what kid of fiberglass do i use for reinforcement??

[firecatf6]

if any of you read my last post i just got a RN superjet set up for freestyle. The problem is the guy that had it before me didn't prep the surface the right way for reinforcement so the fiberglass just peels off. I have ground the old stuff off and am going to re-reinforce but i was wondering what kind of glass to get and what kind of eboxy. Also should i just do the sides, or should i also do the handpole area while i am at it? oh does anyone reinforce the bottom of the hull?
I am working hard to get this thing ready when the Mineesota lakes warm up!

 

[firecatf6]

oh the guy also fubar'd the gas tank when he tried to make it a internal fill so if anyone has an extra rn gas tank laying around that would help me. The one i have now leaks and i have tried to seal it with fuel proof goop but no luck

 

[Etheraldreamer]

post some pics.
i dont know of many people re-inforcing the bottom of the hull. seems like added weight for no reason. id just do the sides and the pole mount area. but if you are just planning on riding on lakes even that is probably a bit overkill. most of the reinforcement jobs you see are from people that ride surf, landing the ski on the side from 10 feet up is a great way to break your hull, jumping boat wakes etc on a lake isnt really that much of a risk i wouldnt think.

 

[spazzit]

17oz biax and epoxy resin

west system works best

 

[Frosty]

I reinforced the entire inside of my ski - sides, bottom, nose, handle pole mounting area, even cut the tray open and reinforced the sides of the gunwhales.

I use US compsites epoxy resin/hardener - 635 thin - 4:1 fast dry
http://shopmaninc.com/epoxy.html

I use 8.5 oz cloth
http://shopmaninc.com/cloth.html

I did a 3" wide strip over the bond line, then a 6" wide strip over that, then did the entire side (hood seal to bottom). Lay them in the same session so they are chemically bonded, not mechanically bonded. This way allows for maximum strength where needed, and helps keep the weight down.

reinforcing the bottom is likely a bit overkill, but I do thrash my ski pretty hard. Lake Erie (yes lake not ocean) is very unforgiving in the fall. We get pretty large waves, tight intervals and hard core winds... the ski takes a beating.

For flat to choppy lake riding though, I would say to just do the sides, pole area, and possibly the nose... (I nose stab the bottom quite often).

Remember, good prep is key - and make sure to take your time around the hood seal area. In fact, I recommend you pay more attention to that area instead of the bottom.

Oh, and even with all the reinforcing I did, I did not use 2 part exapnding foam in the tray... instead I used the same foam Kawasaki uses and cut the weight down. My ski is only around 280 lbs dry weight vs 305 for my other RN.

Anyway, take your time, prep good, work the airbubbles out... and DO NOT use more resin/hardener than you need to. Use just enough to wet out the cloth. anything more will just be brittle.

hope that helps.

 

[firecatf6]

i know its probably overkill for flatwater, especially since i am just starting out but i figured it would be a good learning experience and it will cover up all the sanding marks from getting off the old glass, and now is the best time to do it. Also if a few more people could clairify what fiberglass to get, i am confused what the oz means and also if i should use s glass over e. thanks

 

[zeski25]

carbons cute

 

[Frosty]

oz is the weight of the cloth, the more oz the heavier and thicker it is.

I prefer to use 8.5 oz since it thinner and easier to mold and would rather do two layers of 8.5 oz then a single layer of 17oz.

 

[yamanube]

Use S glass.

 

[firecatf6]

alright i think i will go with the 8.9 oz s glass. I also have to do some foot hold modification so i will need to glass them in too. Can i use any old fiberglass cloth for that or should i use some good stuff

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

I just did one side of my waveblaster the other night. I got everything from US Composites. I filled the bondline with a mixture of epoxy resin and the phenolic microballons, then laid down 2 12" strips of their 17oz biaxial. They overlapped a good bit over the bond line making it double thick. 1/2 gal epoxy kit, pumps, filler, and the glass was $70 shipped and I should have about 1/2 that epoxy left over once I do the other side.

 

[firecatf6]

I just did one side of my waveblaster the other night. I got everything from US Composites. I filled the bondline with a mixture of epoxy resin and the phenolic microballons, then laid down 2 12" strips of their 17oz biaxial. They overlapped a good bit over the bond line making it double thick. 1/2 gal epoxy kit, pumps, filler, and the glass was $70 shipped and I should have about 1/2 that epoxy left over once I do the other side.

well if you have some left over and you think it would be enough to do my sj i would be interested in buying the leftover. That goes out to anyone on the forum, if you have extra epoxy or glass let me know.


oh and i still need to know what fiberglass cloth works best for me? I am willing to spend a little more on the s glass if its worth it but i hear some ppl say bilax and other say cloth. What do i go with?

 

[WaveDemon]

Use S glass.

S glass isn't worth the extra expense for what he's doing.

Actually I'd never use S glass. Might as well go carbon at that point.

 

[WaveDemon]

What do i go with?

one layer of 17oz biax mat E glass is more than enough for flat water. Hell, it's enough for surf.

If you're going to act a fool in real surf or drop your ski out of trees you might do more than I recommended.

Unfortunately, you have to go with more expensive epoxy resin because the bottom of the hull is SMC.... unless you only reinforce the top half which used to be popular years ago.

 

[chad]

I have reinforced about 9 superjets and I have always used 12 oz Biax
plenty strong and friendly to use .. and make sure you use epoxy resin as wave demon said.

 

[WaveDemon]

I have reinforced about 9 superjets and I have always used 12 oz Biax
plenty strong and friendly to use .. and make sure you use epoxy resin as wave demon said.

12 should do it! it would be easier to install too!

 

[firecatf6]

thanks everyone for the help. I will order some bilax and epoxy form uscomposites. I am re doing the footholds and am wondering what kind of glass i should use for them? Sorry for all the questions but i am a beginner so i gotta learn somehow

oh and if someone has the west systems bondline filler leftover i would really appreciate it if i could buy the extra off someone

 

[yamanube]

I would just order some filler from UScomposites when you order the rest, its cheap and nice to have for random stuff.

S glass isn't worth the extra expense for what he's doing.

Actually I'd never use S glass. Might as well go carbon at that point.

I used 8.9oz S glass, much cheaper than carbon and thinner than biax leaving me plenty of room for exhaust. Might not be as strong as a biax or carbon job but I am not to hard on my ski.

 

[WaveDemon]

thanks everyone for the help. I will order some bilax and epoxy form uscomposites. I am re doing the footholds and am wondering what kind of glass i should use for them? Sorry for all the questions but i am a beginner so i gotta learn somehow

oh and if someone has the west systems bondline filler leftover i would really appreciate it if i could buy the extra off someone

for footholds I use 3/4 oz mat. it's super easy to work with but you'll want at least 2 layers of it for strength. lay up the second layer while the fist layer is still wet.

you'll end up using epoxy most likely because you'll have it for your reinforcement but you CAN use polyester resin for footholds since the top deck on a RN is fiberglass.

 

[Foximus]

Just to check/clarify. To me it sounds like he wants to reinforce the outside of the ski, not the inside.

Use biax for the inside, use Cloth/carbon for the outside.