Making of the SNX Hull

[Nate_D]

Thanks Liquid!

I still need those measurements from an RRP pole. If someone with an RRP pole could run out to the garage real quick it would be much appreciated


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[naticen]

Length from center of bolt to bottom of pole: 2 1/16"
Height (thickness) of pole at bolt: 2 1/4"
Height (thickness) at bottom: 3/4" at very bottom, 1 1/4" just a 1/2" in.

If you want to PM your number, I can snap some pics if you want. The only bracket I have laying around is a UMI that looks identical to OEM cept billet. That might give you some better perspective on height if it is in a bracket.

 

[Nate_D]

Rails are finished.

Stacked up 3 1" pieces of XPS cut to 4.5" wide.

Used a circular saw to the XPS at a 45* angle until 18" from the rear, where it is cut to a 90*. Covered the bottom deck rail with metallic duct tape, top and bottom. Then glued the XPS to the underside of the rail and secured with clamps.

Once cured, removed the clamps and covered the XPS with more metallic tape.

Laid several pieces of glass (~60-70oz).

Lots of body filler and sanding later...

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[Nate_D]

Top deck is almost finished. Rails done, sides are blocked out, tray is done, and gunwales finished. Blending the sides of the hood into the nose and the front of the tray will finish the hood off tomorrow. Only things left to do is block out the nose, square out the pole bracket area and add recess for bolt clearance, find and fill all pin holes, then prep sand for primer. Should have all of that completed tomorrow and a mold done for the hood.


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[Dalton]

Lookin good I like what you did with the rails in the rear

 

[Nate_D]

Took all day, but the top deck and hood is finished. All that is left is the final prep work to pull molds.

Also picked up supplies to build a makeshift paint booth. Should have the mold for the hood done tomorrow and hopefully the flange on the bottom deck.

Blending the hood and top deck

Such a huge relief to finally get to this point. Still have to create plugs for a handle pole, adjustable foot holds, and front foot hold, as well as making all of the molds and pulling parts. All of that seems relatively easy compared to designing the top deck and hood.


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[AdzUK]

This is the best home build i have seen so far, Looks great. You must be pleased how its ended up looking!

 

[MikeyB]

Wow good job man, its coming together!


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[cookn]

This build should have been sponsored by red solo cup

 

[Dalton]

Are you going to poly or epoxy prime the plugs?

You definitely have the hard part down there. From here on making the molds and the final parts is a cake walk trust me.

 

[Nate_D]

@cookn lol. I've used over 300 solo cups for resin and body filler and 1 to drink out of.

Adzuk, I am extremely happy with how it is turning out. I had an idea of what I wanted the top deck to look like, but I had no expectations for it to come out so well. It's been really cool to see it transform from a beat up old square into what it is now. I'm glad I did the build thread and documented it all. You don't get to really see the transformation while you are working on it since it takes sooo many hours to make the smallest changes. It's not until I step back and look through the photos to see it come to life.

I'm going to use Duratec on the plugs. Probably. Well, definitely on the hood plug. Depending how well the hood mold and parts turn out. I'm going for a visual carbon hood this week. If the Duratec gives me a high enough gloss surface, I'll use it on the rest of the plugs.


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[Dalton]

Gonna try out a semi-perm release on the plugs or go with good 'ol PVA?

 

[SkiDiggity]

Wow really hard to believe that was an old square nose. Great job! my hat is off to people like you who have time and are creative. I could never pull something like this off. Can't wait to see the finished product!

 

[Nate_D]

Thanks SkiDoggity!

I'm going to use PVA on the plug. From what I've read, semi perm on plugs requires a perfect finish. Seems like people using it are shooting a 2k clear over the plug and polishing it to a mirror shine. Honestly for that much work, I would rather sand and polish out the mold. I might experiment with a plug I have far less hours into.




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[Nate_D]

Built the spray booth today. Very little thought was placed into the structural integrity of this project... I fully expect it to collapse during the first light rain.

It should work for a few days. I'll reinforce the sides and make a more permanent roof once it falls apart.



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[MCrider]

Love the ghetto booth! We build one every couple years when one of us builds a new ski.

 

[Nate_D]

Lol thanks man. It gets the job done. When I turn the fan on the roof gets sucked down a foot and a half. I thought it was going to collapse today.

Congrats on the baby btw. Your first?

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[Nate_D]

1/2" MDF. Holes cut for pour foam to help hold the hood in place.

Bondo around perimeter of hood. Filled in the pin holes and scratches with glazing putty.

Sanded hood down to 150 and then shot it with Duratec surfacing primer. You can see my paint skills, or more accurately lack thereof, with the mad orange peel in this pic. In my defense unthinned Duratec isn't the easiest thing to spray. It also didn't like the smooth finish I put on the plug, as it wanted to fish eye on me even using a mist coat.

Here it is after wet sanding to 400.

Not too shabby. Ran out of daylight today. I'll hit it with 1000 and then a polishing compound tomorrow before spraying with PVA. Mold tomorrow and hopefully a part laid up on Friday.


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[MCrider]

That looks great man I wouldn't mind taking one for a spin! Do you plan on selling these?

Yea he's our first. My wife says that I made him myself judging by his looks.....poor kid.

 

[Nate_D]

lol already placing the blame on you… it only gets better (worse). Seriously though, congrats! Kids are great. My best memories are when my daughter was a baby.

I've been thinking about it. I don't really know one way or the other until I actually have one built and some ride time on it. If all goes as planned, I will have it at Daytona next year. Hopefully someone can thrash on it and give me some feedback. I've been to the surf once and it definitely won.