Son of Frankenstien........

[special fx]

I completed my FX-1 650 pump conversion (aka Frankenstien) about this time last year and I've been working on my backup ski the last few weeks. This one is going to be real similar to Franky minus the killer airbrush work.

First step was to fitup the pump. I removed a chunk of the deck and de-foamed the area around the pump shoe. This area is unsupported by anything but foam and on my last ski the foam was extremely crushed in this area from landings. I added rib to support this portion of the deck and also layed up a few layers of bi-di to the pump shoe to allow for the 650 mod. This is the easiest way to do the 650 pump mod....lay up galss on top side, roll over and grind away what you need to fit the Kawi pump shoe and viola.....done!

The only other glass work is filling in the old pump mount nut recesses in the deck and grinding away a portion of the front pump mount area and re-glassing to provide a level mounting surface for the Kawi pump.

[special fx]

Next, it was time for some tray widening. I was very impressed with the tray area in Wavehog's FX-1 and wanted to do something similar (but not as cool, cause I'm lazy!).

I carved out what I feel are decent sized recesses into the stock side bolsters and plan to glass them up to regain structure. It gives me lots of real estate to play all over the tray in the surf. I relocated the rear exhaust tube lower in the bulkhead to clear the tray area.

I need to do some final shaping and then glass'em up!

[special fx]

Tubby time....


Laminated 3 layers of 1/2" foam to create the blanks for tubbies and then carved'em up. I got them to about 90% shaped and then glued them to the hull for final shaping.

First pic is a roughly shaped piece next to the unshaped blank. Last pic is the new coke bottle look FX! These are a little wider in the front than the tubbies I made for the Franky ski and a little longer......I think I like.

Time for final shaping and glass....

[Hogggman]

Nice work

[Slug]

Looks good already. Awsome work on the tubbies! Wish you didn't live so far away. Looking forward to seeing how this one turns out.

[D Slicker]

Looking good. I cant wait to ride with you guys this year.

[spence]

Lookin nice soo far nice glass work

[special fx]

Glassed up the tray and set the pump mounts. I used Kawasaki stainless pump mount nuts recessed in to the tray and set with epoxy. The modified tray gives me about 19" of width, not bad for a narrow little FX!

[special fx]

Also got the tubbies glassed up and ready for final filler/sanding. These things are huge and I can't wait to see how they feel. The nose is a full 3" wider than stock now. It looks like a giant parabolic waterski.

[special fx]

Mounted up the pump, grate and ride plate just to check fit. The ride plate (at least the one I use) has two little cross ribs that need to be machined down for clearance.

[special fx]

OK...........Long time, no update. I've been too busy riding and not wrenching!

Finally decided to "get it done". I did the fitment of pump and then spent a day sanding and priming, then laid down some gloss black from the rail down.

Then did the final mounting of the pump while upside down.

[special fx]

I'm running the R&D pump cone and a skat 12/17 swirl prop. I made the same trim setup I use in my current ski. I like to be able to dial in the trim and this little knob lets you adjust it in the water easily. The trim is very effective. I also used a heim joint for the steering and re-drilled the pivot point in further to gain a little ratio.

With that done, it was time to flip it and get some color on the topside. I used an Acid Orange from RM. It's a silver base with orange candy misted on top and then cleared.

[special fx]

Then came turf and a little "Bad Fish" graphic..........


I need to finish the handle pole and then it's pretty much done. I completely encased the pole in biax and then gave it a carbon/kevlar (orange) wrap.

I'll post the internals later.....it's getting a 62T case/61X cylinder big bore 771 with an ATP single mani w/Riva 48 powerbomb.

[Algonquin]

Nice work! That ski is impressive.

[hardcore]

Damnnnn. Can i ship mine to you to get my fx-1 finished? Or fly you to me? Lol

[mtedder]

nice work.....beautiful fx1

[D Slicker]

That came out sweet, ill have to come by and check it out.

[special fx]

It got wet!

But is wasn't long lived........ran about 3 mins and found a leaking exhaust gasket between manifold and cylinder shooting a geyser towards my carb.......oh well, I needed more practice pulling the battery/tank/pipe (sure glad I used a "used" gasket! :spank:)

Last pic is for you Joe B! :laugh2:

[JoeD]

Looks awesome, really like how that pole turned out...how much for me to send you my handlepole for similar treatment...? :)

[FullTHROTLE92]

That ski came out amazing

[freeride4me]

That thing is Freakin Awesome!!! I'm curious how well the homemade tubbies worked out. ??:barrel:What all does it take to do the Kawi 650? pump conversion & how does it compare to a Yami 144 conversion? I bet there is already a thread somewhere on it. NICE SKI!!!

[special fx]

A couple more pics.......

[Flash-FX]

Looks sweet Chief...Love the details...

BTW..that's one CHERRY oem/nos Fuel tank!

[95FX1]

she IS sweet!!

wow...got some ideas for my fx1...thanks

love the diamondplate turff....such a good look for a ski IMO

[Wetracer]

That looks incredible!! Mike

[special fx]

Finally got around to making a handlepole pad for this ski. I'm getting tired of the corrosion at the mounting bolts that comes from all the dissimilar metals of the stock pad (bronze nuts, stainless bolts, aluminum pole casting), so I mounted this one using aluminum brackets riveted and epoxied to the pad and then used GM style panel fasteners (blast plastic barbed thingies) to mount it........we'll see how they work, I think they be fine.

[PancakePete]

Im in love with that FX... I got dibs if you ever want to sell it !
Thing is awesome !

[Idok]

so whats it handle like?

bringing it to daytona??

[special fx]

Current Daytona plan is yes.......both FXs ("Frankenstein" and "Bad fish") will be in Daytona.......plans subject to change!

[90sJ]

Current Daytona plan is yes.......both FXs ("Frankenstein" and "Bad fish") will be in Daytona.......plans subject to change!

sweet i wanna check out that pole