Hobie Odyssey - prevent scratches at front?

Hi all,

still a novice Hobie Odyssey owner and at the stage of trying to keep it in good nick. Running it ashore in a few different spots has resulted in a few minor scratches on the very front (bow end) of the keel near where it angles up. I've taken a couple of photos to illustrate where.

My question is, do people bother trying to put something on to protect this area, like a short strip of KeelEazy? Or do you not bother as presumably the kayak is built to take scrapes in that area?

I've ordered a couple of 6 inch strips of yellow KeelEazy but I'm wondering if I should bother. It seems some people have success and some don't. I gather it will be hard to get it to stick around that sharp angle at the bow.

That's pretty normal wear and tear for kayaks, I believe the plastic is pretty thick in that part of the hull with the expectation that the kayak should survive many years of much worse abuse. That said, I think if I get a 2015 model and have the chance to start over from scratch (no pun intended) I would use keeleazy or ducttape just to stave off the inevitable bow/stern gouges.

I use gorilla tape on my two AIs. Works like a charm and doesnt really cost much. I launch at a nasty concreate ramp that can take a toll. I just tripple up the tape. After about 4-5 trips you can see the scrapes on the outter tape layer. I just place another strip on & good to go. Not one scratch on the hull

Gorilla tape. like Vabeach2 said works. I use it on my Outback.

Thanks for the replies.

I'll buy some Gorilla Tape and give that a go first I think.

Cheers.

Hi Guy

What is "Gorilla Tape" I presume it has an Australian equivalent under a different name?

Cheers




Brad

Long Jetty

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Brad K
Papaya Tandem Island - "Dry Reach"
Lengthened Jet Ski trailer
"Kayaking Bob" Spray Skirts
Trampolines

Brad...try this link https://www.masters.com.au/product/9000 ... ID=kEozUsY

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

I would recommend the wide version..one down the middle, two overlapping, another down the middle. One end to the other.

Reviewing my KeelEasy application on my Revo13, after 3 years the ends have lifted badly where I tried to bend it sharply (bow/stern). It works great everywhere else.
The glue residue is very tenacious, so I have yet to find a way to remove it...

The next Revo13 will have KE on the flat surfaces, and GT on the bends...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Iverfish......Try using "Goo Gone" first and if that fails, acetone should remove the adhesive. Just make sure you have good ventilation and no open flame to prevent combustion.

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

Another option for removing adhesive is Xylene. I use Xylene to remove duct tape adhesive from my whitewater kayaks. But before you use any solvent on your kayak, put some solvent on a small piece of cloth and try rubbing an inconspicuous spot inside your kayak. If the solvent starts eating into the plastic of your kayak, stop immediately and let the solvent evaporate. If the solvent doesn't affect the plastic of your kayak at all, go after the adhesive.

The duct tape adhesive on my kayaks is on the top deck, because when doing multi-day whitewater kayak trips, I duct tape a waterproof river map to the top deck of my kayak in a ziplock bag.

I always use WD40 to remove adhesive residual before resort to other ways as it is basically a type of solvent and won't harm the plastic.

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PA12

Quit worrying about scratching the bottom of your kayak. Plastic kayaks can take an enormous amount of abuse. The plastic in the keel of your kayak is quite thick. Whitewater kayaks get banged over rocks in rapids for years with no problems. If the bottom of your kayak isn't scratched, it's because you haven't been using it.

+1

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR