Project Boat Anchor, Superjet

[mikidymac]

Well, this started in the fiberglass section but I guess it should have its own build thread.

I have wanted a superjet since I test rode a brand new demo 1996 RN in 1997 but bought a new SXI Pro instead. Coming from a 650 SX the inside turning of the SXI just felt natural. After life, college, marriage and kids now I have the funds to start collecting skis and my last bucket list ski is a RN. Now you have to understand the reason I have the means to buy lots of skis is because I am cheap so I wanted to buy the raw parts and make my dream ski the way I want.

Probably would have been easier and maybe cheaper to buy a ski ready to go but what’s the fun in that.

So almost a year ago I started looking and found a hull from an inmate here. Before I even got it I found a running B1 for $800 stole the entire 61X/62T drivetrain and electronics and sold it at the Pismo Freeride for $600.

Finally got the 2001 hull which looked decent. After removing the turf it’s a turd to be nice.

The glass was crap and delaminating so bad you could pull it up by hand

The entire tray was gone. I have no clue why they trashed the oem tray but there was nothing left.
The worst part is they cut the tray back so close to the gel coat/mat transition at the rear there isn’t much meat left to reglass. I have no clue why they hacked out so much just for footholds.

I don’t think they were being dishonest and the seller was a really nice guy, I just don’t think he knew what he was doing. So instead of being mad and too stupid to know when to quit I’m going to save this turd.

 

[mikidymac]

So it’s been almost a year since bringing her home and I finally got my materials ordered and all the nasty wet foam out.

Ground out all their glass,epoxy and mess today and getting ready for reinforcement and new tray.

Every time I look at it I just don’t understand why they cut out so much of the tray.....

Stay tuned.

 

[mikidymac]

Here’s a picture of how she sits now.

 

[Sanoman]

A few years ago,a local asked me to redo his turf.So when l peeled back the turf and pad,l found almost the same thing.Cut way to much off the gunwales and delaminating bad.More than likely it was vinyl ester resin that the local marina used.l think it was there first and only foothold job.
How l fixed his SJ was using thickner and glassing in a few 1.5" strips along the inside edges (gunwales) where it was cut so far back to give me something to bond too.Then l was able to reattach what was left of the tray and pop rivet the footholds back on.Used thickner with glass strands all around the contact areas and then put cloth over the top.lt won't come apart now.
You definitely have a fixable mess there on your hands.Good luck!

 

[mikidymac]

Thanks Sanoman. My plan was just as you did.
1. Patch and fill the hole in the back where the scupper was.
2. Fill the bondline from the inside with Epoxy and Cabosil.
3. Reinforce the sides/bondline with one layer 1708 and Epoxy.
4. Install all hoses and fittings in the back and 5200 the crap out of everything.
5. Check for leaks.
6. Paint the bottom 1/2 white.
7. Install 1.5-2" strips from the inside around the entire tray area so I have a little more meat to glass to.
8. Foam with pink home depot foam. THen 2 part U.S Composites foam to fill in the voids and have something to shape.
9. Glass the tray with a combo of 1208 and 1708.
10. Paint the top deck white.
11. Turf and ride.

Let me know if anybody has any comments or tips to help out this plan.

 

[smoofers]

That is typical of polyester resin on SMC. It peels off like that after a while.

 

[mike b]

I know a lot of people, my self included, use epoxy resin on these SMC hulls. I was told by an old time autobody shop to use SMC resin. He would use the SMC resin when doing the front hood and fenders on big rigs and when restoring boats/jet skis because they are the crappy SMC material to begin with. I had good results with epoxy but has anyone tried the SMC resin yet?

 

[mikidymac]

I used SMC on a 650 SX and it worked fine but who knows where that thing is now.

With all the epoxy here on the X I am sure we would have heard of issues with it on SMC by now. Plus the tray which is my biggest challenge at the moment is just glass and polyester from the factory anyway.

 

[mikidymac]

Well, Big Brown Box Day!

Probably bought too much but F it. If I had leftovers I guess I will just have to find a SN, I don’t want it to go to waste you know.

Now trying to get all that damn Yamaha decal glue off. Damn!

 

[bird]

Are you going to widen the tray?

 

[Sanoman]

@mikidymac Acetone

 

[mikidymac]

Are you going to widen the tray?

No. I am just going back to stock and some foot straps.

 

[mikidymac]

@mikidymac Acetone

Yes, have a few gallons already.

 

[smoofers]

Use this, works better than acetone.
https://www.amazon.com/3M-General-Purpose-Adhesive-Cleaner/dp/B00ZIM9XPI

 

[mikidymac]

Use this, works better than acetone.
https://www.amazon.com/3M-General-Purpose-Adhesive-Cleaner/dp/B00ZIM9XPI

Thanks but it’s also more than 4 times the cost of acetone too. I have already spent enough on supplies at this point.

 

[bird]

Thanks but it’s also more than 4 times the cost of acetone too. I have already spent enough on supplies at this point.

I just soak with WD-40 and clean up with Aceton and Alcohol(depending on surface)

 

[mikidymac]

I just soak with WD-40 and clean up with Acetone and Alcohol(depending on surface)

If we are talking about the adhesive from the decals, I tried everything.
What I found worked best for me was to rub a small area with lacquer thinner, then a plastic razor blade took almost all of it off in that area and just kept working a small area at a time. WD-40, goof off, goo gone and all of those products didn't do a thing and acetone evaporated too quickly.

For pre cleaning before glas and epoxy I am using acetone.

 

[SXIPro]

Rapid Remover. Works great, enviro-friendly (I know those two things don't typically go hand in hand) and smells citrusy fresh. Used it to remove every bit of adhesive from my '04 RN

 

[Sanoman]

The WD40 concerns me,as well as any other product that is oil based using it on the surface.Really difficult to get "all" the oil out after applying to the paint.
My two cents..

 

[mikidymac]

So, I got some work done today.
Cabosil and epoxy on the bond line.

I didn’t want to completely remove the ribs so I ground some down but used the cabosil to blend them in so the glass would lay flat.
I then did a layer of 10oz then a layer of 1708 without mat. I know it’s not the strongest but honestly I needed the practice for the tray and it’s been 20 years since I was on a standup and at 42 I’m not going to be getting stupid in the surf anyway.

And filled the scupper hole too.

It was actually 74 and sunny here in Cali today so it kicked off pretty quickly.