Damage to my Hobit Quest, from loading & unloading

Maybe others have had this problem with other boats too. The Hobie Quest has a pronounced keel at the stern, about 1" wide & 12" long. I noticed a slight leak, with about 2 gals. of water in the boat after a day out. Then when I was loading the boat at San Luis (big lake) last weekend, I saw the water streaming out a small hole right at the end of this little keel projection. I'm sure I caused it by dragging the keel on the ground/pavement as I pushed the bow up on top of my car. Typically I can keep it from happening when I unload, but haven't come up with a good way to load it without dragging.

So with the wet weather I've repaired with epoxy, adding an extra couple coats as "drag bumpers" against future dragging. I think I'm going to bring an old dropcloth along in the future, and use that as my "drag pad" to pull the keel across as I load. Maybe I'll come up with a better solution after I try this for a while.
Pindo124

A "drag mat" is a great way to go, that's what I use when I load the kayaks by myself. I actually use "someone's" old yoga mat......works like a charm and it's great for standing on while you change out of your wet gear.

I wonder if something like this would stick. http://www.keelguard.com/keelguard.html

Worn keels from getting dragged is common problem.  I use a bead of epoxy as a keel guard.  I'm sure the glue-on keel guards won't last more than a trip or two before it peels off.

Kayak makers should consider replaceable screw-in keel guards.  Some ski boots have replaceable heels or toes - same concept.

Thanks for the heads up.  I just checked my keel on my Hobie and it is worn, though not badly.  I’ll start off with duct tape.  That should last a few trips. 

 I use a rubber bath mat to prevent the yak from slipping and or damaging the hull during the 1 man load/unload.
This has happened to others who used to paddle the Quest

If any body needs some scrap polyethylene for doing patchwork on hobies, I've got a load of the stuff and a heat gun.  I don't think it would be smart to heat gun an intact keel, but if the sucker's already perforated...

I hear you Pindo, I paddle a Quest also. Ive 'been informed of the thin-ness in that area. I baby mine as much as possible but wish I didn't have to. One possible solution I haven't tried yet is to put Line-X on it. That's one of the liner materials they use on truck beds. I got the stuff applied to my bed and asked the guy if he would try it. He said to let him know ahead of time, so he could plan on having some leftover from a truckbed, and no problem. I've yet to try it. Might work great.

When I read "Damage to my Hobit Quest" I got really worried for a minute there, thinking that maybe Mooch had a mishap during one of his fishing trips...  Thank god for typos!