My Reinforcement Checklist

750SX

750SX

DO IT
Location
Palmyra
I am going to reinforce my roundnose, and add some footholds to it as well. The nose was already done by the previous owner, so I will not have to mess with that. I will be doing the sides and the hoodseal area. To fill the bondline I plan on using epoxy resin mixed with cabosil or chopped strand fiberglass(which one????) Then I plan on using a single layer of 17oz biaxial for the sides. I was debating on whether to use 1 or 2 layers, then I read in a thread that Taylor Curtis only uses one layer of 17oz with a layer of CF on top of that. I'm only a flat water rider that hasn't pulled any rolls yet, but I will learn this season, so I think one layer should be ok for me. Let me know what you guys think about the 1 layer. I want to keep this boat light, and I don't want any pipe clearance issues. For the hoodseal area, should I just cut a couple of strips of biaxial or should I use epoxy and chopped strand for that? I need some tips here.

My List of stuff:
17oz biaxial- have to measure yet.
1 gallon on thin epoxy resin quick drying. I'm a fiberglass rookie, should I get quick or medium?
4lb tub of 1/2 chopped strand
1 qt of Cabosil
a couple of squegies.

Take a look at this and please let me know if I'm missing anything. I realize that there are other threads about this, but none of them answered my specific questions. Thanks in advance guys.

Also for the footholds, should I just cut up some strips of 17oz to glass those in?
 
Metal4130

Metal4130

Eat, Sleep, Ride, Groove
Location
Chicago
1 layer of 17oz should be fine. Instead of filling the bond line with fiberglass, try two-part foam. I have seen many people, myself included, do it this way. It is much lighter and if you are doing footholds you will need two-part foam anyways. When doing footholds, you need to get some 1-1/2 inch wide fiberglass cloth tape. It works really nice and will conform to the curves better than the thicker biax. cloth. If you want to reinforce the hood seal, I believe you would be better off with thiner cloth in that area. 17 oz cloth is thick and might not conform the the curves of the hood seal area. If you layer a few thiner pieces of cloth all at once when they are all wet, it hardens very strong. This is just advice to take into consideration.
 
750SX

750SX

DO IT
Location
Palmyra
Sounds good Metal. I will get some cloth tape for the holds and my hoodseal area. I am really torn on the foam vs epoxy for the bondline. I might end up flipping a coin lol.
 
2006superjet

2006superjet

just one more part....
Location
costa mesa ca
my build is the same

i belive that the epoxy and the filler to a constistancy just past peanut butter is the way to go with its always 2 sided on the x. imo the epoxy that i did today was about 4 - 5 oz of mixed up epoxy resin with cabisol thickner white powder. how much weight could it really add. i remember from doing the footholds that the 2 part is a f ing mess and you need to sand and then clean. then wait.
with my way you lay up filler when the ski on its side let gravity fill it evenly then wait about 10 min mix up others and lay the cloth ontop let them dry as a group ill find out tomarow morn how sturdy she is now. i will also do a weigh in.

foam will still let the bondlines seperate and vibrate and such epoxy them as one. thats what reinfo, does so why not do it,
 
Mike W

Mike W

Infidel
Location
North Florida
750SX said:
I am going to reinforce my roundnose, and add some footholds to it as well. The nose was already done by the previous owner, so I will not have to mess with that. I will be doing the sides and the hoodseal area. To fill the bondline I plan on using epoxy resin mixed with cabosil or chopped strand fiberglass(which one????) Then I plan on using a single layer of 17oz biaxial for the sides. I was debating on whether to use 1 or 2 layers, then I read in a thread that Taylor Curtis only uses one layer of 17oz with a layer of CF on top of that. I'm only a flat water rider that hasn't pulled any rolls yet, but I will learn this season, so I think one layer should be ok for me. Let me know what you guys think about the 1 layer. I want to keep this boat light, and I don't want any pipe clearance issues. For the hoodseal area, should I just cut a couple of strips of biaxial or should I use epoxy and chopped strand for that? I need some tips here.

My List of stuff:
17oz biaxial- have to measure yet.
1 gallon on thin epoxy resin quick drying. I'm a fiberglass rookie, should I get quick or medium?
4lb tub of 1/2 chopped strand
1 qt of Cabosil
a couple of squegies.

Take a look at this and please let me know if I'm missing anything. I realize that there are other threads about this, but none of them answered my specific questions. Thanks in advance guys.

Also for the footholds, should I just cut up some strips of 17oz to glass those in?
Click to expand...

I would get the medium. For a rookie, you will need more working time.
I tried using 17oz glass on the footholds but it does not lay down all that well. It will fill with air pockets as well. I just used a couple layers of 3" cloth.
Get a finish roller as well. works better than a squeegie IMO.
 
Mark44

Mark44

Katie's Boss
Location
100% one place
10 oz will conform better use two layers and use medium catalyst I prefer foam in the bond line.

I use Popsicle sticks to stir resin and some cheap 1” wood handle brushes work good for pushing the glass into tight spots get more brushes and than you think you will need I like to roll the glass with the small paint roller to even it out and pull out resin.

Mark44
 
WaveDemon

WaveDemon

Not Dead - Notable Member
Location
Hell, Florida
2006superjet said:
foam will still let the bondlines seperate and vibrate and such epoxy them as one. thats what reinfo, does so why not do it,
Click to expand...

I don't think this is an issue. you're reinforcing the ski, that'll hold everything together. Foam is also easier to work with than thickened epoxy.
 
aqua

aqua

the taco
Location
Jefferson City, MO
Mark44 said:
Yes you need flex in the ski you don't want it to rigid that it cracks or breaks. IMO

Mark44
Click to expand...

if you used cabosil or cut strand glass as filler i dont think that the little bit that is used to fill in the crack is going to be much in comparison to 20oz of epoxy cloth. 20oz worth of cloth will take approx 20oz worth of epoxy per yard....probably more unless you are good at getting excess resin out of the cloth.
 
Mark44

Mark44

Katie's Boss
Location
100% one place
2006superjet said:
it will be debated till the cows come home. anyone have proof. i do its really strong and why would you want flex flex = break .
Click to expand...

The engineering problem facing a ski builder is really extremely complex from an engineering stand point. The challenge is to make a ski which will be strong enough to perform in the most rugged of conditions, yet light enough to respond to subtle movements of the rider.

The ski must also have a blend of rigidity and flexibility. The builder must select materials and reinforcement techniques to yield a hull which is rigid enough to maintain its design integrity in rough water. Achieving this functional rigidity is complicated by the fact that the boat, in order to be both strong and light, must flex on impact with any objects such as a rock, tree stump other rider etc:splatt:. This flex on impact (or bend and then return to its original shape) characteristic must not compromise the weight or the hull's functional rigidity. IMO

Mark44
 
WaveDemon

WaveDemon

Not Dead - Notable Member
Location
Hell, Florida
2006superjet said:
it will be debated till the cows come home. anyone have proof. i do its really strong and why would you want flex flex = break .
Click to expand...

the gunwhales are filled with the same foam. i've never seen that seem flex and break.

I've never seen ANY bondline reinforce or not break from vibrations or impact or flexing. that's a pretty strong part of the ski.
 
aqua

aqua

the taco
Location
Jefferson City, MO
not that the bond line crack will flex much because of the angles involved anyway but by adding foam and then glass over top you will be creating a foam sandwich which will decrease the flexibility and increase the stiffness even more. foam core is used in alot of stuff. boat manufacturers use it as a light weight solution to stiffen and strengthen hulls. Isnt flexing beyond its limit the reason why fiberglass breaks? even though epoxy is more flexible than other resins, by adding layers to reinforce it will still become more rigid. i think foam or epoxy will work fine in the bondline. personal preference really. personally i would think that epoxy would be easier to use because it has a slower working time than foam.....at the expense of a little bit of weight.
 
750SX

750SX

DO IT
Location
Palmyra
digging this up. How much epoxy do you think i will need for the footholds/bondline filling, and reinforcement? I think 1 gallon is too much. Would I be able to get away with a half gallon of the thin for everything?
 
2006superjet

2006superjet

just one more part....
Location
costa mesa ca
id say pint

i used about 8oz of resin 8oz of hardener -epozy resin blowsion stuff per side from firewall to about 10 inches from nose. and i used about 3oz of each per side for footholds klowners.

imo everything is great on my ski. and i will be at o side to prove in the morn. cant wait
second tubbie session,
 
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