Kayak Skid Plate

I'm interested in buying or crafting a durable skid plate for my necky dolphin kayak. any recommendations on materials that work well and protect against beach launches?

- Max

Keeleazy?

Not sure if it would fit your needs, but i recently saw a really cheap cradle / skid plate that a guy made from a rope & piece of poly barrel that he molded into shape.
 It was pretty ingenious & I have been thinking about copying his idea. He dragged his kayak to the waters edge with the rope, launched & left the skid plate there. He said when he returns he just paddles right back onto the plate & drags it back up.

Kydex or HDPE come to mind

You absolutely cannot tell ANYONE else about this but skateboard deck rails (aka slider rails, etc) make great, cheap skid plates.
Heat to bend to the shape of the hull and use adhesive or plastic weld them on.

JUST DON'T TELL ANYONE!

Not sure if it would fit your needs, but i recently saw a really cheap cradle / skid plate that a guy made from a rope & piece of poly barrel that he molded into shape.
 It was pretty ingenious & I have been thinking about copying his idea. He dragged his kayak to the waters edge with the rope, launched & left the skid plate there. He said when he returns he just paddles right back onto the plate & drags it back up.

I've been thinking of something along those lines, could you explain it further, I've got a Outback and Revo, I have been trying to think of a skid something like you mention for short drag from the truck to gravely water edge. it seems a pain with the wheels when the ground is so level. something I could just stick the nose in as I drag it out of the truck saving from gouging into the ground drag it to the water edge and slip into on the way back sounds perfect. I guess if it fit good enough fit, it could just stay in place with the tie-in .
trying to imagine what it looks like

Ive seen YouTube videos showing how to make them from pvc pipe. Some people use jb weld to paint it on.

Here are a couple of recent threads on the topic:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=86474.0

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=89069.0

Thanks for all the great responses! I'm thinking of trying the JB weld idea.

Here at MBK we rebuild many skid plates monthly. The best by far is plastic welding extra plastic on. But that only if you are good at it. The 2nd is the new gator patch. Super durable and strong. A bit pricey but worth it