I use a keel guard and will say it offers the perfect amount of protection for beaching. If you want more info let me know because I know people around the site don't get the fact you have to beach the boat depending on where you boat. Not getting into that argument again..........
For my size boat beaching can have it's advantages plus there are a lot of great places along the river to beach and explore that can only be reached by boat. Islands for one and the occasional, I really gotta go...
I don't have a pics but here is the link to what I have on my boat. This is the first year we aren't on the river so I know exactly what you mean about beach hopping. You can get this keel guard at multiple different places not just the manufacturer.
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http://www.keelguard.com/keelguard.html