synthetic keel materal

[bracmon]

Is there a synthectic keel materal that can be epoxied like wood to small boats? Something that isn't affected by water.

[outofthenorm]

Sorry, but what do you mean by "keel material"? Are you talking about a structural element, or a ballast keel? Something else?

- Norm

[peter radclyffe]

kryptonite, titanium. lego

[Todd D]

I have heard of an exotic material called fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) that can be used to build most parts of a boat. It can be epoxied to pretty much anything. It can be made strong enough to support a very heavy hunk of ballast. Some people also call the stuff fiberglass. :)

[John B]

Do you mean a plastic Uhmwpw whatevertheheck white stuff like fishboards for a skid plate on a small boat? I've never tried glueing it but I can't imagine epoxy working.

When you do find it , I'd like to know , I want a sacrificial strip of something like that instead of bronze or brass.

[Boatsmith]

A strip of 1708 glass fabric will take an awful lot of abrasion and impact. More layers for a bigger boat. You can also step up a notch and use a strip of kevlar fabric or felt. This is very abrasion resistant. David www.boatsmithfl.com

[JimConlin]

Unobtanium?

[Tom Robb]

Perhaps you could explain what it is that you're trying to accomplish?
What your problem with the usual suspects might be?

[Paul Pless]

Uhmwpw UHMWP, ultra high molecular weight plastic, perhaps?;)

I didn't have any on my jet boat, but one of my friends had four strips of it an inch think on the bottom of his. Its awesome stuff, from time to time if you run an aluminum jet boat in shallow water to fish you will get hung on a rock. Those strips help the boat just slide right off.

[Chan]

There is a material thats some sort of plastic that woodenboat did an article on a few issues back. Mainly for backing blocks and that sort of thing. I don't feel like looking it up but it has been mentioned in wb. in an issue I would guess is no later than June. I think its a solid epoxy product. Good luck.
You guys are mean sometimes! The guy is just looking for advice. That's what forums are for!

[JimConlin]

G10 is a fiberglass-epoxy laminate that's available in sheets, bars, tubes, etc. It is strong, inert, easily bonded and can be cut and ground. I get it from McMaster-Carr (http://www.mcmaster.com) (search for G10), but i think it's sold through plastic distribution channels.

I've used it in places where bronze plate or tube might have been used.

[John B]

UHMWP, ultra high molecular weight plastic, perhaps?;)

I didn't have any on my jet boat, but one of my friends had four strips of it an inch think on the bottom of his. Its awesome stuff, from time to time if you run an aluminum jet boat in shallow water to fish you will get hung on a rock. Those strips help the boat just slide right off.

That stuff. Yeah it appeals to me in that its light and skids nicely.

Which reminds me of an incident from my boating 'youth'. I needed some rubbing strips on the bottom of the black pig because we were often landing on the concrete dinghy ramp in a surf. I had no bronze so in my wisdom I used what was handy, the driftwood of the 20thC, aluminium.
Looked good it did, until the first time we used it.
Kirsty braced amidships, John steering the outboard crouched over it , one hand steering and the other poised for the lift and the throttle stop as we hit the ramp on the back of the wave.
Friggin dinghy hit as normal and stopped dead instead of the usual skid. Kirsty and I went arse over kite , piled up in the bow, outboard screaming , waves breaking....curmudgeons in the yacht club bar clapping...

[Willin']

Actually, I've been wondering if that recycled plastic stuff they're selling all over as a long term, maintenance free replacement for homeowners 5/4 cedar decking planks could be glued up and used for non structural members below the waterline.

I've been investigating replacing some rotten mahogany deadwood in my sailboat keel and the cost is muy prohibitivisimo. Most shipwrights have recommended that I ignore the problem until it becomes unignorable. If I could lay up some of that recycled stuff for new deadwood when I finally do open up my checkbook it might not have to be redone again in 16 years, which is the life of the current deadwood installed professionally by a prominent Maine boatyard.

[keith66]

Tufnol is just the job, its a phenolic resin cloth laminate comes in diferent grades makes excellent wear strips & bearings.

[chiefypoo]

I have the same problem with my 16' garvy, after 25 years the marine wood life white oak runners one foot on either side of my oak keel were getting in bad shape. I replaced them with the same material 18 months ago and the worms have already inhailed them. the new wood life is missing something. I have realy thought of replaceing them with the vinal? plastic stuff cut in strips and 5200to bottom and secure with ss screws. They should last a while. If you do install this stuff keep us posted. I believe it would work.

[donald branscom]

Is there a synthectic keel materal that can be epoxied like wood to small boats? Something that isn't affected by water.

There is nothing that is not affected by the water and its creatures.

[donald branscom]

I have heard of an exotic material called fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) that can be used to build most parts of a boat. It can be epoxied to pretty much anything. It can be made strong enough to support a very heavy hunk of ballast. Some people also call the stuff fiberglass. :)

Some organisms like to eat fiberglass.

[donald branscom]

Unobtanium?

It may be hard to obtain. HAHhahhahahha

[Paul Pless]

There is nothing that is not affected by the water and its creatures.cupronickel

[Paul Pless]

There is nothing that is not affected by the water and its creatures.As far as keel material goes, lead fares pretty well.

[peter radclyffe]

There is a material thats some sort of plastic that woodenboat did an article on a few issues back. Mainly for backing blocks and that sort of thing. I don't feel like looking it up but it has been mentioned in wb. in an issue I would guess is no later than June. I think its a solid epoxy product. Good luck.
You guys are mean sometimes! The guy is just looking for advice. That's what forums are for!
im not joking , id like to see a boat built of lego
it may yet happen

[bracmon]

a wear element, as well as for tracking on a power boat.


Sorry, but what do you mean by "keel material"? Are you talking about a structural element, or a ballast keel? Something else?

- Norm

[bracmon]

I wanted something that can take being dragged over sharp limestone rock (locally called ironshore). The wood keels seem to eat away fast.


Perhaps you could explain what it is that you're trying to accomplish?
What your problem with the usual suspects might be?

[DGentry]

I've used 1/2" HDPE as runners and a keel strip on a dinghy, and it worked great. I could drag that boat all over a concrete dock with no worries.
But, I screwed them onto the hull, as I knew of no way to glue it. I bedded it with some silicon, which also served to seal the screw holes. I'm sure there are more elegant solutions.

HDPE (high density polyethylene) is the stuff that many cutting boards are made of, and can be gotten in larger quantities at most plastic suppliers.

Good luck!

Dave Gentry

[Tom Robb]

I agree w/ the above ideas of high density plastic on the bottom if flat or strips if round or V-bottomed. Some white-wter river dory guys out west cover the whole bottom. It seems to work for them.

[JimConlin]

It's claimed that West System G/Flex can bond the various polyethylene plastics. I have used it for this purpose, but in an application that's not as challenging as dinghy bottom bang strips. I'd try it. Follow the manufacturer's directions.