: Maybe I've lived a protected life, but - what, exactly, are you
: gentlemen doing that 1) has caused so much keel damage and 2)
: requires such a tough surface?

: I never beach my boat - I step out, and lift the yak, setting it
: gently down on the ground/sand/preferably grass.

: Have I been doing it wrong?

My partner simply runs her boat up on to the beach. The beaches here are pebbles, rocks or boulders. The kayak leaves grooves in the rocks...

I use a local epoxy which is white and filled with carborundum. It goes on like toffee and sets like concrete. The trick to putting it on is to mask off the area and cover the rest of the hull with plastic sheets. Dob on the epoxy mix, and with a container of water, use a wet, gloved finger to meld the mix to shape it. The plastic sheeting is to stop the white run-off water staining the hull. She does a better job than I do.

One or two commercial rental kayak operators were doing the same thing to their glass double kayaks. I'm thinking of trying normal epoxy and about 60 grit grinding paste (carborumdum) and finding out if it is as good. If it is it should go on a little easier and will probably be black instead of white.

Alex