RMBC Freeride's roundnose conversion

[RMBC Freeride]

Yes, I said ROUNDNOSE...

I was inspired by Freestylegeeks project thread so I thought I'd put mine up against his...

Actually this project started a long time ago but I have not had time to work on it. I started a thread "way back when" (b4 the X) on that other site so I will copy and paste some of that to here... I hate typing, so here it is:

Thought you all would like to see a SJ split in two. It will will be getting a WCF top deck when I goes back together. Also a major weight loss program - anything non-essintial must go!

So far de-foaming has been a breeze, got half done in less than 30 min! How nice it is to have access... no bloody knuckles!!!

Also... the OEM top deck came off in one piece (although it took a beating). It is reuseable... would make a great roundnose conversion for a square. (wildman326 bought it from me).

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[michael950]

How did the bottom half fair since the top took a beating?

[RMBC Freeride]

The bottom is in relatively good shape compared to the top. SMC is some tuff shiz... and also very heavy!

Here are some pics of the current status. I have shortened the hull like Freestylegeek, but I did it by angling the transom similar to the WCF backflip hull (only not as much angle). Got a little aggressive on the exhaust side and it broke off... oh well more glassing to do :banghead: . the angle will work fine for my one-way valve as it will be further up the hull in the carbon fiber tube.

I have ground away the mounting bosses that the factory uses to locate and glue in the bulkhead (big chunks of molded SMC). And all the heavy green glue blobs have been removed - see "Gloober the Hut"

The entire inside and outside of the hull were sandblasted to remove multiple layers of paint. The surprise benefit of this was that it stripped away a very slight amount of SMC on the inside of the hull only... instant weight loss, albeit very little. But hey, my motto on this project is "every little bit counts"

[RMBC Freeride]

more pics: CF tubes, grinding, cutting, etc. Top of bulkhead trimmed to fit WCF top deck.

[sjetrider]

HMMMMM somebody is getting motivated all of a sudden. Looks awesome bro.

[RMBC Freeride]

All of the sudden? Hell, I havent touched it in months! Just got inspired by Geek's build and took some new pics tonight. Now I might have to actually go work on it.

[Freestyleriverrat]

How much are you taking off the back? 2in?

[RMBC Freeride]

Just under 1.5" I am being a little conservative here and I want to retain the back rideplate bolt holes.

[Frosty]

Looking killer bro... keep the pics coming. :biggthumpup:

[michael950]

Big improvement on the bilge, looks clean.

[Island750]

How did you manage to get the topdeck to separate so cleanly from the bottom? I thought the bonding adhesive was almost indesructable?? I have to separate one soon and was looking for tips on how to get it done.:headbang:

[RMBC Freeride]

It wasn't easy... Basically I used a heat gun to warm up the glue, then wedged a prybar in between the top and bottom flange and pryed away. Working only about a 12"-18" section at a time it wil eventually pop loose. The top deck will be worse for wear since the fiberglass flexes more as you are prying. That green glue is def. not indestructable... heat makes it come unstuck from the SMC!

[FL-cracker]

^^^^good info

[freestylegeek]

Looks great Neil!
I'm sure 1.5" will still make a big difference.

I'm following your same motto of 'every little bit counts'.
So, I have to ask where you got the carbon tubes?
That will definitely make a difference!

[RMBC Freeride]

Exhaust, scupper & driveshaft tubes I made myself: Aerosleeves (http://www.aerosleeves.com) Actually it was very easy to do, following their tutorial... but not cheap!

Waterline & trimcable tubes... well, have you ever flown a kite (http://www.kitebuilder.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/33_56_58/products_id/217?osCsid=fd1e19c7af6d3c8ba601cf0294fc5acf)??? :sneaky:

[FL-cracker]

So the tubes are for light weight? How much weight savings is it over stock?

[RMBC Freeride]

I will check when I get home tonight, I weighed everything and wrote it all down. The exhaust tube I think was 2~3lbs lighter. The scupper tube was alot as well, PVC is heavy and dense like SMC.

But remember... every little bit counts! If I can take off 1lb in ten places, I saved 10lbs! :arms: bad example, but you get the point...right?

[freestylegeek]

I will check when I get home tonight, I weighed everything and wrote it all down. The exhaust tube I think was 2~3lbs lighter. The scupper tube was alot as well, PVC is heavy and dense like SMC.

But remember... every little bit counts! If I can take off 1lb in ten places, I saved 10lbs! :arms: bad example, but you get the point...right?

Oh, I got the point alright!
I'm all about adding up little things.
If I can avoid PVC and SMC, I'll do it.

[freestylegeek]

Exhaust, scupper & driveshaft tubes I made myself: Aerosleeves (http://www.aerosleeves.com) Actually it was very easy to do, following their tutorial... but not cheap!

Waterline & trimcable tubes... well, have you ever flown a kite (http://www.kitebuilder.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/33_56_58/products_id/217?osCsid=fd1e19c7af6d3c8ba601cf0294fc5acf)??? :sneaky:

Carbon fiber Chinese finger trap...who woulda' thunk?

[RMBC Freeride]

So the tubes are for light weight? How much weight savings is it over stock?

Well I looked at my notes last night, the Exh. tube is right at 2lbs lighter and the scupper tube is 1lb lighter.


Carbon fiber Chinese finger trap...who woulda' thunk?

It works great and was super easy to do. And the shrink tape was badass, it squeezed out all the excess resin... these tubes are incredibly light, not overly resin saturated!

[waxhead]

damn now you are making me think about removing my top deck

[sjetrider]

what do you anticipate the weight savings are from the OEM tp deck tp WCF top deck?

[Matt_E]

About shortening the hull...is less volume for foam and the resulting decreased boyancy a concern?

[romack991]

you only lose 2 in or so on the lower half of the ski, not much actual foam volume, removing the front nose pc would decrease it more.

[RMBC Freeride]

damn now you are making me think about removing my top deck

It makes it alot easier to work on for sure!


what do you anticipate the weight savings are from the OEM tp deck tp WCF top deck?

Dunno, I havent weighed the WCF top deck, but you know how light it feels. I can't remember if I weighed the old top deck, but it would not be a fair comparison because it still had foam in the gunwales and several coats of paint on it.


About shortening the hull...is less volume for foam and the resulting decreased boyancy a concern?

If that is a concern, then I guess we all should stop putting in footholds too? :biggrin:

[RMBC Freeride]

Made some very minor progress last night. I tacked the corners back together using Plexus MA310 adhesive (awesome stuff!). I will later glass it all up and reinforce, but this gets the pieces back together and gives me something sturdy to work on.

[freestylegeek]

Looking good Neil!
You're gaining on me! LOL!

[FL-cracker]

I think I know what I am doing after my hood project..... It looks great man!

[63chevyll]

sweet, im gona stick with the easy builds myself.

are you going to send your ski out for paint?? ha..... WA??

[RMBC Freeride]

I think I'm gonna paint it myself... I figure why not, like I don't have a million things to do already!

glad you finally got clearance on the "X"

[63chevyll]

ya me too. i have to come in the back door.

when you are ready let me know if you need paint/materials.
I gots the hook-ups

[RMBC Freeride]

Time to start your own "63chevyll's SuperJet Build" thread. you got alot to do.

[63chevyll]

yeah, after i do "63chevyll's landscape thread"
i will have to post pics.
april 1st is a good day to be ready.

[wildman326]

This thread is so cool. I've got the old top deck! I hope I can do something in it a timely manner.

Love the tube info. Very interesting . . . not really that expensive.

How many layers did you use on the exhaust tube? What tube size?

Haven't checked the roll call . . . Neil, you going to Daytona?

[RMBC Freeride]

I cant seem to find time to get anything done on my project... you will probably have yours together before mine.

The carbon is very expensive, but you can do it with glass just the same. I used two layers.

Can't make daytona, work conflicts :frown: