I just wanted to pass on what really worked for me.
I was tired of fixing the gel on the nose of my Mac when I launched/recoved my boat at a local launch ramp. When I did this on a ramp that only had about a 10 degree angle on the ramp, and my tires would be almost in to the rear brakes, and still had about 10" of water on the transom. I was still able to launch, but recovery was another matter.
The bow took a killing on recovery, hitting the fenders, and getting stuck in the "V" portions of the front of the trailer, and chewing away at the gel there, not even the Megaware Keelguard, sold on this site would have helped here, as the damage was clearly beyond where that would have protected.
I simply bought the 3" X 50' (about $25.00) reticulated black drain pipe (PVC) with the drain slots cut in it, and cut it approxamately 17' long and went from the extreme rear crosspiece, all the way up to the "V" area. You simply take a very sharp knife and split it apart, 1 cut down the middle. Wear some leather gloves and spread it apart while working it over the top of the frame rail. You may end up with a few extra inches if you cut it 17', so trim that of course. After this step use some heavy duty pvc plastic ties and cut the excess tail off, after you tighten them. Space these about 12" apart, and it will be fine. This also prevents scratches on the frame rails also. it is self draing, so it does not rust. Paint the rails 1st of course if it is rusty before you did this.
Next, to protect the bow from the fenders, I installed two pieces of old fire hose. Contact your local fireman, and ask them to save you a bundle of the stuff, you will end up using it for many things for anti-chafe chores around boats. If you stop by most places that outhaul boats for example, you'll see this used. The firehouse will give it to you for free!
Anyway this stuff usually has a two ply cotton/rubber bonded together, The inner liner is the same construction, but looks brand new, that's what to use. Cut 1 cut lengthwise at where the permanant fold is (split in half) and put the fold so that 1/2 of the material is hanging down in the inner part of the wheel well. (next to the tire/boat hull) You will need about 4' of hose for each side. Affix one end with two 1/4" Stainless bolts on the flat part of the angle iron that attaches your fenders to the frame. Run it over the top of the fender, and attach it to the other side.
These protective cover tricks worked for me, get inventive, I am sure there are other materials that will work also, just as well, but this procedure is worth the time and effort. It takes alot of time to fix the dings and scrapes I got by smashing into the trailer, Mostly because where I launched was not that steep of a ramp, but also because I had to drive the boat on also, in a cross current/wind as there was no dock to walk it on to the trailer.
