shoe keel

[bill100]

I am building a cottage cruiser. I hope to use it for tripping so I planned to put a shoe keel on it to help protect the bottom dragging it over beaver dams and up onto beaches.

The book discusses making a ¾ inch keel which seems like an over-kill for my purpose as I really don’t want it to interfere with the tracking/maneuverability of the boat too much. It also discusses a brass keel strip which was not included in the kit I bought.

Does anyone have any experience and suggestions for the design of of a simple keel for protection of the hull only?

Thanks, in advance.

Bill Oliver
Owen Sound, Ontario

[Jim Dodd]

I don't like keels ! If you are dragging your canoe ? Add an extra layer over the Football, and Graphite the bottom.
Keels can be a problem down the road !

Jim