"Foam" is a 4 letter word.... :(

[demolition_x]

if i were gonna do this, which sounds like a good idea.

i would use smaller balls like 1/2inch or 3/4 inch this way there is less voids and they can fit in tighter places in the tray. no idea where i would find these but thats something i would look for.

im looking forward to what people come up with.

 

[Marshj]

does anyone know the volume of space in there? dont feel like going in the cold garage to measure? trying to figure out exactly the weight savings of no foam

 

[Ross_C]

HAHAHA....Sounds like some interesting ideas. My ski weighs more than an SXR or blaster...but I'm gonna just rock it like it is cause taking ******** appart does not sound like much fun!

However, those tire balls look very interesting!

 

[yamaslut]

my brother made a very good point about ping pong balls...as he put it

"its going to go ggrregggggghhggh ggghh gghhhh' when i jump" lol

But im assuming if we have enough in there, packed tightly, they wont rattle:biggrin: :smile:

my idea would be to put balls in the bottom section and foam in the upper section like wavehog... I think it would be simple to fill the botom w/ the balls, lay a sheet of HT foam on top, then do the foam in the upper half like normal...

 

[Mark44]

my idea would be to put balls in the bottom section and foam in the upper section like wavehog... I think it would be simple to fill the botom w/ the balls, lay a sheet of HT foam on top, then do the foam in the upper half like normal...

I like this idea.

Mark44

 

[2lick]

well after reading this thread and thinking some, im doing it.... my hull is scary enough right now.... even if this isnt the greatest plan it wont be the weakest part of my hull....

i think its a good idea and im willing to try it, ill also put drains in the bottom now... since the foam cant get wet and this way i can drain any water that gets in it....

I ordered some balls off ebay. I will put them on the bottom, put a piece of blue foam over it and then pour regular foam from the bond line up....... i filled my bondline for strength.....

ill post pics next week of how it looks....

 

[yamaslut]

well after reading this thread and thinking some, im doing it.... my hull is scary enough right now.... even if this isnt the greatest plan it wont be the weakest part of my hull....

i think its a good idea and im willing to try it, ill also put drains in the bottom now... since the foam cant get wet and this way i can drain any water that gets in it....

I ordered some balls off ebay. I will put them on the bottom, put a piece of blue foam over it and then pour regular foam from the bond line up....... i filled my bondline for strength.....

ill post pics next week of how it looks....

just remember this is not been tested... by any of us, except wavehog... I have not been following his build, so I don't know if he's done testing at all..

 

[2lick]

just remember this is not been tested... by any of us, except wavehog... I have not been following his build, so I don't know if he's done testing at all..

I know.. no one has realy tested it or anything... whatever im up for it!:biggthumpup:

Think 288 balls are enough:bigeyes: lol

---I was going to do something like bluefoam down below or so any how..... just wasnt sure yet.... i like this idea.... i think the lower deck is a lot stronger than we think, all those curves and turns and stuff..... i have a lot of glass... ill have to think about adding a layer or so to it....

what kinda drain plugs could i put in.. i have seen the sxr type and some mc mastercarr ones.... just dont remember where...

 

[Marshj]

so top half of gunwhales with foam, what about under the front of the tray? Ive seen intake areas crack (sharky in Aus). hrmmm

I think foaming a square around this area, or at the least reinforcing with glass

 

[KaosFreestyle]

Ok I just went through this thread and I def. like the outside the box thoughts.

Let me get this straight though, you want something that stays lightweight and will not suck up water like foam will. But will help the ski stay a float and not sink the ski.

 

[Mark44]

I used 5/8" thick 101 nylon in the back of my hull to accept the 1/4" npt drain plugs. I epoxied the pieces in each side under exhaust and under scupper tube.

Mark44

 

[Marshj]

yes. ^ . Air is my buddy. Here's my newest thoughts. Why do we need ping pong balls in their anyways? If the compartment is airtight (or close enough) it will still be very bouyant. Much like trying to push a closed pop bottle under water.

The only issue i see with that is if you have a failure, and your hull cracks, or gets damaged. Water is coming in and your air is going out! Ok. Balls are good.

Second note- I just got done with the ole calculator figuring out the Volume of the cavity. It is approx. =

4387.5 inches cubed.

or

2.54 ft^3 of foam in the rear (excluding exhaust and scupper tubes). So for 4 lb foam thats 10 lbs of foam, and two pound foam thats 5 lbs...dry weight
worth the work?

 

[onesojourner]

how much would the ping pong balls weigh?

 

[the only couch rider]

and would they offer the structural support of foam?

 

[SkiDaddy]

Have any of the AM hull builders done this? Any precedents in the powerboating, sailboarding, surfing etc. industries?

Not being negative, just seeing if we can learn from some others' efforts.:cat37:

 

[Matt_E]

What is the point?

As I see it, to prevent waterlogged foam. But you'll still want flotation. IMHO, just sealing it may be good - just make sure you got drainplugs and drain it regularly.
IMHO, there's no need for any filler if you go that route. It would be highly improbable to develop a leak so bad it will sink the boat from one ride to another.
Or, if you really want filler, go with the closed cell Divinycell stuff.

 

[meatball]

You dont think the 400+ lbs of impact force you have (probably more) coming on a landing in the surf will 'crush' a substantial amount of those ping pong balls and leave a void? I love the idea, but the crush durability (as it holding its original shape) isnt too good unless you impregnate the balls in the foam, I think you will have trouble with them shifting and leaving voids.

 

[Marshj]

You dont think the 400+ lbs of impact force you have (probably more) coming on a landing in the surf will 'crush' a substantial amount of those ping pong balls and leave a void? I love the idea, but the crush durability (as it holding its original shape) isnt too good unless you impregnate the balls in the foam, I think you will have trouble with them shifting and leaving voids.

No, I dont. The ping pong balls ad absolutley no structural effect. The idea is to reinforce the hull (much like the front of a hull is done with fiberglass/carbon) before closing it up. The ping pong balls would simply be there for floatation if some moron were to crash into the hull, and create a big hole and the open void of the compartment were to flood.

 

[Matt_E]

if some moron were to crash into the hull, and create a big hole and the open void of the compartment were to flood.

The chance for that happening is about as big as the chance that the gash will be large enough to let ping pong balls out.

 

[Marshj]

What is the point?

As I see it, to prevent waterlogged foam. But you'll still want flotation. IMHO, just sealing it may be good - just make sure you got drainplugs and drain it regularly.
IMHO, there's no need for any filler if you go that route. It would be highly improbable to develop a leak so bad it will sink the boat from one ride to another.
Or, if you really want filler, go with the closed cell Divinycell stuff.

whats the point of you having a jetski? whats the point of thinking? so we can do the same thing everyone else does?

Yea, Ive seen a ski sink to the bottom because it had no foam in it and developed a large enough crack to sink. It can happen. Its at the bottom of Ford Lake if you want to go get it. And no the hole wasnt large enough to let out ping pong balls, it slowly sank as it was attemping to be towed in. If you look back at one of my posts I talked about only using the air in there and compairing it to a pop bottle in water. And I agree, closed cell is a viable alternative. But arent ping pong balls fun? And wouldnt it be fun to say "yea, it floats with ping Pong balls" lol

All you negative Nilly's go back to work or something. If you want to offer your opinion or idea, why cant you all be positive about it?