Shortening a hull

[crashnburn86]

I am going to do a topdeck conversion. I am trying to figure out if i want to shorten the back 2-3 inches... I am aiming for this to be a backflip/ some surf hull with estimated Finnish weight at around 90 with hull and hood. I would like any and all feedback on pros and cons of shortening it and if you did it how much you did.

 

[SuperJETT]

Look through my buildup thread. If you're going for flatwater backflips and want to still do surf, you're not going to want to shorten it too much and will need a fairly serious engine with total loss IMO.

 

[crashnburn86]

yes i have read your build thread many times im also looking for other input...i have the engine covered. I have yet to ride in surf so i doubt within the time i have this hull it will be to much of a surf boat.. I would like to ride it occasionally but overall i ride flatwater.

 

[kingnothing3]

I have shortened my hull and done the top deck conversion blah blah blah.(see my build thread for details)

And I still love the way it rides in surf! If you are used to riding your short ski, you wont notice in the surf. plus you wont know any different anyway if you have never ridin in it. I agree its not for everyone, but if you ride 90% flatwater, and want to backflip go for broke and shorten it the lenth you want.

 

[Berky]

I rode a -2 in the surf for a bit, it was slashie like a twin fin surf board , in larger surf the length is good as it tames the hull down and makes it more controllable. Rocker kicks ass for surfing the wave.

 

[Waternut]

I shortened my SN -3" and love it. Rode it in the surf at Daytona too without any real issues too. Mine isn't even the tapered cut, it's a straight cut off the back of the ski. Granted I'm only 160-170lbs but the only times the shortened hull would give me problems was when the wave frequency was real short. I need at least a second or two to recover from a big jump especially when the whole ski practically submerges on the landing. I don't know if the recovery time would be any different with a full length hull though.

 

[Matt_E]

I cut mine 2 inches.
It is a lot more squirrely and easier to throw around. It responds faster.
I love it in the surf, too.
Someone warned me that the short hull would not be good in surf, but I don't notice any disadvantage. Of course, I am not a good surf rider, either.

 

[crashnburn86]

awesome thanks for the input i think ill go with 2 inches off the back. I dont think ill notice cause i will be goin from a 550 to a carbon topdeck superjet.. so it will ride better no matter what lol

 

[CoreyLKN]

:::Thread Jack:::

For the guys who have shortened the hull, what did you do with your rear exhaust. Can you reuse the stock pipe. It seems like it wont line up right with it being shortened.

 

[Matt_E]

I reused the rear pieces at the original angle to avoid that problem.

 

[CoreyLKN]

I reused the rear pieces at the original angle to avoid that problem.

I did too, i kept the angle and cut a hole in the same spot on the back of the hull but the fitment of the exhaust flange it way off on the back if the exhaust pipe goes through the original hole in the bilge.

 

[Matt_E]

Hammer on the flange. That's what I did.

 

[Waternut]

I reused the rear pieces at the original angle to avoid that problem.

I wish I had done that but noooo.... I was an idiot and tried to glass it all back which meant even hammering the flange wouldn't make it fit. So I just chopped the flange off, pushed the pipe about an inch out of the hull, and put 5200 around the edge. It's not all bad though, that extra inch means my hull stays pretty clean instead of a nasty black side.

 

[DAG]

Whats the difference between the -2 flat cut and the -2 taper cut?

 

[crashnburn86]

yea im interested in the difference too. Because im planning on cutting the bottom deck today

 

[ksarge91]

I'd think a taper cut would be stronger? Why not just run a front or rear side exhaust?

 

[crashnburn86]

i hear the front exhaust sucks because it goes into your faces while your riding.

 

[Matt_E]

I'd think a taper cut would be stronger? Why not just run a front or rear side exhaust?

I've been running my straight cut for two seasons without problems. I don't get the "it's stronger" argument.
Front/side only exhausts are terrible. I went through quite a bit of work to get rid of my front exhaust after I had it for two years.