You’ve spent the day careening from wave to wave aboard your watercraft. As it rests, you notice severe gouges on its hull and wonder how to prevent the unsightly damage that could eventually transform your prized possession into a sinking ship.

Sue Rogers-Smith, CEO of KeelShield, Inc., Peoria, Ill., wondered the same thing. As an avid boater for most of her life, Rogers-Smith became all too familiar with the hassles and expense of fiberglass and gel-coat repair.