[foldingboats] Sacrificial Keelstrips?

[FoldingBoats]

Paul: ... sacrificial ...
Ralph: Two schools of thought: One as above and for rubber or hypalon I would tend to 
go with this one. In the case of PVC it is so easy to transfer melted PVC to any 
mangled portions of the strip, that I prefer the permanent welded route of 
application. 

The advantage is that you don't have to worry about the keel strip coming adrift of 
its own accord a few years down the road (which can happen with rubber and contact 
cement). 

The disadvantage is, of course, that if you really manage to tear through a keelstrip 
and take it beyond repair, then you are stuck with some tricky patching. I have never 
experienced this and will not worry about it since if you have undergone that kind of 
damage to the keelstrip, then the circumstances are likely to have done severe damage 
in other areas ... unless you're merely in the habit of dragging your assembled boat 
over longer stretches of concrete (in which case a boat cart makes the draggin so much 
easier ... :-)

P: Roll on keel stripping, do not lift up after it has come in contact with rubber 
cement. Use a spoon to roll press down on strip.

R: A wall paper edge roller (mine has a broad wooden whell and a strong plastic 
handle) works well during welding (sorry, I believe I did not mention the roller in my 
brief welding description!!) and should do as well as a spoon. If you're thinking 
about applying a whole keel strip, then the investment of $ 2 or so seems eminently 
worth while.

My first attempt to post this reply ended in disaster because I had used the term 
"subscri*e", which made the system think that I was trying to sign up for something. 
In the meantime I've had the opportunity to throw down a bit of a gauntlet to Mr. 
Zoelzer, a major kayak accessories distributor in Germany, who maintains that "keel 
strips must be glued with glue that can be removed" (and of course he sells such 
glue). I could not help but take exception with such a categoric statement (out of 
sheer bloodymindedness if for no other reason) and shall relate his response -- if any 
-- upon receipt;-).

Ralph
#########################################################
Foldingboats Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be
reproduced outside Foldingboats or Foldingboats archives without author's permission
Submissions: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscriptions: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
#########################################################