Freestyle Looking for options foam or no foam in my kdx hull

[feartheride]

I have an xscream kdx hull on order and need to decide what is best option as far as foam goes..

the norm for there skis is to be totally open to the engine compartment for lightness for competition..

But not what I want for rec riding.. Having to hire divers to retrieve my ski is not an option..

So just wondering is foaming the entire ski the best option or would they float with no foam and just sealed off.. This is how the freaks are correct.. Does anyone know if they float....

I guess the other option would be to foam top half or top 3/4 if that is possible.. Thinking that way if water does intrude,it may not soak it up as bad and I could have drain plugs..

 

[chad]

add foam somewhere , polystyrene is better than a/b foam because it wont waterlog. i have never seen a hull sealed up so well that it wont leak water.

 

[waterfreak]

no foam with versiplugs. It will always stay dry and float if sealed properly

 

[Pablo]

Skip the foam. Throw in some polystyrene if ur skeered. I doubt u'll sink a flatwater boat...now surf is a whole different animal.

 

[feartheride]

Skip the foam. Throw in some polystyrene if ur skeered. I doubt u'll sink a flatwater boat...now surf is a whole different animal.

Well I thought salt water was more bouyant

 

[feartheride]

no foam with versiplugs. It will always stay dry and float if sealed properly

but will they float ??

 

[Matt_E]

Why wouldn't it? Air filled instead of foam will be the lightest option (by a very tiny margin, to be fair)
You have a problem if there is a leak of water into the cavity.
I've almost sunk my Freak (water up above the carb bases) and I while I knew there was water in the bilge, I had no idea it was that bad. The hull itself floated great.

 

[Idok]

no pour foam + versaplugs


a couple of chunks of poly would make for some cheap insurance

 

[227]

Metal and Fiberglass sink. Relying solely on a sealed air cavity for floatation is straight up gambling. Sure an air cavity works, but all it needs is a small crack for it to lose its integrity. One bad BR or BF to start the crack combined with a dislodged hood and your high dollar ski could be gone in a matter of minutes. Unless you're a competing pro who needs the absolute edge in your equipment then running no foam is an unnecessary gamble. Better to fill it with foam and forget about it. Don't use a two part pour foam as it will waterlog or a polystyrene, that stuff melts if exposed to fuel, better to use a Polypropylene, which is both water and fuel resistant (Your nose foam is a beaded Polypropylene)

 

[feartheride]

Metal and Fiberglass sink. Relying solely on a sealed air cavity for floatation is straight up gambling. Sure an air cavity works, but all it needs is a small crack for it to lose its integrity. One bad BR or BF to start the crack combined with a dislodged hood and your high dollar ski could be gone in a matter of minutes. Unless you're a competing pro who needs the absolute edge in your equipment then running no foam is an unnecessary gamble. Better to fill it with foam and forget about it. Don't use a two part pour foam as it will waterlog or a polystyrene, that stuff melts if exposed to fuel, better to use a Polypropylene, which is both water and fuel resistant (Your nose foam is a beaded Polypropylene)

How is polypropylene installed.. Is it poured in as well..

So at any time in the future if it appears to be taking on water, I could install some drain plugs ?

 

[feartheride]

no pour foam + versaplugs


a couple of chunks of poly would make for some cheap insurance

Where do you buy those versa plugs

 

[garretonufer]

pwcdoctor.net

 

[aramis]

Foam, absolutely. Foam doesn't help the ski float, at all...but it stops it from sinking when water gets in and it pushes the air out. The foam occupies volume and therefore stops enough water from getting in that would otherwise make it sink.

Using foam that doesn't waterlog is the way to go, and add a drain plug if you really want to get rid of that pound of water that seeps in.

 

[227]

How is polypropylene installed.. Is it poured in as well..

So at any time in the future if it appears to be taking on water, I could install some drain plugs ?

Beaded Polypropylene comes in a sheet. It looks identical to expanded polystyrene, except it is slightly heavier. When I say slightly I mean oz not lbs. It cannot be poured in, it must be hand cut/custom fitted in the rear cavity of your hull. Since it is both water and petroleum proof, it doesn't matter if it is exposed to either, as it will not water log or melt, so yes if the hull cavity did appear to be taking on water you can simply drain it through some aftermarket plugs

 

[DAG]

Beaded Polypropylene comes in a sheet.

And beanbag filler

 

[JetManiac]

no foam with versiplugs. It will always stay dry and float if sealed properly

If sealed properly, then there is no need for versiplugs. If there is leaking, then versiplugs will keep it drained whenever ski keeps moving forward. If you lose hood or other hull failure and engine area fills with water, then versiplugs will let out all of the air in the sealed area and then glug, glug...

 

[Pablo]

I've gone almost 2 years with no foam in my freak and no versiplugs either. There's two threaded holes that I keep screws in when I ride and every month or two I open and check for water intrusion. Nothing more than a few drips.

 

[feartheride]

I've gone almost 2 years with no foam in my freak and no versiplugs either. There's two threaded holes that I keep screws in when I ride and every month or two I open and check for water intrusion. Nothing more than a few drips.

So will it float with no foam and just air in , when the engine and compatment fill with water

 

[baxt3r]

So, why is a $4500+ hull not coming with foam?

 

[Pablo]

I've had it full of water up to the bottom of the carbs and it has still floated. It dumps pretty quick with just a scupper. I quit using a bilge on flat water.