How old before refoaming??

Ericfox

Ericfox

Do it twice?That's DooDoo
Location
Akron area --> OHIO!
Do you need to refoam a ski if it's only been used for a half season so far? I am doing footholds very soon. I figure the foam in the ski should still be very dry since it's only about 4 months old.

The foam in a stock ski is the same closed cell foam that everybody replaces it with right?

Do people just replace the foam after a few years of riding because water slowly gets into that area or what? I have seen the job of refoaming, and it looks ugly... do I have a few years before I have to think about doing this or what???

If I don't have to refoam at this point... is there something I can do to help the ski not take on water in that area?

Thanks.
 
Brenden

Brenden

Location
Altoona Pa
you shouldnt need to if the ski is only 4 months old...everything should still be alright...unless there are cracks
but for only a four month old ski i wouldnt worry

just ride...do your holds and seal them up good with some 5200 and some glass over them and you'll stay dry
 
tipafew

tipafew

Location
Grand Rapids, MI
Yeah, It can be hard to tell if it's totally try just by the holes for the footholds. I opened mine up last night. At first I was excited because it looked dry, but as I dug down it got wet.
If my ski was that new I would probably just seal the bulkhead really good and hope for the best.
Yes, the tubes that go through the bulkhead should be sealed. I would also seal all the way around the outside edge of the bulkhead. Remove the stupid round stickers on the Bulkhead and glass over the holes also.
I would also be tempted to go around the outside of the bond line with some west systems and 404 filler .

Chad
 
pimpchevy07

pimpchevy07

how do skis get waterlogged? is it from the surf or what? i ride my ski every weekend at the lake but i always put it on my stand out of the water when im not riding it and my foam was dry when i cut into it.
 
Ericfox

Ericfox

Do it twice?That's DooDoo
Location
Akron area --> OHIO!
pimpchevy07 said:
how do skis get waterlogged? is it from the surf or what? i ride my ski every weekend at the lake but i always put it on my stand out of the water when im not riding it and my foam was dry when i cut into it.
Click to expand...

Yes,
Could someone please describe this please? I am really wondering.

Also, does anyone know any way for sure to prolong the life of the dry foam.... someone said to seal a few areas in a previous post, but i'm confused... thanks...
 
DCRocks

DCRocks

Wavejunkies
Location
Washington DC
pimpchevy07 said:
how do skis get waterlogged?
Click to expand...

I was wondering the same thing. The foam in the front and rear of my blaster is not sealed up in any way, and is exposed to water just about every ride, yet it seems to be dry.

What gives? Is it just because the foam, being in the open, and is able to dry after each ride? Or is it a different type of foam?
 
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hermanns

hermanns

poor
Location
gainesville, fl
Ericfox said:
Yes,
Could someone please describe this please? I am really wondering.

Also, does anyone know any way for sure to prolong the life of the dry foam.... someone said to seal a few areas in a previous post, but i'm confused... thanks...
Click to expand...

By water getting in the bilge and going through the holes that aren't sealed well. There are 2 places with white stickers that are sealing the original holes where the pored the foam in from factory. Take those off and either use some fiberglass or something to seal it off, or put some rubber plugs in it like I did. Also, seal around the steering cable tube, and any other places that might not be completely sealed.

To prolong it, just keep it from getting wet by sealing said areas.

To the guy with the blaster... it may have styrofoam in it like the front of the SJ, and that will not absorb water like the foam in the SJ tray/gunwales.
 
superjet0587

superjet0587

Location
michigan
I am in the defoaming process right now and my foam was wet, from a crack in the rear barrel roll siide corner and from the inserts from the ride plate being cracked.
 
Frosty

Frosty

New York Crew
Location
Western New York
hermanns said:
To the guy with the blaster... it may have styrofoam in it like the front of the SJ, and that will not absorb water like the foam in the SJ tray/gunwales.
Click to expand...

yeah, the blaster (and pretty much all sit downs) use polystyrene foam which is preformed to fit. Polystyrene does not absorb water. Kawasaki uses this in the SXR as well.

The superjet does not use it. I'll be working on a project RN superjet this winter in which i plan to use polystyrene instead of two part expanding foam.
 
F

FL-cracker

X-H2O
Location
old exit 72 Melbourne
You dont need foam, you dont need pingpong balls, you dont need coke bottles.

Just reinforce the sides if you ever cut the tray out to gut the wet foam. DOnt put foam back in it, water will just find its way no matter what, then you have wet foam again. Put a drain plug in both sides. Unless you completly blow out the side of your tray, (wich wont happen with a good reinforcement) the boat will not sink. I have tested this on two ocasions now.... Bobber's dont have foam, my boat floats perfect, and it still leaks a small amout of water into the tray (not a issue)..... sometimes you gota think outside the box..... :biggrin: . :headbang:
 
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tipafew

tipafew

Location
Grand Rapids, MI
I am digging my foam out right now. I hate the thought of re-foaming only to have it get waterlogged again some day. I was also currious if the air in the rear would be sufficient to keep the ski afloat???
I still don't know if I like the idea of no foam, but it is tempting.
 
Mark44

Mark44

Katie's Boss
Location
100% one place
p

If you hate the idea of refoaming just to have it get wet again do a search on drains and you will never have to refoam again.

Mark44
 

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sflsurfrider

i find it surprising that nobody has mentioned water intrusion from around the rear exhaust tube.... thats a biggie!

if youre not refoaming, just seal the out side of the flange to the transom and bulkhead the best you can.

if you are refoaming, pull it out, refoam, then put it back and seal it properly.

water intrusion can happen from the cooling lines in the pump cavity and the bulkhead. it can happen from the pvc driveshaft tube, the bondrail seam, bolt holes, factory foam holes, etc.
 
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