Would you spend $200 and about an hour of semi-hard work to make your boat look better and last longer? How about if that small effort helped you get far more for your boat when you sold it or traded it in?

Let's face it: Buying a bass boat is a big investment. One of the biggest most of us will ever make. We all know that, and we know the importance of protecting our big-dollar investments in our boats. Then why do so many of us forget to protect the most-exposed area on the hull? The keel is the one area where you definitely don't want to see premature wear, for any number of reasons.

The keel on your boat is the equivalent of a boxer leading with his chin. It's the one place on the hull that's continually exposed to hazards in the water, as well as on the beach. Plus, the force of objects contacting the keel is significant. At 50 mph, an aluminum soda can hits your keel with the energy of a 90 mph fastball. No kidding.

Fortunately East Peoria-based Illinois KeelShield Inc. has a hull protector that is both simple to apply (unlike some others) and 100 percent bombproof. In fact, KeelShield is so confident of its product that it offers a full no- questions-asked lifetime warranty against wear through and adhesion as long as the product is properly installed. We checked around: They back it up. And they should, because they were the first ones in the keel-protection business to implement a lifetime warranty.

The reason that they can offer so much piece of mind is that KeelShield utilizes the best raw materials available: urethane polymers (not cheaper PVCs or plastics) and a great adhesion package developed by 3M.

We installed a KeelShield hull protector in our shop. The installation is a snap, with easy-to-follow step-by-step directions. The shield installed tight, and had a uniform bond. We also tested the abrasion resistance, and found that it exceeds the ASTM specification for products like this.

So how about it? Don't ignore your keel any longer. KeelShield has a simple-to- use and cost-effective protection solution that makes quick work of putting some protection where you need it most.

For More Info

> For more information on KeelShield click here to go the KeelShield web site.

> KeelShields are not sold direct. To find a dealer near you, click here.