Super Jet Aluminum wide rails?

[Mr Bojangles]

here is the deal, I am doing the wide bond rain on my WCF hull. I have the first layer of glass down, but there is much more that needs to be done, and I was looking at the ski, and was thinking I have access to a shop that can make me bolt on aluminum rails to my specs. My though was one long piece that is 2" on top and 45* to taper out to 3.25 on the bottom, something easy to be bent, and in one long piece, and have it bolt right onto the flat portion where the rails were. What does everyone think about this? I would just have to get it thick enough so it wont flex and be able to be picked up.

 

[227]

Try it, it cant hurt. Since you plan on bolting it on, you can always remove it if its a dud. I tried a similar idea on my Superjet to widen the bond rail, except I used a square piece of PVC tube. I never got it to work because I could never get it fitted to the bond line. In order to get a material semi strong, I used a Tube that was about 1/4 inch thick, which I cut in half, leaving me two "U" shaped peices to use on either side. The problem was that although the bond rail looks fairly straight with only a slight curve at the front, the PVC material would not flex enough to bend along with the bond rail before it broke. I got frustrated when it was apparent that my choice of material was not good and put it on the back burner. I'd still like to try it again someday, I'm always tinkering with new ideas to find out what works and what doesn't. Lets us know how it works

 

[kcmasterpiece]

Try it, it cant hurt. Since you plan on bolting it on, you can always remove it if its a dud. I tried a similar idea on my Superjet to widen the bond rail, except I used a square piece of PVC tube. I never got it to work because I could never get it fitted to the bond line. In order to get a material semi strong, I used a Tube that was about 1/4 inch thick, which I cut in half, leaving me two "U" shaped peices to use on either side. The problem was that although the bond rail looks fairly straight with only a slight curve at the front, the PVC material would not flex enough to bend along with the bond rail before it broke. I got frustrated when it was apparent that my choice of material was not good and put it on the back burner. I'd still like to try it again someday, I'm always tinkering with new ideas to find out what works and what doesn't. Lets us know how it works

Did you try heating the pvc? you can make any degree bend in pvc when you heat it... when i want to bend pvc, i put the end i want to bend on the bbq turned on low and set the lid on it until it softens up. you can get that stuff pretty soft. just have to keep an eye on it, happened quick

 

[Mr Bojangles]

I've done alot of work with PVC, and a heat gun works the best, but PVC get brittle when it's heated and flattened out, I have cracked alot like that. That's why I was going to try aluminum. But if it's not worth it i will keep glassing. I don't want to have my ski painted and then have to swap rails if I glass them on

 

[227]

I didn't even think of trying heat- Duh! I'm going to try another route anyways. I recently got a hold of some plastic/teflon type material (I don't know what it actually is) and I'm going to try that next. Not really my idea anyways, I was looking at Ross Champions Lightweight hull the other day and Norbert has these type of extensions on the rails. I'm not counting on it being permanent as I don't even know if I'll like extended bond rails. I just want to try it first with something fairly easy to fabricate before I do something more permanent

 

[Mr Bojangles]

You just had to do it outside because heating up PVC off gasses some nasty stuff. And like I said, if the ski is outside all the time and you heat it to much it gets brittle. That's why I am thinking aluminum

 

[#ZERO]

Aluminum rails in racing are very common usually run about a third the length at the rear of the jet-ski. I wouldn't use PVC because it can be very brittle and dangerous if ever broken because of the jagged edges it leaves behind. If you were going to use plastic, I'd consider using Lexan which is a lot stronger and will contour the hull bends very easily. How long were you planning to make these rails in length?

 

[Mr Bojangles]

I was going to go as far foward as I could, until about the nose curve transistions, kind of like a trinity is set up

 

[Crab]

From Lowes, 3/4 inch pvc foam trim board, epoxied and screwed.

 

[Mr Bojangles]

Crab, I'm a little confused on what you are describing. Your tubbies or the rails?

I think I'm going to go aluminum. One long piece and segment the curve up front. Once it's turfed you won't be able to tell anyway.

 

[Crab]

rails

 

[227]

From Lowes, 3/4 inch pvc foam trim board, epoxied and screwed.View attachment 174619

Crab I went to Lowes today to check out the stuff you used-(pvc trim). The stuff I found didn't appear to be flexible enough to make it around the front curvature of the ski. Your pic doesn't really show the front of your ski. How did you do yours? Will it flex more if heated?

 

[Mr Bojangles]

I think he means the pink or purple insulation foam.

and crab, did you fill in the rail? I am very confused still, I am talking of doing the rails like these with aluminum................. http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/101035-ScottS-wide-bond-rail-2-lowered-tray-SJ-mods&highlight=

 

[227]

I think he means the pink or purple insulation foam.

No I think I found the same stuff he described. You can clearly see it on to his rails in the photo he posted. BTW, Its not actually foam at all, as foam would disentigrate in the water. Its a pvc based trim similar to the wood baseboards that you would install around the base of a wall in a room in your house. The stuff I found didn't seem to be flexible enough to make the bend around the front of the ski though so I was wondering how he got it to bend with out it breaking

 

[CarterB]

why wouldnt you just use fiberglass? you could be done in one day and not wonder if its going to last? very confused

 

[227]

why wouldnt you just use fiberglass? you could be done in one day and not wonder if its going to last? very confused

From Post #5

"I don't even know if I'll like extended bond rails. I just want to try it first with something fairly easy to fabricate before I do something more permanent"

 

[Mr Bojangles]

I hate doing glass work for one, and it is not an issue of lasting but if it has been done. I am also wondering on how they preform and with bolt on, I can change them as needed without having to spend days reglassing new rails.

 

[Crab]

No I think I found the same stuff he described. You can clearly see it on to his rails in the photo he posted. BTW, Its not actually foam at all, as foam would disentigrate in the water. Its a pvc based trim similar to the wood baseboards that you would install around the base of a wall in a room in your house. The stuff I found didn't seem to be flexible enough to make the bend around the front of the ski though so I was wondering how he got it to bend with out it breaking

Gently heated slowly, it forms like butter at the right temp. Waterproof and lightweight.

 

[WAB]

I hate doing glass work for one, and it is not an issue of lasting but if it has been done. I am also wondering on how they preform and with bolt on, I can change them as needed without having to spend days reglassing new rails.

I would think that you would still want to cut the old 90deg part of the OEM bondrail off, even if you are using alum...

 

[Mr Bojangles]

I would think that you would still want to cut the old 90deg part of the OEM bondrail off, even if you are using alum...

The hull I got already had them cut off, that's why I'm putting them back on.