Plumb bow protection

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DougAllan
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Plumb bow protection

Post by DougAllan »

Hi,
I’ve got a Tiderace Pace Action which has a plumb bow, and I wondered if it might be worth putting some keel strip just on the bow, I’m not bothered about the rest, it’s flat anyway. I definitely notice an earlier contact with the beach if I’m doing a surf landing for example.
Anyone done this to a boat with a plumb bow, like a Taran 16 or similar ?
mrcharly
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Re: Plumb bow protection

Post by mrcharly »

I was worried about contact with rocks (I usually launch from a rocky shore) and tried using some helicopter tape on my boat's bow.

It's really difficult to get it to fit on a compound curve. If you used keeleze, you might have more success.

Not convinced it is necessary. I don't bother anymore.
ChrisJK
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Re: Plumb bow protection

Post by ChrisJK »

I used a mix of epoxy resin and graphite powder to protect the stern/skeg area on my Shrike which seems to do the trick. It's a wooden boat so I do tend to launch and beach with care I tend to get out whilst afloat but sometimes a short drag might be needed with a fully laden boat . process as below
https://media.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/u ... 3-9998.png
https://media.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/u ... 4-8707.png
DougAllan
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Re: Plumb bow protection

Post by DougAllan »

Cheers folks
supernadie
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Re: Plumb bow protection

Post by supernadie »

RichardP
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Re: Plumb bow protection

Post by RichardP »

Image

Hi Doug

I did a quarter protection on the Bow nose, which worked just great, the strip also went full length underneath just up to the rudder, which certainly helped

Hope the photo gives you some idea

Rich
HughdeIongh
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Re: Plumb bow protection

Post by HughdeIongh »

Hi Rich

I also have a plumb bow kayak, and wanted to put something as a guard on the bow, just like your photo.
What tape or material did you use?

Thanks
Hugh
CWP
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Re: Plumb bow protection

Post by CWP »

Anyone used dinghy brass keelband? Might be suitable for vulnerable areas. I wouldn't use pre-drilled strip but the solid, bend to suit then epoxy. The largest of the sections shown (20mm x 5mm) works out at 600g/m, so a smaller section would be less than a can of cola per metre.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qqYmX9IjMuc

https://www.force4.co.uk/item/Force-4/B ... l-Band/KHK

Colin
mrcharly
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Re: Plumb bow protection

Post by mrcharly »

I wouldn't use anything that is likely to be stronger than your kayak hull. the protective strip should be sacrificial.
CWP
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Re: Plumb bow protection

Post by CWP »

mrcharly wrote:
Wed Feb 12, 2025 8:29 am
I wouldn't use anything that is likely to be stronger than your kayak hull. the protective strip should be sacrificial.
Similar protection is used in many craft types, often localised as in skeg protection. There is no reason it has to be sacrificial. However, consideration should be given so as not to create hard spots where hull deflection occurs.
Chris Bolton
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Re: Plumb bow protection

Post by Chris Bolton »

Anyone used dinghy brass keelband?
I've tried strip aluminium alloy on the stern of a tandem downriver race canoe (when you go down a drop, the bow kicks up when you hit the wave at the bottom and slams the stern onto the ledge). It didn't work. The flexural stiffness of the metal and the way it yields is so different to the boat that it just debonded. I think the screws on a dinghy give it a bit of compliance. A similar thing happens with rigid kevlar 'bang plates' on Royalex open canoes.
CWP
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Re: Plumb bow protection

Post by CWP »

Bonding will be an issue with the materials in both those situations, that's why I thought the brass strip better than aluminium. I did have a French built catamaran with plumb bows for my kids, which had factory aluminium strips down the stems through to the skegs. Used in France for training - often seen being dragged along concrete slips!!!
RichardP
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Re: Plumb bow protection

Post by RichardP »

HughdeIongh wrote:
Tue Feb 11, 2025 6:14 pm
Hi Rich

I also have a plumb bow kayak, and wanted to put something as a guard on the bow, just like your photo.
What tape or material did you use?

Thanks
Hugh
Hi Hugh, sorry for late reply
I used Reed Chillcheater Keel Easy. very easy to apply. instructional video is worth a watch first as it describes preparation and application, especially to the curve

https://www.chillcheater.com/collections/keel-eazy

Hope this helps

Happy paddling

Rich
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