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# Protecting the Keel with Aramid Tape
- URL: https://seanation.org/protecting-the-keel-with-aramid-tape/
- Published: 2022-06-05T09:43:51.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-06T14:27:33.000Z
- Description: The heat slowed me down, but I got the final epoxy layer on and added aramid tape to protect the most vulnerable parts of the keel from abrasion. Next came fairing compound—and then the same work again on the second hull, the beauty of catamarans.
- Author: Monika Matis
- Tags: Ikaroa, Tech, #story-ikaroa, #facebook-import

Sunday morning, start of a new week. Heat during last week a bit slowed the progress and forced slight reorganisation of my work which is still in progress (it takes time to switch from getting up at 7am to getting up at 5, you know?) - fortunately that is nothing new to me, I used to get up at 3am for a couple of years when I was driving a cab.  
So the plan is to work more in the morning and in the evening- leaving space between for work which is not affected by temperature (and as we know, there is plenty of sanding left to do on this boat!).

Today I was in the workshop by 7am, started work by 8 so it is a progress but far from ideal.  
Couple of hours later last layer of epoxy is on - it is why this hull is so shiny, it is just wet resin! And some of you will notice two bright yellow strips on the bow. After consideration I decided to add aramid tape only here, to protect the most vulnerable parts of the keel. The tape reaches to the point where iroko strip will start. This way every bit of the backbone which is expected to move against the sand and small stones is well protected against abrasion. You may question how is that different from all these layers of 200g/sqm glass fabric - well, here you have a link to a study which prompted the idea in the first place. (https://www.tfpglobal.com/products/composite-materials/abrasion-resistance ) In any case it should help :)

Few hours for the epoxy to cure a bit and the big thing for today - putting the fairing compound on.

And tomorrow starting the same work again - just on the second hull. Well, that’s a beauty of catamarans- you get to do the same work TWICE 😂

#allelectricboat #buildingwharram #theseanation #tiki38

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