300/440/550 will it float?

[Conquistador]

I am finishing up a 750 swap into my 550. With the added weight of reinforcement, a 750 motor, & oversized (5.5 gal) gas tank. (I may add footholds later too). Do you think that this thing may actually float if the bay fills with water in an accident. I have my doubts & the only reason I ask is b/c it happened last year more than once for different reasons. Time #1-no hood straps, have em now. Time #2-ski was hit by another ski & put a hole in the front. Both times only about 6 inches of the back end was visible above water.

I'm considering putting some expanding foam in the small area in infront of the handlepole/waterbox. Maybe it will float with the xtra area of air in a 1/2 full tank.:hail:

Any suggestions on ways to make this thing float better will be appreciated.

& I am not replacing it with a sj hull/701 yamalog motor etc. :cool2:

 

[Conquistador]

btw I hope I don't have to test this, but it may happen

 

[sjetrider]

Is there foam in rear of a 550? If so make sure its sealed and dry and roll w/ it, put the holds in and check foam. I have a friend who did the 750 to 550 mod back in the day and it halled azz but was a death trap IMO and rareley ran long LOL. It is afer all a kawi, should have done the 61X 701 / 550 mod and made an FXI out of it LOL.

 

[Conquistador]

550's are foamed all the way to the back.

no doubt that it will be scary fast, but that's not my goal. I wanna fly as high as possible.:sneaky: I've been very miticulous with my build & hope it will run for a long time to come.

 

[Rickster]

It's a two stroke, so sink the bastard in fresh water, and see....:biggrin:

 

[Prem1x]

It will float. Maybe a little further below the water line the next time, but I don't see it sinking.

 

[Conquistador]

It will float. Maybe a little further below the water line the next time, but I don't see it sinking.

word

 

[DAG]

just tie a rope to your leg so if it sinks you can be the buoy :bigeyes:

 

[BlueBreadTruck]

get some of that marine grade expanding foam and put some up in front of the waterbox and on the hood!