300/440/550 First ski build

[Words]

Hey everyone starting my first build/builds. I bought pair of skis a 440 and 550. The 550 runs great the 440 needs a rebuild but the 440 has the better hull so going to be doing a little swapping. My plan is to do all I can to lighten these skis up and modify them the most I can.

I started by stripping down the 440

Now that I have it stripped to the bare hull I started sanding the hood luckily only one little spot I have to fix. I also removed the inner liner of the hood I'm going to lay a layer of cloth for strenght and make my own duct work. Also going to frog skin the intake hole and the holes on the front and back of the hood.

next I started working on the pole btw I hate 80's decals so fun to take off haha. Again sanded it down to get ready for paint like the hood only one spot to fix.

I'm going to strip the rest of the decals off the hull today then trace out where I'm going to shorten and thin the rails so I can get hacking then shape my footholds. Ill post pictures as I go. My plans for the motor are to work the 550 and rebuild the 440 just to have as a safe ski for my younger brothers to learn on.

 

[550headache]

looking good

 

[Words]

Got the whole hull sanded except the bottom gonna need a bit of sanding.

taking the hull support brackets off was a job and a half because the previous owner put goop all over the place including on the bolts. But I chose the color for paint today pretty excited. Since its an old ski I'm not going crazy. Just high build primer, house of kolor organic green base coat (yes house of kolors does make spray paint), then house of kolor clear.

 

[Words]

Thanks 550headache?

 

[Words]

So started chopping yesterday. Took about 3 inches off each side rail the made the diagonal cut. I still have to make the other diagonal cut then round the top. I want cut the three inches off the bottom. Looking to shorten the ski about an inch before the pump mounting bolts.

 

[Gillys]

That's a good start man!

 

[Words]

Update

Footholds in refoamed and starting to shape the end of the rail. It's coming along I'm learning a bunch.

 

[Austin]

A year into getting into this sport I chopped by x2 into pieces and built it from scratch, my only thing I wish I would have done different was take more time on doing the fiberglass work and I wish I would have done more research before laying resin and fiberglass cloth lol. I learned a bunch from it though. Keep up the good work on this thing, cant wait to see it when its done!

 

[Words]

Luckily I have glass experience from being in the car audio field but I'm crossing my fingers hoping it goes smoothly. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Words]

Some updates

 

[Words]

Got some painting done in our kinda paint booth we made haha
Epoxy black on the bottom