best footholds for a SN?

[whennotsailing]

would like to put footholds in my ski (91 SN) for this coming season. Whats out there that is going to fit the best ? ease of install ? price ? What you like ? etc.

Also, tempted to put a one way drain in there while I am at it, sounds like this is going to require a de-foam job...? Worth the effort or no?

 

[magic74]

Wamilton installed footholds on my SN.

 

[whennotsailing]

in in MI, want to do it myself, just don't want to make it harder than it has to be.

Also, how do you guys decide where exactly to place them front to back ?

 

[58vwragtop]

I have WDK REVs going in mine. There is some slight mods to do to get them to lay up right, but they seem pretty nice so far. If I didnt put the REVs in I was going to use XFT. Pretty much you can make anything work, I had some home made ones in mine last year. But I defoamed it and decided to change my holds.

 

[Big Kahuna]

There is no best. It is what you prefer. Typically you put them at the rear, some more aggressive riders will move them forward.

Wamilton, Watercraft Factory, Thrust Innovations, Trinity, XFT, Blowsion all sells footholds that will fit your ski.

My preference right now is the Watercraft factories. After that I could go with any of the others without hesitation except the Blowsion footholds, I have ridden a few skis with them and i just do not like how they feel. But that is a personal preference and does not mean you would not.

Something to think about though if you are unsure, Wamilton has been making these longer than anybody out there.

 

[whennotsailing]

understood there are lots out there... Like I said, I want ones that fit the best w/o the hassle of making them fit. I ride alot but don't intend to be back flipping anytime soon, I rode a ski with holds once and liked it, thats why they are going in. In a sense fiberglass is fiberglass, next thing to consider is price point... I am sure blowsion is going to be top dollar. Who are the cheaper ones to consider?

Is there any other to consider that Big kahuna left out ? (Wamilton, Watercraft Factory, Thrust Innovations, Trinity, XFT, Blowsion??)

So is defoaming a must? Obviously I have the carve the foam out of where the holds are going. I have read lots on here about it, seems to boil down to the fact that if its a yamaha it must be wet inside... Not opposed to doing it, it just seems that things get alot more involved with having to cut the tray out and such.

Anyone added holds and not defoamed?

 

[Big Kahuna]

you have to remove some foam, yours may not be wet, if it is, go ahead and defoam while you got access to it.

Some holds install easier than other. The REV's take alot of work to install. The ones I listed all install basically the same.

 

[chriselmore_1]

you dont have to refoam. amazingly my 92 sn foam wasnt wet (yet) so i just glassed em in. and if you move the holds back enough they wont hit the exhaust tube. i personally like the wcf holds and the new thrust holds. i have blowsion diggers and hate em the toe space on the right side is limited cuz they rise to clear the exhaust tube. i cut glassed and modified it to match the left side and i still dont like em. my feet just dont lock in very well, but thats just my opinion. theres thousands of people alot better than me that swear by them

 

[Boris]

I have cut open 4 SN hulls and all were bone dry inside. Yours might be the same.

Before you decide on footholds, try out as many as you can and get the ones you like the most. Install is just about the same on all.

 

[chriselmore_1]

YEA!!! so im not full of like everyone says!

 

[whennotsailing]

most come with patterns on what / where to cut... correct? How do you know whether or not you are going to run into the exhaust? That's not low enough in the hull to be avoided?

Only thing really tempting me to de-foam is the addition of a flush valve... worth it or no?

 

[Boris]

What "flush valve" ??

 

[whennotsailing]

flush valve, ball valve, one way valve, idk what they call it... Blowsion makes 'em for about $100, some claim Home Depot has a pretty much identical product for $30 + some pvc to route it out the back. I am a bit hesitant to install a ball valve that could fail when it is all glassed inside.

 

[Boris]

You mean a scupper tube.

You don't need to defoam to install one and if that's your only goal than save your self a lot of work.
If you want to reinforce the rear of the ski, add a trim tube, remove all that heavy green glue or any other work under the tray than by all means. Cut that shait out.

I have a Home Depot/Lowes one way valve under my tray and the thing has been doing a great job for 3 years now. I was concerned about having it in a place that I couldn't easily get to so I added a scupper valve on the rear and also have a threaded fitting in the bulk head where I can screw in a plug. None of those safety measures were ever needed.

 

[tom21]

most footholds are the same work to install it comes down to what one you like best as far as comfort and fit. only you can decide what is right for you and also where it located in the hull. I know what you are going thru, before my first set I was worried about messing up, where to put em and so on. I did install the wrong holds for me and suffered with the 24/7 for a few years. they hurt the top of my foot and there was no room to add padding to stop that.

Best thing to do is try and find a few skis to get your foot into. you also have to consider how you will be turfing, what pad you will use, do you want it on top of the hold etc.

since BK didn't list me I will provide a link and you can see how roomy my holds are. they are made for 25mm pad since most holds were designed before that pad was available. they are deeper, wider and taller for more pad or bigger feet. they are made to fit sj and sxr but have also been installed in sxi, sx and fx1 and I think one set went into a 550 with no problems.

http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/49330

 

[whennotsailing]

Boris - scupper tube, you got it. where did you put it? How is there not foam in the way? I would be very interested in the viability of putting a plug in the bulkhead if $Hit hits the fan... You have any pics handy or can you describe in a bit more detail?

tom - thanks. are yours designed to fit a square, or only the newer round? I def. want lots of padding, and not looking for a super tight fit.

 

[TB]

tom 21 has top notch quality in his work...if you need some help explaining or marking things out you're unsure of i'm in gr and could lend a few minutes if you need it

 

[whennotsailing]

tb - i'd take you up on that. pm me our aim, email, phone #, etc.

 

[Boris]

Here are a couple pictures of my scupper tube.
From left to right.

24/7 scupper,
PVC pipe,
2" coupling with the center opened up slightly slid over the 2" pipe and ground to match the lines of the hull (idea was to get a better seal around the rear of the ski),
2" coupling gluing the pipe and one way valve,
one way valve,
another 2" coupling,
A 2" drain cleanout glued into the 2" coupling,
2" screw in cleanout cap.
The cleanout fitting sticks through the bulk head where I can screw in the cap if need be.


As far as footholds, I have the WaterDawgs which I was able to make work after several reshapes. For my next set I'll be contacting TOM21 for sure.

 

[SQUARE JOEL!!!]

There is no best. It is what you prefer.

x a billion!!!