Is your Super Jet tray a little warped?

227

Its all about the surf!
Location
Oceanside, CA
I'm working on a new build and while installing footholds I noticed my tray is kinda warped. In spots it ranges from a quarter to almost a half inch of uneveness. Is this normal or did I just get a bad one?
 

FlightPlanDan

Don'tTrustAfartAfter50
I'm working on a new build and while installing footholds I noticed my tray is kinda warped. In spots it ranges from a quarter to almost a half inch of uneveness. Is this normal or did I just get a bad one?
I noticed the same thing when I installed footholds. Not only in the tray, but also a lack of symmetry in the sides.
 

227

Its all about the surf!
Location
Oceanside, CA
I noticed the same thing when I installed footholds. Not only in the tray, but also a lack of symmetry in the sides.

Yeah mine is mostly in the sides of the tray (the gunnels???) theres some noticeable warpage on the interior and exterior though. Is this fairly common? My foam was dry as a bone when I cut for the foot holds
 
you mean the outside of the gunwales?
had 4 sj(1999,2000,2001 and 2004) with it.sometimes on the right,sometimes on the left.
3 other sj's i know have it also.
 
Last edited:
Location
Miami
my 2000 sj has it on the right side, it dips in on the outside, i dont know why it does that. My buddies ski doesnt have it, but his 97 hull does.. very weird
 
It happens during the build process. If the gel coat or the skin coat is to thin or hot or does not have a consistent thickness it can lift from the mold it will look "warped". If the gel coat sits to long before the skin the same thing can happen. Most will notice the wave or warped look in the outside rear of the ski. That is because it is hard to spray the gel coat in that area of the mold and the gel coat will not have a uniform thickness.
 

tomski

X
Location
LHC
It happens during the build process. If the gel coat or the skin coat is to thin or hot or does not have a consistent thickness it can lift from the mold it will look "warped". If the gel coat sits to long before the skin the same thing can happen. Most will notice the wave or warped look in the outside rear of the ski. That is because it is hard to spray the gel coat in that area of the mold and the gel coat will not have a uniform thickness.


From my experience you are describing Pre-release of the gel coat. It is true the rear tray areas are hard to spray but an experienced gel coat sprayer knows how to overcome this. That is not happening to these superjets.

Most skis come fairly straight from the dealer. As time goes on the foam shrinks and the fiberglass has no where to go. These sides are very thin and partially rely on the foam for support. As you notice the bulkhead almost always prints through. This may be influenced by your climate, pressure changes inside the tray, water intrusion, and use of the ski.

In fiberglass laminating there is a problem called the Oil-can effect (old term). On larger flat surfaces a slight inward warpage can occur. That's why you try to put a slight arc to most visible areas. If the original builder of the plug for the superjet would have did this to rear areas this possibly would have lessened the chance of it occurring later on. Kinda like making something wrong to make it right....
 
From my experience you are describing Pre-release of the gel coat. It is true the rear tray areas are hard to spray but an experienced gel coat sprayer knows how to overcome this. That is not happening to these superjets.

Yes. That is what I am talking about. I have never seen a new super jet, so not sure what they look like new.

Are you saying the foam is pulling the sides in?
 
in most instances the sides get pulled in,not pushed out.could the foam adhere then shrink as it sets to suck the sides in?
 
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