Martin Engineering Blog

Protecting Your Investment Makes It Last Longer

Written by Kari Kipp | Jun 16, 2023 1:45:00 PM

Growing up with a boat owner for a father, I know my role when it comes to docking the boat - protecting the bow. Docking the boat is no easy task. Dad (the captain) is at the wheel working against rough water and getting two engines to do what is needed while an audience is watching every move hoping you don’t hit their boat docked in the next slip.

Protect your investment

We’ve had some pretty close calls where I’ve managed to save the side of the boat from damage. My dad always says “don’t hurt yourself, it’s not worth it.” I’m not sure I believe him, have you seen boat prices these days? I want to do my part to make sure the boat is protected, but I can't sit there and shield the boat the entire time it’s docked. That’s where the bumpers come in. The same goes for your conveyor belt sealing system. Maintenance personnel can’t be on the belt manually protecting the sealing system from abrasion.

1) That is crazy & dangerous

2) That is an unrealistic expectation

If you want to get the most out of the sealing system you purchased, some sort of protection is needed. That’s where the new is utilized to protect sealing systems. 

Absorbing impact

Bumpers are boat savers, literally. Placed strategically on each side of the boat, we make sure those are in place to protect the boat while it’s docked. By placing bumpers in the correct position, they will absorb the impact and keep the boat from rubbing or knocking into the dock, causing damage. With that protection in place, we can leave the boat unattended and not worry about its well-being. The Martin® Skirtboard Liner is installed inside conveyor transfer points to reduce wear & tear on the sealing system, giving operations the same kind of protection those bumpers give us while at the dock. Much like a bumper, the Skirtboard Liner absorbs impact and abrasion by creating a dam to shield the sealing system from the weight of the material load, prolonging the life of the seal.

 

Maintenance-free

Nothing is worse than not being able to use our boat because it’s damaged, what a waste of time and money. That’s why we use bumpers that are virtually maintenance-free outside of making sure they are aired up and the ropes are securely fastened. Skirtboard Liners provide protection without having to worry about time-consuming maintenance.

  • Encapsulated steel mounting plate prevents delamination and bonding issues
  • Urethane provides long wear life
  • Easily adjusted
  • Three different troughing angles
  • Stackable to allow for higher drop chutes

Rugged, adjustable, & long-lasting

Having peace of mind that your investment is protected is a great feeling! While protection on the lake might only be guaranteed while the boat is docked, more time can be focused on water safety knowing there’s one less thing to worry about. We have never had to replace a bumper (except for the one we forgot to unhook and lost) due to wear and tear. That same peace of mind can be applied to your sealing systems as Skirtboard Liners are built to last. 

Now, when I started this blog post I didn't realize the correlation between boating and skirtboard liners. I must be anxious to get to the Lake of the Ozarks this weekend and go boating (and protecting)!