300/440/550 My 550 weighs same or more as an SXR...Help

[Mark Gomez]

This last riding season in the surf mainly my brother and I noticed my ski was F**king heavy as hell. from picking his up and moving up the beach then mine it took 3-4 people to comfortably waddle it up and down the beach. I'm saying this to back up that I'm not whining about a few pound difference, I have a problem and i gotta fix it before March when I hopefully ride again.

SO!

Question is what do i do to make this as painless and not so cut my ski in half and re foam and glass it. Could the 1994 550SX OEM Foam absorb water? or do I literally have water just chillin in my ski around the foam?

Thanks everyone
-Mark

 

[3wheelerdude]

Its probably waterlodge foam. If it would be just water, then you could hear it splashing inside when your carrying the ski.

 

[sjetrider]

Drill a couple SMALL holes in it and tip her up and see how much drains out. The holes can be easilly patched from the outside. U can also blow air in one hole and force the water out the other. Not sure if the KAWI foam is absorbant or not, but my guess is YEP.

 

[Mark Gomez]

Alright thanks guys I tried doing the small holes thing but never got it vertical and blew air through them. water did drip out painfully slow. and i tried sucking out water with my wet dry vac mid season. With the engine out this will be allot easier.

But if anybody does know for sure whether or not the 1994 kawi foam was absorbent.

Thanks for the help
-Mark

 

[special fx]

it's absorbent

 

[Mark Gomez]

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::shooter3::shooter3:

...crap:Flush:

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Same foam they use in the superjets,its absorbant like a Bounty paper towel,its the quicker picker upper.

 

[Mark Gomez]

well shoot de-turfing and foaming will start tomorrow

 

[kevbo]

Weigh the ski first then drill some small holes in the tray to look for voids in the foam. Every ski that Ive cut open was damp inside, none of them had over a pound of water in them unless there was a large void in the foam. You also need to look for the leak, usually around the bulkhead.

 

[Mark Gomez]

Ok the Foams out

So I've pretty much got allot of the foam out of my ski I filled up a whole trash barrel full of it. It was saturated and I did have a decent amount in there. (Ill Post pics later)
But now I'm curious of two things,

A: What am i going to be replacing the foam with specifically what type and brand

B: Will it do ok with coming in contact with any bulk of foam i didn't break out.
As in do i need to have it friggin spotless in there?
Thanks
-Mark

 

[Mark Gomez]

bump

 

[kevbo]

Comon floatation foam is 2lb urethane. You can pour it on in thin layers to prevent bulging out the hull.

 

[Mark Gomez]

alright thanks
I didn't know or I wouldn't be askin
but really thanks for the help
-Mark

 

[captainfncrazy]

Hey mark
Check your other post,I left you with some info that should help you some.What happens over time is the type of foam used is a "closed cell" foam.Thousands of tiny bubbles that over time rupture & act as a sponge.Prior to your repair would be the time to see where or how your hull was allowing water in..or you will find out when you install/pour the new foam.Good luck