: If you plan to be around a lot of rocks or gravel that you just might run
: over, a glass rub strip won't last long. If you can build an ash or brass
: strip into your keel that will work better. Do not use the metal strip if
: you paddle in salt water, the brass will not bear up to the corrosion
: well. Mike has suggested using ash. I will probably use ash for mine once
: I find the time to do some necessary repairs to the glass rub strip that
: has worn through to the wood. The worst wear for me has occurred at the
: stern, probably because the bow is usually in deeper water when ever I
: launch.

: Robert N Pruden

No metal, OK. I don't live near salt water but definitely plan to use the kayak on vacations, which could be in salt water. Rocks and gravel for sure, including the incredibly sharp broken obsidian gravel at Yellowstone and Shoshone Lakes.

What about non-boating materials, such as RhinoLiner or similar stuff? If it gets too scraped up, sand it off and put on a fresh layer. I vaguely remember spraying some kind of rubber coating onto parts of an old 4x4; it had a rough-textured surface but maybe it could be sanded smooth (kinda like thick dookie schmutz). Better shock absorbancy than DS.