Full Visual Carbon Fiber Surf/River Brawler

[Zeon]

After years of riding my -3 top and bottom RN superjet it was time to move on to a new hull. I have been holding out on buying an aftermarket hull due to the thought of my investment getting ruined with the abuse I normally give my superjet. I was looking for a ski that could not only ride the ocean surf, but the 16 foot waves of a Lake Erie wind storm. It needed to be able to handle the boat wakes of the upper Niagara River and the Rapids of the Lower Niagara.

After a lot of talking with Brian and Josh @ Rage Composite Works, we came to an agreement to build a Brawler. After seeing that they built the lightest ski at wavedaze (rad dudes have the proof on their scale) I figured if they added another layer to strengthen her, it would still be half the weight of my superjet.

These guys did a knock out job on timing as well as quality. Something you don't normally get. They built this hull in a 2 month time frame, and I finished the build and assembly in another month after, Just in time for Daytona.

Ill start this thread with some of the pictures that started it all @ The Rage Composites workshop. This part is the work of Brian K and Josh C of Rage Composites

From her birth:


Now one of my biggest fears was fully cured by these guys. I never want or plan to rip a motor insert out, now im worry free...


So it is now time for pick up. After our journey through PA we end up at Rage Composite Works. This was the moment I have been waiting for.


Now it was time to head to my shop. 1 month and counting until the 2014 Daytona Motosurf... (I am a little delayed, I have not had internet in a few months)

 

[Zeon]

After an awesome meal with the Rage Composites Crew, a few hour ride back, we were home. Time to dig in. I was very stubborn and said It had to have some serious visual carbon if im going to own and CF ski.

 

[Yami-Rider]

Now one of my biggest fears was fully cured by these guys. I never want or plan to rip a motor insert out, now im worry free...
View attachment 242528

I wonder what they use to glue the aluminum mounts down with? Also, I wonder how the clean the resin out of the mounting threads?

Very nice ski! Rage builds one of my favorite ski's. Love the visual carbon and green.

 

[Zeon]

Now it was time to start sanding down that pretty carbon fiber. Pinholes are the biggest enemy here. From start to finish there was almost 2 full gallons of PPGs best clear coat applied and sanded off. I ended up sanding the carbon and clearing it, and sanding the clear and reclearing another 3 different times both top and bottom.

Now no judging by the runs on the first set of pictures. It was not an accident.



Pinhole city! The joys of visual carbon fiber...

time to sand it and reclear it again...

 

[Zeon]

Now Lets Sand it down and do it again...

At this point I am very sick of the repetition but I can see the finish in the near future...

With every build, I like the unique special touches. I had my Gfs pops come out and hand pinstripe the underside of the hood in between coats...




Some late long nights doing this one...









30 years of progression...

 

[DAG]

Applause, I'd ask but i don't want to know how many hours in prep work that took. I bet you spent more time in sanding than Rage did in laying up that hull

 

[Zeon]

Well some of you are probably wondering some engine and drivetrain specs.

Engine:
-Jetmaniac 718 (3 years old) SOON TO BE A 735
-Dual 38s
-v force 3 reeds
-ada head
-Factory B Pipe
-h20 waterbox
- Jetmaniac exhaust tube

Driveline:
-Cold Fusion Couplers
-Stock pump
-Hooker 9/15
-Thrust trim



Pole you ask? Well I was on a budget. I took my 2nd generation X metal pole, Cut it, Re welded it, did some body work and she was ready to go.


Some more visual goodness cleared some more...



Once again on a budget, I needed a mod chamber when I had a limited chamber. A last minute cut then reweld a week before Daytona will do the trick...

 

[Yami-Rider]

Looks amazing! Great job!

 

[Zeon]

Well Lets throw that pole with the freshly wrapped chin


Just like the outside I could not leave the engine bay alone...


Time to choose a color... Obviously I was going to go with a color of Green but I was not sure... Into the mix sheets we go.



Lets Mix this up. Of course being a new Lambo color it is going to be a tri-coat


And some color to the bottom and 3 more coats of PPG dc4000



now the top was tricky. After some long thoughts and a lot of masking tape later, the design was created. Due to the lines in this job I needed to make sure my hood seal was crushed enough.



24hrs later we are ready for some paint...

Some Lamborghini Verde:


unmask and apply another 3 coats of PPG DC4000

 

[Zeon]

The ski is finally looking like a ski with 2 weeks until the Daytona Freeride


The Final details now need to be taken care of and some assembly. I dropped my motor and drivetrain right in. No hiccups. aligned and bolted the engine down in under 10 minutes. Such amazing build quality from the get go.







After hours upon hours of sanding, re clearing, late nights , early mornings, no weekends... I was ready for Daytona!

 

[Mdavies_02]

Best looking Brawler I have seen. Can't wait to see it at DDRR.

Great work Zeon

 

[motozachl]

Saw this in Daytona, breath taking visual cf work. Just wow

 

[MADMAT]

Killer killer!! Sorry if I missed it but what was the delivered weight??

 

[Fro Diesel]

That hard work paid off Andy! You do some nice work, buddy.

 

[tatronation]

looks sweet! How's the ride?

 

[Brian_216]

I wonder what they use to glue the aluminum mounts down with? Also, I wonder how the clean the resin out of the mounting threads?

Very nice ski! Rage builds one of my favorite ski's. Love the visual carbon and green.

Easy. Thickened epoxy. Pack the threads with clay so nothing gets in them. Run a tap after its all cured and its squeaky clean.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

[motoman3000]

Nice build and write-up. Clean work!

 

[MADMAT]

Dang it I wish it was warmer I want to come try that thing!

 

[ADDict]

Great job Andy! I had the pleasure of taking this thing for a quick rip in Daytona and it was SWEET! I would love to have a go on a flat water Brawler.

 

[SmittySX]

Wow, that thing looks great. Nice work.