Surfriding Avoid sinking and loosing the ski! Brainstorm...

Here's the summary of that link;

Flotation needed to support the swamped boat.
Formula: Fb = A ÷ B = X cubic feet of foam

A = Submerged weight of hull, (who would really know this value?)
B = will be calculated as follows (assuming use of Polyurethane foam of 2.0 lb. density) B = 62.4 – 2.0 = 60.4; then allow for 5% moisture absorption (2.0 x 0.05 = 0.1) B = 60.3 lb.

So, by that equation, a 325 lb ski with 2 lb foam will require 5.4 cubic feet of foam but we know that is not exactly true as that's a poop ton of foam!

I am guessing a stock ski only has about 3 cubic feet of foam at the most to achieve neutral buoyancy so I'm going to estimate the construction of the ski itself accounts for around 125-150 lbs of net buoyancy.

So, weigh your ski, subtract 125 lbs, take that result and divide it by 60.3 and that is roughly how much 2lb foam you need to achieve neutral buoyancy.

Feel free to add extra if room allows.

Simple right? :)

Awesome!!! Thank you so much! But how the hell am i going to cram 3 cu feet into a rickter?



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1 night (drunk) I came up with a design. I will share it just because. Have a tube just like a scupper ( or to replace your scupper ) but it screws in the tray. In the tube would be the air cartridge and inflatable float It would have a handle to pull to deploy and would be in the tray out of the way.
 

OCD Solutions

Original, Clean and Dependable Solutions
Location
Rentz, GA
First you have to determine how much is already in it. Then it's just a matter of adding a safety factor with additional foam anywhere you can fit it.

Surely it is posted already how much or what type of foam the Rickters come with?.?.?

You might be new to all this but this topic has been asked and answered countless times already, you just need to search out and copy what others did. Plenty of Rickters out there that have been sunk and recovered already.
 

OCD Solutions

Original, Clean and Dependable Solutions
Location
Rentz, GA
1 night (drunk) I came up with a design. I will share it just because. Have a tube just like a scupper ( or to replace your scupper ) but it screws in the tray. In the tube would be the air cartridge and inflatable float It would have a handle to pull to deploy and would be in the tray out of the way.

Something on the rear of the ski just like the fire extinguisher cannister on the old Kawi's...

A few years back there were more than a few different conversations going around about similar solutions but nothing ever came of it.

Instead we saw devices like the Retriever and numerous threads on using the solid pink foam. Prevention is always cheaper.
 
Yup... not enough money to be made to warrant my time on these kinds of projects. I need the .25 cent idea that sells millions!!! The retriever is probably the best soulution for this market.
 

long beach local

long beach local
Location
Az
Pool noodles work at in salt water. I have completely sunk my superfreak badass 5 or 6 times. last time my buddy lost it at Pismo freeride on a Big nasty day. I have the tray sealed almost airtight and have pool noodles (everywhere) possible. stuffed under the carbs , under the bpipe , in front of the waterbox, between waterbox and gas tank wherever i can wedge them in . I think there is 3 noodles of various lengths stuffed in there maybe more ? Unfortunately sometimes it gets ripped out of your hands as the waves have no mercy and even with the scupper blocked and bilge running she flips upside down fills with water and the tray is the only thing sticking up she bobs 1or2 feet out of the water nose straight down. In fresh water I`m not sure it wouldnt go down .
 
First you have to determine how much is already in it. Then it's just a matter of adding a safety factor with additional foam anywhere you can fit it.

Surely it is posted already how much or what type of foam the Rickters come with?.?.?

You might be new to all this but this topic has been asked and answered countless times already, you just need to search out and copy what others did. Plenty of Rickters out there that have been sunk and recovered already.

So mr ocd, if i have a raft on the surface that can keep 185lbs afloat, will that be enough for your standard ski calculation? Sorry to sound like a retard by keeping asking.


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CRJ

Hibernating
Location
Toronto
1 night (drunk) I came up with a design. I will share it just because. Have a tube just like a scupper ( or to replace your scupper ) but it screws in the tray. In the tube would be the air cartridge and inflatable float It would have a handle to pull to deploy and would be in the tray out of the way.
I have been working on a design that would retrofit under a OEM bond line, the whole time i was trying to be the least invasive, but thats awesome! Back to the drawing board!
 
What if you could put an inflatable PFD inside and pull a cord before it sinks? It wouldn't be foolproof because it requires manual activation, but I bet it would work in 90+% of the situations. Not sure if it would keep it afloat.

Not sure how much it would cost to custom make something along the same lines that would fit in the full better. It would be pretty cool though because it weighs practically nothing and would take up minimal room in the hull when not inflated.
 
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long beach local

long beach local
Location
Az
My problem when i have sunk my ski is because its a major wipeout. It gets ripped from my hands all hell breaks loose i hold my breath for survival and the ski is usually gone and oh boy here comes another set, so breathing air is my priority not pulling a ripcord realistically there is no time . I ride on the west coast and love the thrill and other parts of the country the needs may be different . my .02 pool noodles work!!! its 6 to 8 today gotta go
 
What if you could put an inflatable PFD inside and pull a cord before it sinks? It wouldn't be foolproof because it requires manual activation, but I bet it would work in 90+% of the situations. Not sure if it would keep it afloat.

Not sure how much it would cost to custom make something along the same lines that would fit in the full better. It would be pretty cool though because it weighs practically nothing and would take up minimal room in the hull when not inflated.

How many people would make it back to their ski before it goes under to pull the cord? Nothing wrong with noodles either!
 

CRJ

Hibernating
Location
Toronto
What if you could put an inflatable PFD inside and pull a cord before it sinks? It wouldn't be foolproof because it requires manual activation, but I bet it would work in 90+% of the situations. Not sure if it would keep it afloat.

Not sure how much it would cost to custom make something along the same lines that would fit in the full better. It would be pretty cool though because it weighs practically nothing and would take up minimal room in the hull when not inflated.
Thats the concept, but you need more air. as we are mainly water, we are naturally boyant (Most of us at least..), but the ski is the opposite. a 50lbs rock would sink a life jacket, but a 250lbs person wont. Based on my math you would need about 5 cubic feet of air, which is around 5oz of C02. Smallest that can be made is a bit larger than the size of a fire extinguisher, and around 7-10lbs minimum. Ive estimated the size would be around 2.5-3" tube ID, 12-15" long.

Another problem becomes that if the ski were to sink and have a time release water sensor float bag, a fully inflated 5 cubic foot bag would rupture as it reached the surface, sending the ski back down.

one cubic foot of air will lift about 60 lbs. So if your ski dry weight is under 300 lbs, 5 cubic ft would work.

I have been working on an idea for this, the in tray tube idea is a good one, i was originally working with something tucked up into the bond line. a float hood with 50ft of strong heavy rope would make for a quick float, and easy recovery, just attach the rope to the motors bedplates and winch it back to the surface from a boat.

the retriever is still the #1 option on the market. It would be nice to see a slow to fill water sensor that lets the retriver go if the ski sank without anyone near it.
 
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