Super Jet Mdavies' SN - Winter Project

[Mdavies_02]

Sigh... I know I should be defoaming, but I am nervous about that task. I pull the engine last night, on a whim, and had a good time cleaning out the hull. I feel that hacking up my tray, is much more of a task. Whats the total cost for a defoam? Glass, resin, foam. I am worried spring will role around the corner and this badboy will still be in pieces. I got three exams this upcoming week, than I am outta College till the 10th of January. Gotta raise enough funds for school, books, credit card debt...... Then jetski. God help me.

 

[D-Roc]

its a crappy job but its so easy really. you got the turf removed. you just need to cut it and gut it. 30lbs of wet foam is like adding a pipe and total loss ignition. don't put foam back in, that will just get wet again. install your scupper valve, put in some drain plugs and feel the power to weight ratio the next time you ride it. if your doing footholds you will need some fiberglass and westsystems anyways......have a few beers and then giver. lol.

 

[Mdavies_02]

So you want me to run with no foam? Just checking.

 

[D-Roc]

yeah man no foam, or stuff a bunch of DOW insulation foam, the blue stuff, not the pink. there are various types of blue, the stuff i use is for against foundations just below grade to provide a thermal break. because it is outside and below grade it is waterproof. the stuff that i scored from jobsites is very strong, i cannot pinch it with my fingers and dent it. i just pulled the blocks i had used for the past 3 seasons out of my hull and it was wet but not waterlogged. If you use 2 part foam you can get it at composites canada in missisauga but it comes in 10lbs containers and you need both parts. depending on the density you will use at least 10lbs of the foam to fill your ski back up. so you just added 10lbs that will turn into 30lbs after the end of a season. even if you get your ski sealed tight, eventually it will start leaking and gaining weight. scotty2t sealed up his hull so good last winter that when he popped his drain plugs at the end of a ride it would go phssssssst like cracking a beer, after a few flops and bails it would just let water out, lol.

 

[jetx]

Droc made a good point, you are already going to have the resin and glass for doing the holds so you may as well do it now. I know it seems like a daunting task but you have all the skills required to accomplish it. If you find you need help there is lots of people to ask and people within close driving distance to help. Plus there are lots of threads that have covered this. If you don't do it now you will regret it and it will be in the back of your mind knowing you should have done it. It's a crappy job to have to do but everyone who rides a SJ will have to go through it sooner or later.

 

[D-Roc]

a pressure washer with zero degree nozzle and saftey glasses makes things interesting when defoaming. i would recommend to cut the tray out first and then put it back in with light fiberglassing and then cut in your footholds. without foam you may want to make supports for your feet. you can check out my thread or scotty2t's. there are ways to strengthen you foamless hull without laying up tons of glass.

 

[Mdavies_02]

Looks like I have some studying to do. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Mdavies_02]

So, was about to start hacking up my tray tonight, until I realized I didnt know exactly where to start. From what I have seen/heard, you want to take it out as big pieces as possible, that way you can put it back easily. I drew up this pick to confirm, before I take the grinder to it.



Let me know the best way, thanks

 

[jetx]

I would cut your holes for your footholds and the bottom and that will give you lots of room to get out the foam. I don't think you should cut out the sides like that as it is going to give you more work to do but that is just me.

Here is a link with some pics to my last refoam I did on a sn to give you an idea of the way I attacked the job... http://www.canadianpwc.com/threads/1679-SERiOUS-FREERiDE-BUiLD

Just remember that the further back you cut on the tray area the more you have to remember not to cut through the pump tunnel.

 

[jetx]

I just noticed that you are running a westcoast extended rideplate...if you don't have one I have a stock rideplate I wouldn't mind selling, would make the ski ride a little more nose high and make it easier to throw around plus you can dcut it to get the nose up higher which I do recommend as it makes a nice improvement. Would be a moticeable difference in handlign compared to the westcoast plate. Or if you don't want to spend any money you could always cut that sucker off flush with the hull.

 

[D-Roc]

well you know how i would cut it out, which ever way you do it remember not to goto too deep in the critical pump areas. look at my build thread for some pics of my tray open so you get an idea of what is under the tray. pulling the tray out in one piece vs 3 pieces is less work to put back in.

 

[Mdavies_02]

I think I will end up cutting it out as Jetx did. I dont feel up to the task of 'one piece'. The only problem is I just bought a nice dremal cutting tool for the old man for Christmas, just need to wait for him to open it then I can start hacking away and start on the defoam.

 

[jetx]

haha...gotta love the gifts that keep on giving..."merry xmas dad...now can I borrow it!" awesome!

 

[Mdavies_02]

Haha exactly. He brought up how great it would cut through the hall.... His own damn fault.

Will toss some updates of the engine being pulled tomorrow. Just having a family party at my place right now.... 85 people in the house and the beer is flowing.

 

[chad]

A dremel will work, but it will take forever, and if you don't have the heavy duty cutoff wheels, the thinner ones will break often, and they sting!!!
I recommed a angle grinder.

Don't be afraid get in there and get that foam out of there.

 

[steve-uk]

grab a rotozip, will make short work of the task

 

[D-Roc]

or at least put the rotozip cutting bit in the dremel. go big and then go home.

 

[Mdavies_02]

Man'd up tonight after work, and cut out the bottom. Used an angle grinder for the most part (HUGE MESS), then finished off with a dremel multi-purpose cutting tool in the corners. Managed to clear the delicate pump areas pretty good for a first timer. I will start hacking out the foam later in the week, gotta go see a friend soon so cleaned up after hacking out only a few small pieces.

Thank you for convincing me to do a defoam, it is soaking wet at the top, and I can't imagine the weight I will be losing by cleaning it out. I will post up pictures later tonight/tomorrow to show what I have done so far.

 

[D-Roc]

wicked! i alway put the wet foam in a garbage back and giggle with excitement when i lift it.

 

[Mdavies_02]

Haha, thanks for the tip. I will definitely do that, and weigh it too at the end. I was thrilled to see there was so much water down there..... Means my ski has so much more potential that was hiding under all that wet foam.

The next step is to figure out what the heck I am going to do it now.... Run no foam? Beer pong balls? So many ideas.