In another thread the subject of protection of the gel coat around the bow roller, was brought up. I had already considered making a sheet metal SS device to protect the gel coat, from my Boss, anchor--but it was not the only one which risks dings--Danforth and Fortress, can, Delta can, the Ronca, Vulcan, etc all can.
Jay from HunkyDory had some material on his boat--so I asked him what he was using. He told me about "Scuffbuster".
https://www.keelguard.com/megaware-scuffbuster/
Here is my application process--and you may come up with some different and better ways.
The metal is 22 gauge polished 304 SS. The polished side is protected with a membrane. The 3M adhesive on the back is also protected. The center is slightly relieved to allow a straight bend. We made a paper pattern to see how it would best fit and give protection. I had several dings--the biggest was about 2 x 3 CM. I filled these with white gel coat--not quite a perfect match (but couldn't find my pigments (That is the danger f "cleaning up a garage--you cannot find anything after". I faired the new gel coat, and then did a light scuff with 100, 200 and 300 wet sand paper.
The "tools" necessary are the Scuffbuster, a 5/8" dowel (could use any round item about the same size). A 2 to 3 lb rubber mallet, sand paper, make a templet, have paper towels, isopropyl alcohol, for cleaning, Lacquer thinner for 5200 clean up. 5200 for the edges. Pencil. Q tips for detail clean up around the new SS. Masking tape to keep the 5200 off the gel coat outside of the Scuffbuster.
The adhesive side of the Scuffbuster:
With Marie holding the wooden dowel in the center, I gradually bent up the sides, keeping them flat. You want to "over bend", so that the metal will stay in place while the adhesive is setting up.
Do not put an 5200 on the rim of the SS which does not have 3M adhesive on it, that 5200 will end up in the center of the area.
Draw the lines where the bow piece with fill (put it in place, or use the templet, after sanding and cleaning well with the isopropyl alcohol.
Then put blue masking tape right at the outer edge of this line, to keep form getting 5200 on the gel coat. I laid a very light bead of 5200 all around the outside of the area where the Scuffbuster was going to finally sit.
I didn't take any photos of the beating with the mallet of the protected SS. But there were dozens of sold blows over about 5 minutes. I made sure one side was secure, then tapped the entire piece of metal back, and then let go on the second side. After these had made good contact and were holding well, I worked on the very bottom, where there is a strake. We were able to work the metal down close to the gel coat so there was no more than about 1/32 " gap in the front and lower areas-virtually no gap on the sides and most of the top. Center top, maybe a 1/16" gap. Then I filled any gap with 5200, worked back into any potential void. Then scraped off any excess 50200, cleaned with lacquer thinner on paper towels and Q tips.
Here is the result: Port Side:
From ahead:
And Starboard Side:
Is it going to stay that shiny? If so, I didn't need it! But I believe this will give me protection from any potential dings by the anchor.
Could have I made it cheaper, starting with a sheet of SS of 18 gauge 304? Absolutely, but if I consider some value for my time--probably not, and this looks fairly good.
Jay from HunkyDory had some material on his boat--so I asked him what he was using. He told me about "Scuffbuster".
https://www.keelguard.com/megaware-scuffbuster/
Here is my application process--and you may come up with some different and better ways.
The metal is 22 gauge polished 304 SS. The polished side is protected with a membrane. The 3M adhesive on the back is also protected. The center is slightly relieved to allow a straight bend. We made a paper pattern to see how it would best fit and give protection. I had several dings--the biggest was about 2 x 3 CM. I filled these with white gel coat--not quite a perfect match (but couldn't find my pigments (That is the danger f "cleaning up a garage--you cannot find anything after". I faired the new gel coat, and then did a light scuff with 100, 200 and 300 wet sand paper.
The "tools" necessary are the Scuffbuster, a 5/8" dowel (could use any round item about the same size). A 2 to 3 lb rubber mallet, sand paper, make a templet, have paper towels, isopropyl alcohol, for cleaning, Lacquer thinner for 5200 clean up. 5200 for the edges. Pencil. Q tips for detail clean up around the new SS. Masking tape to keep the 5200 off the gel coat outside of the Scuffbuster.
The adhesive side of the Scuffbuster:
With Marie holding the wooden dowel in the center, I gradually bent up the sides, keeping them flat. You want to "over bend", so that the metal will stay in place while the adhesive is setting up.
Do not put an 5200 on the rim of the SS which does not have 3M adhesive on it, that 5200 will end up in the center of the area.
Draw the lines where the bow piece with fill (put it in place, or use the templet, after sanding and cleaning well with the isopropyl alcohol.
Then put blue masking tape right at the outer edge of this line, to keep form getting 5200 on the gel coat. I laid a very light bead of 5200 all around the outside of the area where the Scuffbuster was going to finally sit.
I didn't take any photos of the beating with the mallet of the protected SS. But there were dozens of sold blows over about 5 minutes. I made sure one side was secure, then tapped the entire piece of metal back, and then let go on the second side. After these had made good contact and were holding well, I worked on the very bottom, where there is a strake. We were able to work the metal down close to the gel coat so there was no more than about 1/32 " gap in the front and lower areas-virtually no gap on the sides and most of the top. Center top, maybe a 1/16" gap. Then I filled any gap with 5200, worked back into any potential void. Then scraped off any excess 50200, cleaned with lacquer thinner on paper towels and Q tips.
Here is the result: Port Side:
From ahead:
And Starboard Side:
Is it going to stay that shiny? If so, I didn't need it! But I believe this will give me protection from any potential dings by the anchor.
Could have I made it cheaper, starting with a sheet of SS of 18 gauge 304? Absolutely, but if I consider some value for my time--probably not, and this looks fairly good.
