Lakeman
Stand Up All The Way
- Location
- Wichita, KS
My replacement REV ski build.
Some of you might remember this Lemon Yellow, Blue, and Silver ski. It was the first REV ski that Jeff built.
http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/5389
I was going to put a 927 motor in it but we grew tired of waiting on Jeff to complete the motor, so we put our stock 800 motor in it. After we worked out several motor issues, the ski was very powerful and a TON of fun to ride. Our first ride on this ski was on July 4th week end. By Labor Day weekend, (90 days later) the bottom of the ski broke and cracked while we were on the Labor Day Texas Ride. I am sure many people who were there will remember the repairs we made on the beech and the mood we were in at that time. The problem with this ski was the motor tray was glued into the ski. The glue that was used did not hold up and the tray separated from the hull. This allowed the ski hull to flex back and forth; it broke while enduring the pounding waves of the Gulf. The ski filled up with water and just about sank to the bottom. I think everyone should experience the thrill of having there pride and joy (10K) ski sink in the ocean. Thanks to quick actions of my son to realize it was rapidly filling up with water, he headed to shore in a hurry, were we able to save it. This will make your emotions take a roller coaster ride. Especially since we had just made a 13 hour car ride from Kansas, through the night, just to be side lined 3 hours after getting started with a broken ski bottom. What a bummer!!!
Here is the HAPPY ending to this story. Jeff sent me a custom painted replacement hull and said he was sorry that it didn’t last. There was NO hesitation on his part to offer up a replacement hull once he saw the pictures and understood what failed. He explained that he finds out what works and what doesn’t work by trying new techniques. He was trying to reduce the over all weight of the ski by using glue. He said he has gone back to cold welding them buy using epoxy resin. By using glue, he claimed to cut the weight by 8lbs.
I was also using his 1st generation exhaust pipe. After telling him that I sure wished I had his new and improved pipe, he sent me a replacement pipe at no charge. This pipe is heads and shoulders above what he built a year and a half earlier. The quality has really improved and it shows in this pipe.
These two acts show me that Jeff does stand behind his product when it fails due to his workmanship or when he has significantly improved upon what he sold earlier. I laid out my issues and he agreed too many of them. I must say, I am out of pocket for my hood seal, registration numbers, freight and crate cost. I paid freight on my first ski and on the replacement ski and was unable to remove the hood seal or numbers. What Jeff and Chris have done for me has gone a long way in making me happy. Thanks Jeff and Chris for your prompt response.
Here are the specifics:
Stock bore 800 motor, with 48 Novi carbs, external fuel pump, R&D billet head with around 170 psi, stock electronics, gas power valves and kart gas tank. The pump is 12 vain - 140 mm Solas mag pump, WDK free ride plate, WDK pole and many more items. The pole is out being painted red. The plan is to have it running in time for the spring break Texas ride. It doesn't look like I will get to test and tune much before the ride. It snowed here this weekend. I am hoping it warms up so we can get it out once before we make the long ride to Texas. Make sure it runs OK.
I thought long and hard whether to post this build, just one more REV build, but I wanted the people who were at the September Texas ride to know the out come to my saga. It all turned out OK.
The summer of 08 is the first summer I will have two running skis since 05. I look forward to riding with my son and our many lake friends here in Kansas.
The pole and ride plate should be only temporary. I robbed them off my Xjet to complete the build. The pole is at Jeff's shop waiting on him to paint and the ride plate is also waiting on Jeff to complete. Come on Jeff, I am waiting on my stuff.
Dale and Bryan Ray
Some of you might remember this Lemon Yellow, Blue, and Silver ski. It was the first REV ski that Jeff built.
http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/5389
I was going to put a 927 motor in it but we grew tired of waiting on Jeff to complete the motor, so we put our stock 800 motor in it. After we worked out several motor issues, the ski was very powerful and a TON of fun to ride. Our first ride on this ski was on July 4th week end. By Labor Day weekend, (90 days later) the bottom of the ski broke and cracked while we were on the Labor Day Texas Ride. I am sure many people who were there will remember the repairs we made on the beech and the mood we were in at that time. The problem with this ski was the motor tray was glued into the ski. The glue that was used did not hold up and the tray separated from the hull. This allowed the ski hull to flex back and forth; it broke while enduring the pounding waves of the Gulf. The ski filled up with water and just about sank to the bottom. I think everyone should experience the thrill of having there pride and joy (10K) ski sink in the ocean. Thanks to quick actions of my son to realize it was rapidly filling up with water, he headed to shore in a hurry, were we able to save it. This will make your emotions take a roller coaster ride. Especially since we had just made a 13 hour car ride from Kansas, through the night, just to be side lined 3 hours after getting started with a broken ski bottom. What a bummer!!!
Here is the HAPPY ending to this story. Jeff sent me a custom painted replacement hull and said he was sorry that it didn’t last. There was NO hesitation on his part to offer up a replacement hull once he saw the pictures and understood what failed. He explained that he finds out what works and what doesn’t work by trying new techniques. He was trying to reduce the over all weight of the ski by using glue. He said he has gone back to cold welding them buy using epoxy resin. By using glue, he claimed to cut the weight by 8lbs.
I was also using his 1st generation exhaust pipe. After telling him that I sure wished I had his new and improved pipe, he sent me a replacement pipe at no charge. This pipe is heads and shoulders above what he built a year and a half earlier. The quality has really improved and it shows in this pipe.
These two acts show me that Jeff does stand behind his product when it fails due to his workmanship or when he has significantly improved upon what he sold earlier. I laid out my issues and he agreed too many of them. I must say, I am out of pocket for my hood seal, registration numbers, freight and crate cost. I paid freight on my first ski and on the replacement ski and was unable to remove the hood seal or numbers. What Jeff and Chris have done for me has gone a long way in making me happy. Thanks Jeff and Chris for your prompt response.
Here are the specifics:
Stock bore 800 motor, with 48 Novi carbs, external fuel pump, R&D billet head with around 170 psi, stock electronics, gas power valves and kart gas tank. The pump is 12 vain - 140 mm Solas mag pump, WDK free ride plate, WDK pole and many more items. The pole is out being painted red. The plan is to have it running in time for the spring break Texas ride. It doesn't look like I will get to test and tune much before the ride. It snowed here this weekend. I am hoping it warms up so we can get it out once before we make the long ride to Texas. Make sure it runs OK.
I thought long and hard whether to post this build, just one more REV build, but I wanted the people who were at the September Texas ride to know the out come to my saga. It all turned out OK.
The summer of 08 is the first summer I will have two running skis since 05. I look forward to riding with my son and our many lake friends here in Kansas.
The pole and ride plate should be only temporary. I robbed them off my Xjet to complete the build. The pole is at Jeff's shop waiting on him to paint and the ride plate is also waiting on Jeff to complete. Come on Jeff, I am waiting on my stuff.
Dale and Bryan Ray
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