What Keel Guard on ZX225

[TexasZX225]

Went to a place to get a Hamby's installed, but was a little let down to see that the hamby's stopped right about where most of my beaching scratches start. The place said they could not go any further back because the hull flattens out. But these ZX225s seem to sit at an angle in the water such that, when you beach your boat, on a shallow bank, the hull makes contact futher back.

I am just curious what other folks are running. The Hamby's seems like a top quality product which is why I went that way, just seems like they should be designed to come another foot or two back on the hull.

[skeetzx225]

i have a hamby's on my 2003 ZX225

[Charger]

My ZX202 is 20', I put a 8ft Keelshield on mine. It goes pretty far down and seems to be sufficient.

[MD 20i]

I have the 8ft keelshield as well on my ZX225

[mnlong]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MD ZX225 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have the 8ft keelshield as well on my ZX225</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have the same on my 2005 ZX225.

[jfdawson]

Here's mine on a 05 ZX 225..

[-BjBnet-]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TexasZX225 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Went to a place to get a Hamby's installed, but was a little let down to see that the hamby's stopped right about where most of my beaching scratches start. The place said they could not go any further back because the hull flattens out. But these ZX225s seem to sit at an angle in the water such that, when you beach your boat, on a shallow bank, the hull makes contact futher back.

I am just curious what other folks are running. The Hamby's seems like a top quality product which is why I went that way, just seems like they should be designed to come another foot or two back on the hull.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I installed the Light Duty Hambys a few years ago. There's nothing light duty about it...I think they need to change the name to Hambys Do It Yourself Kit.

[TexasZX225]

Thanks for the picture. How far back does yours start? That is where I would like for mine to start. The place I took it to wants to start 6-8 inches from the eye.

[TexasZX225]

Didn't Rodger, the guy that owned Hamby's, hang out on this site? It might be too late but I would like to hear how far back on a Skeeter is allowable with how the hull flattens out.

[JetSkeeter]

Mine starts where it does in the picture. It was installed at the factory.

[jfdawson]

It's my understanding that they make 2 sizes, a 6ft and 8ft. I have th 6ft installed ( which is the picture above ). Since it's the hamby's "regular", mine was installed at North Texas Fiberglass in Denton and Michael ( the owner ) really knows his stuff.

Mine is installed about 24 inches from the bow eye. My boat stays in storage during the week and I won't be back to measure until Saturday morning. I would call Roger at Hamby's or email him. He's really helpful and can recommend or call your dealer to help them. I wouldn't let them install it that close to the eye. You need it to protect the front half of your boat, so you can beach it or pick up your partner on the ramp, etc..

Here's the web site:
http://www.hambys.com/

Call toll free:
1-800-742-2813

Call them and tell Roger your story, he's a great guy and will help you.

Here's some more pictures if you want to take them to your dealer and show him what you want...

[TexasZX225]

Talked to Roger today. He did not see the reason in coming that far back. He also felt that it might catch on rocks or stumps if it goes too far back on the flat part of the keel. He was saying that the Hamby's was designed to protect the "V" part of the keel.

Yours is where I want mine to be. They put mine on tomorrow. I offered an extra $100 to go 18 inches from the eye. But the guy is still worried about the amount of pressure they would have to use with the straps to get the Hamby's to sit down right on the flat part of the Keel. I will try to send him pictures of yours to see if that will help convince him to go further back.

Do you know if they used jack stands on yours, or just straps?

[Shirtman]

Hey TXZX225 What Co. (Marina) is doing your Hamby's installed? And why did you choose them to do it?

Thinking about adding one to my hull.

[TexasZX225]

I chose the place I did because Roger from Hamby's highly recommended them to me a while back. They do great work. I just think their mounting method just limits them to where they can put the protector on Skeeters due to the way the hull flattens out. They were also nearly half the price of everyone here in Austin area where I live.

I won't mention the place, because they are quite respectable and I don't want someone thinking wrong about them. The owner called me yesterday to say he did not think I would be happy with where they would feel comfortable mounting it and since it was a permanent fixture I should look to find a place that mounts them differently. I was just a little disapointed since is cost me $60 of Diesel to take the boat there and pick it up and with nothing done. But I think it is the right descision based on what I have read here.

I have been pretty good about not scuffing the bottom of my boat so far, I think I will wait till I have some bigger scuffs, and then get it done at one of the more expensive places around here.