Surfriding FX1 for my son

[wydopen]

So my son who just turned 9 has been riding a 550 with us for the last few months and he picked it up quick..

I hate working on kawis and that thing handles like a turd so I needed to build him a Yamaha. He’s only 65lbs so an fx seemed like the perfect choice. @AAlamo was nice enough to bring me an unfinished fx project from Texas. He had reformed it with pink foam and widened the bondrail. Ski had a wide tray and tubbie 2 style tubbies with the extra chine and was halfway there for a 144 swap.. Since this is for a 4’1” child I decided to keep the stock pump for now. It’s getting a stock 62t motor which is more than enough power. First things first I removed the footholds. Going to pad the tray back narrow with 25mm underpad so as he gets bigger I can remove when he wants a wider tray..tubbie 2 style
Sponsons don’t work as well on the wave face imo so I reshaped those. Started rebuilding the pump tunnel and mocked up the pump so I can put inserts back in. Plans are for 1 layer of 1208 inside to keep the weight down, an external carbon nose piece like I do on my skis..someone tried to carbon over the hoodliner And it didn’t stick at all so have to replace that also.
Found a “deal” on an engine that someone let water sit in it so rebuilding that as well

 

[wydopen]

Found a good deal on a stock pre 08 pole that’s -1.5” going to reinforce that and run it with full length umi plate..he’s so short he needs a longer pole

 

[brapperdoodle]

Good job on the rails! They look great

 

[wydopen]

Good job on the rails! They look great

It was like that when I got it. Since my sons so small I prob would have left it stock but would be a pain to change now. I’m sure it will be ok. Anything’s an upgrade from a mostly Stock 550

 

[wydopen]

Waves are small so took the weekend off riding and got some work done..tubbie reshape roughed in..one side of engine compartment reinforced..repairing some air bubbles on underside of the wide rails..going to have to fill and put down another layer unfortunately..pain in the ass especially against tubbie..getting ready to build out the nose to same thickness as the wide rails so when I make carbon nose piece it will be the same thickness as turf so it has something to die into.

 

[Sanoman]

Looking good so far! Brappadoodle and l are both working on fx1’s.So great to see some of the things you are going through to finish your son’s ski.

 

[wydopen]

Dealing with removing attempted hoodliner reinforcement..not fun

 

[Sanoman]

Looks pretty gnarly..dam

 

[mikidymac]

Some people really shouldn’t touch skis. Wow.

 

[wydopen]

Kevlar I think and not enough resin..literally fuzz balls when you grind it. Didn’t stick to the stock hoodliner at all..luckily @special fx was nice enough to send me a stock liner. Trying to decide if I should install it or make a mold and make a glass/carbon one...

 

[wydopen]

More fun..stripping paint off pole bracket and pole ends to repaint..just going to rattlecan everything including the hull. Used appliance epoxy on my hood and it’s held up decent. My choices for painting are a dusty barn, a wood shop or outside so I’m not going to waste the time or $ to paint it right. Just want to get it on the water

 

[mikidymac]

I painted mine under and E-z up with clear plastic around it and it turned out great. Even a single stage paint would be better than rattle can and pretty fast.

 

[brapperdoodle]

I painted mine under and E-z up with clear plastic around it and it turned out great. Even a single stage paint would be better than rattle can and pretty fast.

Me too! 100% worth the effort... make sure you cover the driveway unless you have a spot you don't care about haha

 

[wydopen]

Top of pole and pole bracket painted..came out pretty good. Also got the hardest part to find..

 

[E350]

Look for the Cold Fusion front hood bracket.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Look for the Cold Fusion front hood bracket.

You see his old sponsor list in his Sig Line area?

 

[E350]

Sorry. Just trying to be helpful.

 

[wydopen]

Look for the Cold Fusion front hood bracket.

I got one and a few other goodies. Intake grate was the hard thing to find

 

[wydopen]

Engine compartment done. Not my best work but should get the job done. Nose built out to same level as rails so I can make external nose piece. Started filling some pinholes. Just have to set the pump inserts and hoodliner and sand..not going to reinforce nose on inside to keep the weight down. External nose piece will keep bondrail from breaking

 

[E350]

@wydopen You can tell your kid that he rides that FX-1 better than I ride mine. You said:

"tubbie 2 style Sponsons don’t work as well on the wave face imo so I reshaped those"

When you get a chance and I understand that it might not be until you get the ski back on the water, would you please post up your thoughts on front sponsons for the FX-1 and maybe photos of how your reshaped / what shape sponson you prefer?