Shane's 96 RN Freestyle Build

[76JS400]

I am currently in the process of making my ski a freestyle RN. Here is a list of what is currently on the ski and what I plan on doing!! Feel free to mention anything I am missing or should do! Thanks

Here is what I already have on the ski already:
- UMI -2 pole
- UMI steering
- Carbon fiber chin pad
- UMI 0 degree bars
- UMI finger throttle
- Start Stop switch waterproofed by jetski solutions
- All the electrical was done by Jetski Solutions
- MSD enhancer
- Factory B pipe
- Gas fill block off plate
- MSD plug caps
- Lightened stock flywheel
- Dual exhaust
- Dual pump dump one way valves
- Foot holds (not sure which ones)
- Primer kit
- R&R Jet Tech head (for sale)
- Modified stock hood (hand hold and removed the liner) (for sale)
- Wetwolf shorty pump cone
- Solas Concord 13/17 cutback
- Riva Groovey ride plate
- R&D rop loading intake grate
- Hood straps
- Limiting rope



Here is what I plan on doing this winter:
- New Paint
- Waterdawg Diablo hood (should be here soon)
- Lowered nose piece (also should be here soon)
- Lowered pole bracket (have it already)
- Bored nozzle to 85mm (being shipped out tomorrow)
- 760 big bore in 61x cylinders freestyle ported (should be here any day now)
- Top half of my case machined (goes out tomorrow with nozzle)
- ADA girdled head (33cc domes) (will be ordering next week)
- Tua Ceti air filters with covers and adapters (in the mail)
- Front Foot hold (in the mail)
- Reinforce the hull (have everything from US composites)
- Dual cooling
- New turf on the rails and tray



So far I have torn everything out of the ski. Here is my progress so far. I have the next two weeks off of work, and plan to have it almost all done by then!

 

[76JS400]

More pics. Also, does anyone now how to get the Factory Manifold off? I can't get the two top bolts loose. Is there a trick to it or a special tool?

Thanks

 

[76JS400]

more pics

 

[sflsurfrider]

More pics. Also, does anyone now how to get the Factory Manifold off? I can't get the two top bolts loose. Is there a trick to it or a special tool?

Thanks

you have to get a 12mm wrench and grind some metal off of it to get it to fit in there.

 

[76JS400]

Thanks SFL. That is what I was thinking, but thought I would ask first.

 

[SXR-FOREVER]

I think I have one somewhere if you dont want to grind one of yours...

 

[Mike W]

It looks like you already have a good plan. This will be a good build to follow. Good luck.

 

[76JS400]

Thanks mike! I will keep adding pics as I progress! I also just finished my other project, so now all my time is going to the SJ. Attatched are pics of that one.

 

[Idok]

dont grind off too much on the wrench or else it will just flex....

 

[76JS400]

Did some more work on the ski today. I removed everything that was left on it and pulled all the turf off! Tomorrow I will start sanding the entire hull, inside and out. I also recieved my 760 cylinders and pistons in the mail yesterday. Now I just need the top half of my cases back and I can put the motor together.

 

[C-Rock87]

great work, keep the pics coming

 

[Brenden]

looks liike progress to me
keep up the good work
and dont let discouragement enter your garage:reporter:

 

[76JS400]

Well the dust was flying today! I got the engine compartment sanded and ready for glass. Haven't done the underside of the nose yet though. I will get that tomorrow when I have some help to flip my ski over! I also got the top half of the hull sanded with 220 grit. Tomorrow I will be working my way up to 400 and that should be good for paint.

I do have one question though. It looks like one of the previous owners of the ski did some reinforcing already. The top half of the engine compartment is all done already. Why they did only the top half, I don't know? So how crazy should I get with glassing. I was going to do 3 sheets on the sides(small, medium and then full width). But now I am thinking about skipping the small one and lay a medium one and then one the full length. Hoping to save a little weight since it is already partially done. Also only part of the bulkhead is done. So I plan to just lay one sheet over that. I guess my question is, what do you guys think I should do as far as reinforcing? One sheet on the sides? All three like I was originally going to do?

Thanks for the input. I just can't wait to get past the sanding.

I also recieved my Waterdawg Diablo hood in the mail today!!! That is going to look sweet!!!

 

[76JS400]

some more pics from today!

 

[jetx]

Well the dust was flying today! I got the engine compartment sanded and ready for glass. Haven't done the underside of the nose yet though. I will get that tomorrow when I have some help to flip my ski over! I also got the top half of the hull sanded with 220 grit. Tomorrow I will be working my way up to 400 and that should be good for paint.

I do have one question though. It looks like one of the previous owners of the ski did some reinforcing already. The top half of the engine compartment is all done already. Why they did only the top half, I don't know? So how crazy should I get with glassing. I was going to do 3 sheets on the sides(small, medium and then full width). But now I am thinking about skipping the small one and lay a medium one and then one the full length. Hoping to save a little weight since it is already partially done. Also only part of the bulkhead is done. So I plan to just lay one sheet over that. I guess my question is, what do you guys think I should do as far as reinforcing? One sheet on the sides? All three like I was originally going to do?

Thanks for the input. I just can't wait to get past the sanding.

I also recieved my Waterdawg Diablo hood in the mail today!!! That is going to look sweet!!!

You may want to take some pics fo those areas that you think are reinforced. I know on my 97 RN the upper half of the hull on the inside looks like its reinforced but it is just the way they are made. Believe the top decks are made of fibreglass or something similar. What you are describing is exactly what my dad observed, he's seen me reinforce boats before and thought it was already done, had to tell him that is just how they come. Kinda deceiving to the untrained eye.

 

[76JS400]

Wow, it looks like it was already done, but I bet it is just like you described. Yamaha does a pretty bad job of laying the glass then. Thanks for that info. I would think you are correct because it who ever would have done the reinforcing last, would have had to split the hull in half! So I am just going to do what I was originally planning on doing! 3 sheets!!

 

[yamanube]

Lookin good, the inside looks like mine right now!

 

[randalj1]

You may want to take some pics fo those areas that you think are reinforced. I know on my 97 RN the upper half of the hull on the inside looks like its reinforced but it is just the way they are made. Believe the top decks are made of fibreglass or something similar. What you are describing is exactly what my dad observed, he's seen me reinforce boats before and thought it was already done, had to tell him that is just how they come. Kinda deceiving to the untrained eye.

I was going to say the same thing, looks good though shane! I hope I get my hood today!

 

[Brenden]

im in the same reinforcing boat as you my order came today from uscomposites

i cant wait to take my time to do it over xmas break

looks good tho

 

[76JS400]

Today I finished all the sanding and power washed the ski to try and get most of the dust off! I contoured the footholds a little more to my feet and found out that the previous owner didn't use foam after they put them in So I filled behind them with foam and got both foot holds glassed.

Tomorrow or friday I will start on reinforcing the engine compartment. I am using the 17oz from uscomposites. I also ordered the blue dye. Has anyone mixed this with there resin before? If so, how did it turn out. I think I am going to try under my nose first and see if I like how it turns out. I just thought I would look nice with a blue engine compartment? Something a little different.