is this far enough back

[chrisdoc0608]

You should have prepped that way better! ......

i sanded everything that the holde mated to right before i installed them, i dont think i showed that in the pictures.... but too late now, ive been looking for advice this whole time. i hope i got it right bc there is no going back now.

 

[GDFL]

i sanded everything that the holde mated to right before i installed them, i dont think i showed that in the pictures.... but too late now, ive been looking for advice this whole time. i hope i got it right bc there is no going back now.

I'm not trying to be a grouch, but here's the way it is: You have to read and read and read about 10 different writeups of people doing foothold installs before you even think about doing it yourself. You'll see that there are about a half dozen ways to successfully do it and then you decide which way seems best for you. THEN, if you get stuck on one aspect of the install, you ask here and someone will walk you through it. Unfortunately, it's hard for someone to type out the pages of complete and accurate info that you would need for your particular install. Many of the things you missed, such as using unthickened epoxy in a syringe and not doing much prep work to the fiberglass, could have been avoided with research yet no one here could have possibly known that you were going to do that so they didn't feel the need to forewarn you.

Just look at the options for installing footholds. Rivets or screws, leave the rivets/screws in or take them out and fill the holes, filled epoxy or not, filled with fiber or something else, using 5200 instead of epoxy, glass or no glass around seams, how many layers and what type of glass cloth, reinforce between footholds.......and on and on.

Sometimes you might spend more time researching and reading about how to do a mod than actually doing the mod itself. That's just the way it is if you want to do it right. We're all here to help if you need it, but you can't be spoon fed.

Sorry if that came across as harsh, I just want you to have an idea of what your up against. What you did isn't going to make your ski fall apart, but it probably could have been done better. Don't sweat it since you can't turn back anyway.

 

[chrisdoc0608]

ok first off i have read a million threads and looked at countless pictures. i didnt prep the whole surface bc i didnt see the need to, i just sanded the areas that would be epoxied clean, which is good bc now i have ******** all over the place anyway and i would have had to re prep the surface for the fiberglass. i read somewhere that epoxy behind the hold was not necessary, so i just rivited it in, there is epoxy everywhere now and all is sealed but the very tip of each hold ( ill get that with glass) since this is apparently a subject that nobody likes to discuss i will quit with the questions. thanks to everyone that helped
-chris

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

Its not a subject no one wants to discuss, its a subject we are TIRED of discussing from steps A thru step Z.

you needed more prep in the entire tray area, do you know how I know that?

because your turf came off in one big piece, it wasnt glued well.

ok first off i have read a million threads and looked at countless pictures. i didnt prep the whole surface bc i didnt see the need to, i just sanded the areas that would be epoxied clean, which is good bc now i have ******** all over the place anyway and i would have had to re prep the surface for the fiberglass. i read somewhere that epoxy behind the hold was not necessary, so i just rivited it in, there is epoxy everywhere now and all is sealed but the very tip of each hold ( ill get that with glass) since this is apparently a subject that nobody likes to discuss i will quit with the questions. thanks to everyone that helped
-chris

 

[chrisdoc0608]

already did that, thanks though. i took a chisle and acetone to it and all over the gunwhales. i just got throught with the first layer of glass. it looks good imo. i did one large mat on the tray, then went all around the permiter of the holds. im gonna do one more layer just like that with the thick mat i have, then two layers with the tight knit mat i have, it should look nice.

 

[chrisdoc0608]

here it is after two lyers of the thick mat i have. we are letting it setup a little then gonna hit it with some of the tight knit stuff. hows it look for my first time with glass?

first layer

second layer (my buddy wanted to pose for this one lol)

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

it looks like you used random weave matting instead of a woven type?

most would suggest you use the woven.

Ive used both, I do think the woven is stronger though.

make another layer ( or two) and after its dry, sand the PISS out of everything there that isnt yellow, and glue your turf back on right.

By the way, I stuck mine as far back as I could fit them.

in retrospect, Ill move them up the next time.
Ive got a -3.5 pole now, and Id rather be slightly more forward.

your height figures into all of this fitment though.

 

[onesojourner]

it looks like there is a lot of turf glue left on there. I am sure you will have some very wet foam after a year or so of riding these.

 

[chrisdoc0608]

actually, the surface was very smooth, the stuff that looks like glue are stains. i got all the glue off with a chisle and some rough grit sand paper. i doubt my foam will be wet. i sealed the footholds three times with epoxy, once when i put them in on the back, then on the seams when i had both of them rivited in, then one more time after it dryed. now i have two layers of the thick random weave, and one layer of the tight knit on it. i layed the glass by laying the tray first, then going around the permiter of the hold completely around with 2.5'' strips, then the tray again, in that order to sandwich the layers togather. the fiber glass is over the seams so much i just cant see how it would ever leak. i plan on doing a couple more layers of the tight woven mat, would i be ok to just do it tomarrow?

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

I wish your foam the best.

 

[chrisdoc0608]

so there isnt any way this is sealed well????

 

[demolition_x]

its not a question of the sealing its a question of how long till the glass delaminates from the hull.


if i were doing this there would be nothing but the gold smc stuff the top deck is made of. all the paint stains and glue would be gone. good prep work is essential for proper adhesion

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

IM sure its sealed well.

im just envisioning you trying to pour foam in the ski using the same half assed technique you used for glassing these in!

haha

let me guess, you didnt want two part foam, you will use 'great stuff foam'?

haha

im messing with you man.

it will work, it will be fine.

you really though, missed some key info in your researching and reading of "millions" of threads.

spend more time reading, and less time posting.

[ I dont mean that as mean, or an insult, seriously though]

there is a LOT of good info, and pics here, it takes a while to learn how to determine what is BS, and what isnt.

and YES, I think you didnt prep ( sand, and clean) enough

BUT you keep saying you did, so , time will tell.

 

[chrisdoc0608]

i just realized, all of those makrs that look like black ********, are from where i accudentally scraped off the gel coat with the sandpaper..... so is it safe to say that i did a really ********ty job, and will be running into some problems?

 

[chrisdoc0608]

all the threads i read were within the last year btw.. i could have prob used some more reading though... and no i didnt pour my foam half assed, i cut a hole with a circle drill bit... dont know the proper name... and then made a hole down to the empty area... this was before the hold was in.... and then once everything was sealed in and rivited, i poured two part foam, not great stuff lol.. it foamed up and came out some, then i let it sit, made a circle from the cut outs of the holds and then epoxied it in and layed glass over the area as well.


cut me a little slack, i have never even touched fiber glass or done any modifications to a hull before

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

the threads from years ago are still good info too.

You crippled yourself out of the gate by sticking to only the NEW threads.

no problem, if it screws up, you will know how to fix it again.
Keep in mind, some folks, returf, paint, and build engines more often than once per year.

dont sweat it.

 

[demolition_x]

relax its all good you live and learn...


just trying to save you some work down the road if they do delaminate.


defoaming is not the most enjoyable thing to do.

and btw what kinda holds are they?

 

[chrisdoc0608]

i would be much more inclined to paint or rebuild a motor.... this fiber glass ******** sucks, and i havent even got to the sanding part.

btw if i lay a couple of layers tomarrow will it adhear ok or will i need to buff the surface before i do it on hard glass

 

[Vumad]

I haven't done this project yet, I really want to... and will soon, semester starting, too many bucks going out...

anyway... I'm thinking you should have sanded the gelcoat off. Gelcoat is kind of like paint. It's not going to flake off like paint but the glass wont stick ass good. You have to sand the crap out of it to get a good surface for the glass to adhere too. It's not about your glass, it's about the glass staying stuck to the hull.

The idea that you didn't take your turf off just suggests you were trying to cut corners. I don't even understand why you're keeping the turf. One sheet of hydro turf could cover the entire tray I think. You have to buy the turf, so just do the whole job. If you cut one corner, you probably cut another. That's just no good.

You can't change it, so just go forward, but next time spend more on the prep and don't look for the easy way out.

 

[chrisdoc0608]

i didnt buy new turf bc the old looks fine, and i have to have this ready by sat. last time i ordered turf it took 6 days to come to me... so that was out of the question.