How to refoam a bob gen 2 hull?

[LMnsr]

Hello,

Although my engine is finally running well, I don't trust my hull.. The tray has been filling up with water since I got it and i see it pouring water out the exhaust and scupper rings when I tilt it on the trailer.. (scupper is blocked off from the engine comp.)
I am pretty sure there is no foam in there since each time I unload the ski the tray floats well above the water for the first couple of minutes, then after riding a bit it is a couple centimeters underwater.
Plus one time I flipped it and it almost sank. The rear half of the hull was underwater with the engine compartment sticking above the water. Thankfully it has a bilge pump which saved it while i was swimming to shore dragging the ski with me.

I've been searching for a bit but found a bunch of threads on refoaming sj's. I know it's the same principles, but I don't want to cut up my tray in places I shouldn't have to.

The only reason I decided I'm going to invest in the hull instead of the engine is the fear of sinking my ski in the surf. I have a surf hull and I haven't been in the surf yet because of this issue. I was going to buy some performance parts but In my opinion if the hull isn't good, it's not worth it.

If anyone has done this to their Bob hull and can post a couple of pictures to help me out would be awesome!

Thanks!

 

[Captain PegLeg]

install versa plugs in the tray.

 

[LMnsr]

install versa plugs in the tray.

That was on my list to do when i open up the tray.
I was thinking about only adding the versliplug. But my exhaust and scupper ring leaks so it will let water in the tray anyway.
The versi plug will drain the hull. But im trying to get rid of the entire problem.

 

[BrightE's]

If you dont' want to do a full on surgery, you can drill a small hole into your bulkhead inside your engine compartment and use water, soapy water, or color dyed water pumped or poured in to find your tray leaks. Then seal the leaks, install versiplugs to be safe, and patch the hole in your bulkhead.

 

[700Pirate]

I have had a few am hulls that were surf skis and never foamed.The engine compartment scupper tubes I ran worked well at getting the water out quick and coupled with a versa plug for the tray compartment never had an issue even being swamped many a time. Fitted a bilge, ran it when the surf was big.
With regards to the tray. Water will get back there through ride plate bolts, dshaft tube, bulkhead and bond line at some point. Just the action of a flexing tray will suck water in. Not much though.
You need to change that tube and re seal the flange. If you opened the tray you could seal everything off nicely. Big job but worth it in the end. Driveshaft tube leaks will fill the tray compartment up quick and if you do not have a versaplug the ski will get heavy and depending what weight you are, hard to ride out of stuff.
Being that your ski is a former comp ski. It has probably seen huge air and a lot of stuff has flexed over time and developed leaks. Maybe even while it was used competitively. With rounds running 6-10 mins water it probably wasnt noticed.

If you installed a versaplug, unblocked the scupper and made sure it worked you could keep on riding.

How bad is the exhaust flange leak?

 

[j0hnny]

what size versa plug did you have for the tray area? my carbon bob seems a lot heavy after riding than when we first unload it off the trailer (like 10-20lbs easy) i already have a versa plug for the engine bay. it works awesome.

 

[XJCrawler]

Buy the versiplug r for your tray

 

[Captain PegLeg]

I have used these with great success in my freak. They are tiny and only require a small hole on each side to be drilled, my tray would have about a gallon of water or more after a day worth of riding and by the end of the day you could definitely tell the hull was heavier. I got tired of removing drain bolts every ride, so I started researching. I have yet to have a issue with these, and have ben bashing on them all summer. I didn't have room for the full size versa plugs, and I didn't like the look of the full sized one anyway. I can snap a few pics and post them when I get home tonight. Id recommend these to anyone.... and they keep my tray area nice and dry!

http://www.funrcboats.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=AER7008

 

[Harbor]

im addition to what's be mentioned above... A guy used a hole saw to cut an opening in the bulkhead near the top then stood the ski on its tail and filled the tray full of ping pong balls.

 

[LMnsr]

I have had a few am hulls that were surf skis and never foamed.The engine compartment scupper tubes I ran worked well at getting the water out quick and coupled with a versa plug for the tray compartment never had an issue even being swamped many a time. Fitted a bilge, ran it when the surf was big.
With regards to the tray. Water will get back there through ride plate bolts, dshaft tube, bulkhead and bond line at some point. Just the action of a flexing tray will suck water in. Not much though.
You need to change that tube and re seal the flange. If you opened the tray you could seal everything off nicely. Big job but worth it in the end. Driveshaft tube leaks will fill the tray compartment up quick and if you do not have a versaplug the ski will get heavy and depending what weight you are, hard to ride out of stuff.
Being that your ski is a former comp ski. It has probably seen huge air and a lot of stuff has flexed over time and developed leaks. Maybe even while it was used competitively. With rounds running 6-10 mins water it probably wasnt noticed.

If you installed a versaplug, unblocked the scupper and made sure it worked you could keep on riding.

How bad is the exhaust flange leak?

thanks! I am planning on taking a small break from riding to redo the tray. I haven't been progressing much since I can't go in the surf. I've been riding in basically flat water chasing after boats and yachts. My ski is pretty heavy on it's own, and I feel the difference as you said when it fills up with water and becomes heavier. I weigh about 170lbs and can manage it, but it's a whole different ski when the tray fills up. plus I feel like it's hard on the engine to get it to plane each time.
The exhaust and the scupper basically pours water out when i pull it out the water. then at home i usually leave the trailer tilted up so it drains during the week.

 

[LMnsr]

im addition to what's be mentioned above... A guy used a hole saw to cut an opening in the bulkhead near the top then stood the ski on its tail and filled the tray full of ping pong balls.

I also seen this in a post where a guy drilled a whole on the inside part of the tray next to the pump and filled it up with the white ping pong balls i think. They need to be the ones that don't dissolve after time (beerpong balls) if im not mistaken. I've thought of this but wasn't sure how well they work. But I was thinking maybe it's time to inspect the inside of the tray since the hull has been used for about 4 yrs before i bought it and it still has the same turf on the tray that Christian Young used back in 2010.

 

[700Pirate]

Mate square away and seal the exhaust leak. Install a versaplug for the rear tray compartment and it will not get heavy on you.

 

[LMnsr]

I have used these with great success in my freak. They are tiny and only require a small hole on each side to be drilled, my tray would have about a gallon of water or more after a day worth of riding and by the end of the day you could definitely tell the hull was heavier. I got tired of removing drain bolts every ride, so I started researching. I have yet to have a issue with these, and have ben bashing on them all summer. I didn't have room for the full size versa plugs, and I didn't like the look of the full sized one anyway. I can snap a few pics and post them when I get home tonight. Id recommend these to anyone.... and they keep my tray area nice and dry!

http://www.funrcboats.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=AER7008

They look like they can work, but is 1 quart per minute enough for a jet ski? those are for rc boats

 

[BrightE's]

They look like they can work, but is 1 quart per minute enough for a jet ski? those are for rc boats

It seems like it would be enough. If these things can drain 1/4 a gallon in a minute, it means your ski could be taking on 15 gallons in an hr and it could still drain it, and if your ski's taking on 15 gallons in an hour, I don't see how you'd even stay above the water without lots of flotation. With one in each chine end you could get some decent draining.

Edit - Speaking tray-wise only. Not engine compartment draining.

 

[BrightE's]

These billet ones look pretty badass. http://www.toughracing.com/zc126d/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=430

 

[Captain PegLeg]

The ones I got have the protector screen on them which I like. If you tray is taking on more water than what two of those little guys can get out, you have worse than normal leakage.


Like he said earlier, I use those for tray drain and not engine bay drains.

 

[BrightE's]

The ones I got have the protector screen on them which I like. If you tray is taking on more water than what two of those little guys can get out, you have worse than normal leakage.


Like he said earlier, I use those for tray drain and not engine bay drains.

Are those ones stainless?

Sent from my VS980 4G

 

[Captain PegLeg]

Not sure about stainless.... But I have been running them in salt and fresh all year and no corrosion or rust spotted on my two.

 

[LMnsr]

in conclusion what would be the best option to take?
open up the tray or just add some versi or rc plugs?

edit: i forgot to add this picture, not sure what it is but spotted this last weekend. feels like rubber kind of

 

[BrightE's]

I would first find the big leaks and seal them, and since you'll never be able to completely seal up a tray, put in versi or these newly found autobailers.