A Kayak Keel Guard to Protect and Repair your Plastic Kayak

Repair & Protect your Kayak

You’ve just spent over $2,000 on a Kayak and it makes you cringe when loading or unloading your kayak on those pesky concrete boat ramps and parking lots...then you've come to the right place.

Polyethylene kayaks are easy to scratch, just ask anyone who has dragged theirs down the boat ramp, or dropped it off the top of their Subaru. They are also a bear to get anything to stick to, as the petroleum in the plastic makes most things unable to adhere to your Kayak. Leaving most kayakers to resort to multiple layers of Gorilla duct tape desperately trying to protect their investment, which is a band-aid solution, and not a long term answer for real kayak protection.

Using the Gator Patch to protect your kayak will make drops, skids, concrete, and cracks a thing of the past – the easiest insurance on your expensive investment. A Fiberglass Resin Patch that bonds physically and chemically to your kayak or canoe – curing in UV Sunlight in under an hour. An Easy & Simple application for a permanent protection solution.  View KayakDIY's Video above to see put to the test. 

You can cut strips for kayak keel guard, allowing you to beach or drag your kayak up on shore, or in the parking lots and boat ramps. You can cut it to fit any wear areas and use as a Skid Plate as needed. Especially on the wide front and rear portions of bottom you’ll find on a NuCanoe, Diablo, Hobie,  Bonafide, Wilderness, Old Town Kayaks, and other wide bodied boats. Below are instructions for the kayak keel guard using Gator Patch, as well as repair for a cracked or damaged plastic kayak. 

How to Apply Gator Patch for Kayak Keel Guard:

• Grab the 9”x12” Kayak Keel Guard Size Gator Patch

• Tape off area around the keel on bow & stern of kayak, measuring 3” to 4.5” wide by 12” long centering over the middle of the keel. If you use the 3” wide cut, you will get 3 keel protection pieces, if using the 4.5” Cut, you’ll have 2 pieces and wider coverage area.

• Sand keel area with a coarse grit sandpaper on bow and stern inside taped off area, clean with isopropyl alcohol. During sanding ensure to use a cross hatch pattern to create multi-directional grooves for Gator Patch to get a grip on.

• Cut Gator Patch into strips of 3”x12” or 4.5”x12”

• Remove white film on adhesive side of Gator Patch, and apply on marked keel areas

• IF you have an extreme bend angle on the keel - you may need to cut the appropriate size "V" notches in the sides of the material to accommodate bend for smooth transition and avoid wrinkles. 

• Use a roller to press down firmly on Gator Patch across keel area, firm pressure across the patch ensures a good bond. Be sure to use your fingers or roller to press down along the entire outer edges to give patch a proper seal

• Remove clear film and allow for natural Sunlight/UV Rays (Or a simple Black Light in a shop environment) to shine on Gator Patch for up to and over an hour. After an hour the Gator Patch may be fully cured to a 500 PSI Strength and ready to begin taking the wear for your kayak.

• To confirm your patch has cured, the sheen of the material will turn from glossy to a matte finish, and the edges should be completely solid. If you are able to dig your fingernails into the edge and it's still soft, additional curing time may be needed.

• To increase the lifespan and wear thickness of the patch - we recommend to apply 2 or 3 layers of Gator Patch to key wear areas - especially on heavy boats that may see extended use on concrete surfaces. Each layer will need to be fully cured before adding another one.

• If you’d like to clean up the appearance, you can sand and paint to match your vessel. Additional paint or coating layers on top of the patch can also provided added wear & skid protection.

• Enjoy your Kayak or Canoe and know that the Gator Kayak Keel Guard has you fully protected.

Notice for Heavy Plastic Boats:

Hulls weighing over 100 pounds - such as Bass Hunter style boats or larger kayaks may benefit from additional layers of Gator Patch to increase the thickness of the protection material on the highest wear areas to increase lifespan. We recommend the use of multiple layers. 

Still have Questions?

Visit our Complete Gator Patch FAQ Section Here

Cracks or Damage to your Kayak?

Need help fixing a plastic polyethylene kayak? Do you have a Cut, Crack, or Ding in your Kayak making it take on water? Don’t want to deal with a messy plastic welder to fix your damaged kayak? We commonly find these issues on the entry level boats with thinner hulls that take much abuse such as a Pelican kayak, Sun Dolphin, Lifetime, and Emotion.

The Gator Patch is a simple prep-peel-stick application to repair your damaged polyethylene kayak.  It’ll get you back on the water in under an hour, and permanently repairs the crack or hole in your Kayak. You can even sand it down to paint or blend it in with the rest of your canoe or kayak. It’s a simple and permanent solution for polyethylene repair. Below you'll find easy instructions to fix your damaged kayak.

How to Repair Damage to Plastic Kayaks and Canoes:

• Sand the area around the crack to start Kayak Repair

• Clean Surface with Isopropyl Alcohol ONLY - other cleaners such as Acetone should not be used.

• Cut Gator Patch to fit around the damaged area

• Remove white film on Gator Patch, and apply on damaged area

• Use your fingers to press down on Gator Patch across full surface area, be sure to use your fingers to press down on all edges to give patch a proper seal

• Remove clear film and allow for Sunlight – UV Rays (Or a simple Black Light in a shop environment) to shine on Gator Patch for up to an hour. After an hour the Gator Patch will be fully cured to a 500PSI Strength and ready for use.

• If you’d like to clean up the appearance, you can sand and paint to match your vessel.

• Enjoy your Kayak or Canoe and know that the Gator Patch has you fully protected.

Notice for Heavy Plastic Boats:

Hulls weighing over 100 pounds - such as Bass Hunter style boats or larger kayaks may benefit from additional layers of Gator Patch to increase the thickness of the protection material on the highest wear areas to increase lifespan. We recommend the use of multiple layers.