s what I fish out of most. When I review kayak for videos that they make a keel guard for I will order one and recommend it. Thanks again
That's where I got the idea for my kydex keel guard! They aren't bulletproof, but they get the job done. I carry my kayak in the back of my truck and I learned to load it on the tailgate from the side at an angle. Also, it's a good idea to use a cart to load and unload on a level surface. A loaded kayak will not stay on the tailgate or in the bed at all on a boat ramp.....I discovered that the hard way and that's why I learned to make the keel guard...😂
I’ve been using that for years! It’s Great stuff! When I sold my 2013 Hobie Outback in 2019, the guy I sold it to commented how new it looked! I now have the new 2019 Outback and have been diligently spraying down my Outback with the “303 Protectant” every 4 months since I bought it. I have found it on eBay in 1 gallon jugs since I discovered how well it works, I have several (303 protectant) empty spray bottles I use to refill so I always have some on hand to use wherever I am!
So Kydex is good but...in my opinion Gator Patches get the 'gold' for keel guards/repairs. These are easy to work with, rigid (once set), durable, and the adhesive is unbelievable. Unfortunately, they are expensive and only come in a gray color, but if PROTECTION is what you're after, you cant beat them. No matter what you choose, make sure you round off any sharp corners as those are the most prone to catch and lift. The last tip in the video is spot on. I never "flop" down into my kayak, yet I have torn the plastic where the seat rests twice now. To remedy this, I made some Kydex molds to reinforce these areas. I would highly recommend others do this. Make sure they are wide enough to DISPERSE weight across a larger area and connect them to thicker plastic areas like vertical surfaces. Of course you could do this with Gator Patches too. I don't know why kayak manufactures makes this area so wimpy considering the majority of the weight literally sits on these points.
I have been using Flex seal paint (clear) as a keel guard on my yaks. Two coats and I can get a season of use. Touch it up in the spring and so far it’s been good to go. Common sense stuff like you recommended practice of not beaching head on will go a long way to protect the keel as well.
Good advice. Years of experience in upholstery molding and working with kydex and other similar materials, so please let me know if there's any way I could be of assistance with the development of factory keel guards.
I use feelfree cam buckles and my tie downs for the front and back are the para rope with the ratcheting mechanism .... Definitely need to look into that 303 great uplaod....
Excellent video and yes, 303 is the best! Been using it for many years on cars and now on my kayak. Wendell Fishing (Daren) is an awesome dude and a great channel to follow if you are into kayaks and bass fishing. His keel guard video was really well done. I recently made a video using fiberglass mat as a keel guard. Not as pretty as Kydex but very easy to shape and cover more of an area then Kydex.
What about storage of a kayak? I don't have a way to store flat or on a cart. I hang mine using kayak storage straps hanging it side ways on a wall. Will definitely pick up some of that spray
I have mixed results with that 303 product. My house shutters are red, which sun apparently destroys and leaves a white smeary residue on. I could scrub it all I want but it comes right back a day later. If I spray 303 on the shutters look brand new for about five months, so twice a year I spray and wipe my shutters and they look new. Yet other things I put 303 on it seems to wash right off in the first rain, and my kayak seems to be one of those because it's so slick.
It’s more obvious on the shutters, but if you spray it on, wipe it down and let it dry, it’s protecting the other stuff too , even if it’s doesn’t “feel” like it
This is a great subject. I just researched protectants for Polyethylene on my Titan, and ended up at Hobie. They of course recommend their own product, but it does claim to be absorbed by the plastic, whereas the second product I found as a possible was the 303. It's highly recommended,but the absorption got me so I used Hobies. I hope you can settle this for us, as it's very important. Thanks Chad.
I obtain an old town that seems in good condition. Unfortunately it was left outside for over a year, is there anything I can do or should get it in better condition? Already plan on washing it and using Aerospace.
Simple Green or any good Citrus based cleaner should do the trick. Take it to one of the car washes where you use the wand to wash it and the high pressure usually knocks most of that stuff off as well
And.. and.. never sit down in your kayak in the driveway. I've done a lot of research on kayaks and this isn't mentioned enough. One more comment... I have found Crescent Kayaks to be the easiest kayaks to paddle. Ease of paddling a fishing kayak is incredible. 👍
I would imagine that in some level or dosage that it wouldn’t be, but when you wipe it on and remove the excess, it’s only applied to the top and much of it is absorbed by the substrate then I can imagine there being enough to pose any real threat
Using a bow line during transport should be on the list too. Having a fishing kayak fly off the roof of your vehicle isn’t safe for anyone…and it does happen.
@@ChadHooverFishing I'll use the method you suggest. I've noticed the hull of one of my kayaks has a slight bow to it that may be the result of aggressive ratchet strapping. Thanks!
Wondering about the 303 protection. I'm having trouble finding any info on its toxicity. Is it environmentally friendly, will exposure to it give me cancer or other health issues? It may protect your boat great but health is more important. Ya know, Roundup does a great job killing weeds but it'll also kill you down the road with a horrible disease.
It’s very safe relative to other alternatives out there. Here is the safety sheet. www.303products.com.au/media/documents/sds/22/sds-303-protectant-26-5-20.pdf
Not too be a smart ass but y not make a yac out of tuff stuff or aluminum, or Kevlar,,excellent advice tho,and I get $ deal in manufacturing but really
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Y’all please consider joining KBF to help support the channel. Thanks in advance.
www.kayakbassfishing.com/join/
I’ve made my own keel guard from sch 40 1” pvc. Cut it to the length you need, then cut it in half. Use a heat gun to flat it out somewhat then carefully heat it and form it to the shape you need. Once it’s cooled I trim the ends down so theres a smooth transition from the front of the keel to the pvc. Paint it. Once it’s dried, put 3m outdoor double-sides type on the side that is going to the kayak. Then seal edges with marine grade sealant. Once I do start to wear it down I can just make and replace it. You can get a foot of pvc for less than $10 bucks so there’s enough to make multiple keel guards. 🎉
Thanks Steven. I will look into that too
Great tips Chad. 303 is magic for keeping your kayak looking new and fresh. Cheers!
Truckers knot and Rope. I use 3 pieces of "Mule Tape" (a type of "strap" used for pulling wire under ground, has about 3500 lbs of tensile strength) tied in 3 different locations to my roof rack. You can pull it as tight as you like you Won't over tighten. Everything I know about loading or beaching my kayak has come from watching your videos.
Thanks for the tips.
Thanks Frank
Excellent points Chad. Thanks to you, I come to the ramp sideways. So much easier to exit even on windy days.
That’s awesome Dennis. Glad I could help
Thanks for serving our country!
Thanks Dan
Hey Chad, Thanks for the shout out.. Appreciate it brother. Keep up the good work.
Thank you and likewise. Check your DMs on IG and give me a call when you can please.
@@ChadHooverFishing Will do
You and Jeff Little @the little stuff on RUclips are the 2 most informative/teaching channels here. The Wendell guy has some good content as well. Thanks for the info Chad.
Thanks John. 🙏
I appreciate these tips especially as a newer Kayak owner.
Not to take away from Wendell Fishing, I do subscribe to his channel and find his tips very helpful, but Berkley Pro has keel guards for most kayaks. Just incase someone is not as handy as Darren Wendell is to make their own. Thanks to Both you and Wendell Fishing. Both are very helpful to us kayakers.
Thanks Tod, I guess that I overlooked them because they don’t make one for the SS127 and it’s what I fish out of most.
When I review kayak for videos that they make a keel guard for I will order one and recommend it. Thanks again
@@ChadHooverFishing they do make one for the SS127. $49.00. Mariner sails have them in stock. If they don’t make a model they will make one quickly
Berleypro makes keel guards but only for hobie native and wilderness a few others but not for all kayaks that guy has a great idea for custom ones!!
Thanks Steve
That's where I got the idea for my kydex keel guard! They aren't bulletproof, but they get the job done. I carry my kayak in the back of my truck and I learned to load it on the tailgate from the side at an angle. Also, it's a good idea to use a cart to load and unload on a level surface. A loaded kayak will not stay on the tailgate or in the bed at all on a boat ramp.....I discovered that the hard way and that's why I learned to make the keel guard...😂
I’ve been using that for years! It’s Great stuff! When I sold my 2013 Hobie Outback in 2019, the guy I sold it to commented how new it looked! I now have the new 2019 Outback and have been diligently spraying down my Outback with the “303 Protectant” every 4 months since I bought it. I have found it on eBay in 1 gallon jugs since I discovered how well it works, I have several (303 protectant) empty spray bottles I use to refill so I always have some on hand to use wherever I am!
I ordered some 303 / great product. Thanks for info on it .
So Kydex is good but...in my opinion Gator Patches get the 'gold' for keel guards/repairs. These are easy to work with, rigid (once set), durable, and the adhesive is unbelievable. Unfortunately, they are expensive and only come in a gray color, but if PROTECTION is what you're after, you cant beat them. No matter what you choose, make sure you round off any sharp corners as those are the most prone to catch and lift. The last tip in the video is spot on. I never "flop" down into my kayak, yet I have torn the plastic where the seat rests twice now. To remedy this, I made some Kydex molds to reinforce these areas. I would highly recommend others do this. Make sure they are wide enough to DISPERSE weight across a larger area and connect them to thicker plastic areas like vertical surfaces. Of course you could do this with Gator Patches too. I don't know why kayak manufactures makes this area so wimpy considering the majority of the weight literally sits on these points.
YES! dude I was gonna ask on your next vid about this thank youuu
Thank you! Maybe I’m becoming psychic…. 😂😂😂
Before I even put my kayak in the water I added a keel guard! Great video any time I have a question about kayaking I pull up your channel!
I have been using Flex seal paint (clear) as a keel guard on my yaks. Two coats and I can get a season of use. Touch it up in the spring and so far it’s been good to go. Common sense stuff like you recommended practice of not beaching head on will go a long way to protect the keel as well.
Thanks for sharing Jeff.
Good advice. Years of experience in upholstery molding and working with kydex and other similar materials, so please let me know if there's any way I could be of assistance with the development of factory keel guards.
As always thanks for the useful information, especially on how expensive these kayaks have become it only makes sense too take good care of it
Thank you
4 good suggestions and the one about the straps is serious. I put dents in the bottom of my hull using cam straps. Then I see your video, figures 😝
I use feelfree cam buckles and my tie downs for the front and back are the para rope with the ratcheting mechanism .... Definitely need to look into that 303 great uplaod....
Excellent video and yes, 303 is the best! Been using it for many years on cars and now on my kayak.
Wendell Fishing (Daren) is an awesome dude and a great channel to follow if you are into kayaks and bass fishing.
His keel guard video was really well done. I recently made a video using fiberglass mat as a keel guard. Not as pretty as Kydex but very easy to shape and cover more of an area then Kydex.
Great info! I bent the frame on my seat falling off balance one time. Only 220lbs but it’s something I’m much more careful of. 303 is the business!
Thanks Heath
What about storage of a kayak? I don't have a way to store flat or on a cart. I hang mine using kayak storage straps hanging it side ways on a wall. Will definitely pick up some of that spray
I will add that to my list of videos to shoot. Thank you!!
Native watercraft now makes front and rear keel guards for their kayaks! I'm not sure about other companies though
👍
I use a pull/ nose strap to sit down n get up . Great tips brother. Set the hook brother
Great ideas my fellow fisherman. Thanks!
Bumper bro berley pro guard is the bees knees. It’s a must buy for any kayak and the first upgrade that should be done.
Thanks! I’m going to check them out
What about Kevlar skid plates? I put them on my Mad River Duck Hunter canoe with a Royalex hull and they have held up very well.
There just aren’t that many models and you can’t shape Kevlar as easily
I have mixed results with that 303 product. My house shutters are red, which sun apparently destroys and leaves a white smeary residue on. I could scrub it all I want but it comes right back a day later. If I spray 303 on the shutters look brand new for about five months, so twice a year I spray and wipe my shutters and they look new. Yet other things I put 303 on it seems to wash right off in the first rain, and my kayak seems to be one of those because it's so slick.
It’s more obvious on the shutters, but if you spray it on, wipe it down and let it dry, it’s protecting the other stuff too , even if it’s doesn’t “feel” like it
This is a great subject. I just researched protectants for Polyethylene on my Titan, and ended up at Hobie. They of course recommend their own product, but it does claim to be absorbed by the plastic, whereas the second product I found as a possible was the 303.
It's highly recommended,but the absorption got me so I used Hobies.
I hope you can settle this for us, as it's very important.
Thanks Chad.
I will do some research on it and get back to you. Thanks for the heads up
@@ChadHooverFishing Thanks!
Thanks, your tips help a lot.
Thanks Milton. Glad I could help.
You can still use rachet straps, just put something soft (pool noodle, foam block) between the boat and the strap. You have to offer support.
Another great video! Keep up the good work shipmate!
Chad?
We just started using 303 glad to here we made the right decision
been using 303 for yrs... makes the yak look brand new
I’d add gator skin and an easy to use keel guard. And at 250 I agree we can plop hard.
Bugs taste good!!! Lol. Thanks for the advice Chad. I really appreciate it.
Great advice thank you
Your Chanel is really good
I obtain an old town that seems in good condition. Unfortunately it was left outside for over a year, is there anything I can do or should get it in better condition? Already plan on washing it and using Aerospace.
Simple Green or any good Citrus based cleaner should do the trick. Take it to one of the car washes where you use the wand to wash it and the high pressure usually knocks most of that stuff off as well
Great tips Thanks
Thank you
And.. and.. never sit down in your kayak in the driveway. I've done a lot of research on kayaks and this isn't mentioned enough. One more comment... I have found Crescent Kayaks to be the easiest kayaks to paddle. Ease of paddling a fishing kayak is incredible. 👍
Hi Chad! So I roof my 120 PDL on my Durango (not easy). I fear that if I don’t body weight tighten it, she’s gonna fly off and kill someone.
It doesn’t need to be that tight
Good stuff. Thanks! 👍🏾
Is 303 safe for local waters? Are surfactants good for wildlife?
I would imagine that in some level or dosage that it wouldn’t be, but when you wipe it on and remove the excess, it’s only applied to the top and much of it is absorbed by the substrate then I can imagine there being enough to pose any real threat
Nice video, very helpful!
Good stuff!!
Using a bow line during transport should be on the list too. Having a fishing kayak fly off the roof of your vehicle isn’t safe for anyone…and it does happen.
One objective fishing makes his own keel guard for the ss127 just saying if u don’t want to do it yourself
Thank you sir
Great video
Does the 303 apply for fiberglass?
It is great for the epoxy or gel coat for fiberglass
There are a number of 303 products. Which is best for royalex canoes??
www.walmart.com/ip/303-Aerospace-Protectant-Provides-Superior-UV-Protection-Helps-Prevent-Fading-Cracking-Repels-Dust-Lint-Staining-Restores-Lost-Color-Luster-10oz-3030/185324931?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1330&adid=22222222228185324931_1330_143259968315_18620620763&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=628661565007&wl4=pla-1843870152412&wl5=1012954&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=100362769&wl11=online&wl12=185324931_1330&veh=sem&gbraid=0AAAAADmfBIrF_eTFVtVBUdHSxpPsOJRyF&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpvzYpMSygQMVv9vjBx3e4QecEAQYASABEgIcQPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Can i get that 303 spray at Bass Pro Shop?
I'm rolling in ratchet strap guilt. Time to rethink my methods.
If user responsibly they can be okay, I just know that most can’t help themselves and the mechanical advantage makes it easy to overdo it
@@ChadHooverFishing I'll use the method you suggest. I've noticed the hull of one of my kayaks has a slight bow to it that may be the result of aggressive ratchet strapping. Thanks!
Look up berly pro keel guards.
Thank you and will do.
You forgot the 5th one.. not to swallow bugs.
😛 😝 😜
Lookin hot sailer!
If my B-pillars aren't bending, I feel like my straps aren't tight enough.
You don’t need to have your straps tight. At all.
Time to design a passenger seat with shock absorbers lol
Wondering about the 303 protection. I'm having trouble finding any info on its toxicity. Is it environmentally friendly, will exposure to it give me cancer or other health issues? It may protect your boat great but health is more important. Ya know, Roundup does a great job killing weeds but it'll also kill you down the road with a horrible disease.
It’s very safe relative to other alternatives out there. Here is the safety sheet.
www.303products.com.au/media/documents/sds/22/sds-303-protectant-26-5-20.pdf
@@ChadHooverFishing thanks Mr Hoover. I appreciate the help with this information.
Sorry I'm a canoe guy just wondering about materials
Not too be a smart ass but y not make a yac out of tuff stuff or aluminum, or Kevlar,,excellent advice tho,and I get $ deal in manufacturing but really
Because it’s difficult, loud and expensive
Yummy. 😂
Good stuff!
Thanks
Great content