Keel strip - first layer

I have taken an approach that is a combination of the descriptions from several websites and some advice from P&H. The first layer of the keel strip is to be made of glass tape embedded in clear polyester gelcoat, with a second layer that is made of coloured gelcoat that is waxed to allow it to set in air.

Masking tape is used to give a neat finish and to make the job easier. The tape is cheap when compared with the other repair materials and the time that the repairs take.

The first line of masking tape is a guide for the other lines. It will be removed before the resin work starts. It is done with masking tape that is the same width as the glass tape that is to be used for the keel strip. I used two-inch tape.
The second and third lines of two-inch masking tape go either side of the first, with a gap of a good quarter of an inch. The gap could be made narrower but it would depend on the confidence of the person doing the work!
The fourth and fifth lines of masking tape can use a narrower tape. I used one-inch wide tape. These lines of tape go mostly on top of the second and third lines, along the edge that is towards the centre. This closes half of the gap between the first line of tape and the second/third line.
Once I was happy that everything looked right, I removed the first line of tape. This leaves an exposed area for fitting the keelstrip that is about 2.25 inches wide.
I painted clear gelcoat along the exposed area and then used some glass scraps mixed with gelcoat to fill a couple of holes in the keel. A length of glass tape was laid out along the whole of the keel. I did the stern with a separate shorter strip. The glass tape was then wetted out using more gelcoat on a small brush. I needed about 200g of gelcoat, using 4ml of catalyst that I measured with a syringe. I put a second layer of tape along the sections at the front and back that take most wear and wetted this out throughly.
Once the gelcoat started to set, I removed the one-inch masking tape. (Pulling the tape towards the centre of the boat kept the resin from spreading to the area that I uncovered.) This leaves a gap of about an eighth of an inch between the remaining masking tape and the new keelstrip. The whole of this area will be painted with waxed, coloured gelcoat this evening. The gap serves two purposes: it ensures that all of the unwaxed gelcoat is covered and it tapers the repair a little to give a nicer finish.

I'll be left with a keelstrip that is 2.5 inches wide and has added about 0.4kg to the boat, although stripping off the old keelstrip will have taken off a similar mass. The new keelstrip is a bit bigger than might be ideal but should protect the boat nicely.