Avoiding sinking ski

[Jacob peek]

Hey guys been trying to figure out away to prevent losing a ski while out ridding. Mainly ride the lake where if something eg happens an ski starts to sink it's pretty much gone (I have a super freak) anyone have any ideas or ways they use to either keep them from going down or some way of finding there ski if it sinks??

 

[Quinc]

Put foam in the tray, shove pool noodles in every nook and cranny in the engine bay, do a search for "retriever"

 

[Jacob peek]

Huh I've heard the pool noodle thing but wasn't sure if that would actually work or not. Thanks!

 

[Citizen]

I use pool noodles on my freak. Tho if i rode ocean i might foam tray too just to be safer.

 

[Jacob peek]

I use pool noodles on my freak. Tho if i road ocean i might foam tray too just to be safer.

How do you add foam to the tray on the freaks? I've never looked into how to make that work

 

[Citizen]

Not sure honestly, I assume you would just drill the bulkhead and use 2 part. I am sure there are threads on here about it somewhere though. Just never have looked.

 

[Jacob peek]

Ya I'll have to do some research on it. Never really though about it until I upset sunk my ski

 

[McDog]

Cut top of tray off. Cut and fill with polystyrene pieces as tight as you can. Glass tray back on. 2 part foam will eventually get soaked with water if there are ever any leaks. Poly will not.

 

[yamanube]

Cut top of tray off. Cut and fill with polystyrene pieces as tight as you can. Glass tray back on. 2 part foam will eventually get soaked with water if there are ever any leaks. Poly will not.

 

[BrightE's]

Cut the tray open and lay in EPS or EPP to the bond line, reglass tray, drill hole and fill with marine grade expanding PU above bond line. Ride. EPP is more expensive but easier to install because it's compressible and flexible.

Sent from my RS988 using Tapatalk

 

[McDog]

Cut the tray open and lay in EPS or EPP to the bond line, reglass tray, drill hole and fill with marine grade expanding PU above bond line. Ride. EPP is more expensive but easier to install because it's compressible and flexible.

Sent from my RS988 using Tapatalk

I like it but where to buy?

 

[BrightE's]

I like it but where to buy?

I picked up 4 sheets of 1.9# 1.5" black EPP from FlyingFoam which does RC airplane wings when I filled my Superjet with EPP. Definitely had left over and probably could have gotten the same result from 2-3 sheets. Sheets run about $20 a pop plus $15 flat shipping.

Hit up Coby at FlyingFoam at coby@flyingfoam.com

 

[Quinc]

Try your local home depot as well.

 

[BrightE's]

Try your local home depot as well.

Be cautious with this. EPP and EPE are very different materials. EPE can absorb water over time, EPP on the other hand will not. You'd be pressed to tell the difference between the two just by looking at them.

Sent from my RS988 using Tapatalk

 

[long beach local]

I just can`t cut into my Freak unless it was absolutely necessary and luckily so far its not. Why not just seal up the tray air floats? I removed motor, ebox, rideplate etc tipped ski on its nose and using my backflush lines that plug into the pissers I completely filled the tray with water thru the drain holes till it squirted out the other drain hole then plugged it (be careful) turn hose on for a second I could hear the carbon buckling turn off and look for the leaks. I found water leaking out around exhaust tube and scupper mostly from inside bulkhead. I drained the water and hung the ski from the bow eye from the rafters in my garage so bulkhead was completely flat and used G-flex and sealed around everything 2 coats . Its not completely watertight as a few ounces comes out after riding but it keeps it afloat with the help of pool noodles.

 

[Citizen]

I just can`t cut into my Freak unless it was absolutely necessary and luckily so far its not. Why not just seal up the tray air floats? I removed motor, ebox, rideplate etc tipped ski on its nose and using my backflush lines that plug into the pissers I completely filled the tray with water thru the drain holes till it squirted out the other drain hole then plugged it (be careful) turn hose on for a second I could hear the carbon buckling turn off and look for the leaks. I found water leaking out around exhaust tube and scupper mostly from inside bulkhead. I drained the water and hung the ski from the bow eye from the rafters in my garage so bulkhead was completely flat and used G-flex and sealed around everything 2 coats. Its not completely watertight as a few ounces comes out after riding but it keeps it afloat with the help of pool noodles.

I have sank my superfreak twice, filled up engine bay up to the top of the carbs and filled engine with water (no hook hooks so hood was shifting during backflops off boat wakes and getting water inside, fixed now) and even with it completely filled it still didn't fully sink below the surface. I was able to tow it to shore and dump the water. This was with 1 pool noodle and a half full gas tank.

 

[BrightE's]

I just can`t cut into my Freak unless it was absolutely necessary and luckily so far its not. Why not just seal up the tray air floats? I removed motor, ebox, rideplate etc tipped ski on its nose and using my backflush lines that plug into the pissers I completely filled the tray with water thru the drain holes till it squirted out the other drain hole then plugged it (be careful) turn hose on for a second I could hear the carbon buckling turn off and look for the leaks. I found water leaking out around exhaust tube and scupper mostly from inside bulkhead. I drained the water and hung the ski from the bow eye from the rafters in my garage so bulkhead was completely flat and used G-flex and sealed around everything 2 coats . Its not completely watertight as a few ounces comes out after riding but it keeps it afloat with the help of pool noodles.

My freaks have all been EPS or EPP'd cause it only takes a small impact to crack and sink you $15k+ boat, why risk it for 2-3 pounds of foam savings?

Sent from my RS988 using Tapatalk

 

[long beach local]

My freaks have all been EPS or EPP'd cause it only takes a small impact to crack and sink you $15k+ boat, why risk it for 2-3 pounds of foam savings?

I never thought of it that way , to break and sink or add weight my reasoning is to avoid the labor involved and go ride it instead. I would like to think it would take a Major impact to crack a carbon freak. Maybe a hitting a rock Ouch!!!

 

[BrightE's]

I never thought of it that way , to break and sink or add weight my reasoning is to avoid the labor involved and go ride it instead. I would like to think it would take a Major impact to crack a carbon freak. Maybe a hitting a rock Ouch!!!

That's my fear I suppose. That or hit a half floating tree in a river or lake. If you cut carefully and lay in some realigning tabs before closing it up, it should be as easy as patching a shell back over the tray. Freaks do have 2 stringers under the tray that might present a challenge but I'm sure it can be figured out.

Sent from my RS988 using Tapatalk