Surfriding My 04 RN SJ hull has come apart along the bond line and is leaking like a sieve

H

Honda118

Location
United States
My 2004 round nose Superjet hull has come apart along the bond line and is leaking like a sieve.

Question: Can it be fixed?

As you can see in the pictures it has gap up to a 1/4 inch along the port side bond line from the nose to the stern. I think it goes around the back towards the hole in the center of the back for the rope as well. When it is in the water if you lean the boat to the left hand side water pours into the engine bay via the bond line.

The boat is only used in the ocean surf. I want to use it for flips and rolls so I want to fix and reinforce so I can progress. I assume that when they make these in Japan that they have some press they use to hold the top and bottom hull together when they apply the glue to the bond line. I assume the fix order would be:

1. Determine what kind of adhesive I can use to bond the top and bottom back together. I assume the adhesive would have to be poured (with the hull upside down) between the top and bottom hull and then clamp them together. I would have to seal the inside so the adhesive does not run into the engine bay and get all over everything.

2. once the top and bottom are bonded back together - remove engine and reinforce the engine walls and nose / pole mount area to make sure it is ready for flips and rolls.

I'd really appreciate any advice from the X on how to proceed.
 
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H

Honda118

Location
United States
ajmps1 - I have read the how to threads on this site for the engine bay reinforcing - but have never seen the issue like I have - before I pull the engine I have to get the two hulls bonded back together and test to make sure it is not taking on water any more - any help from people who have done similar tasks would be appreciated.
 
Speleopower

Speleopower

got a Superjet
Location
Cocoa Beach
Pull everything out and reinforce on the inside. Flip over and fill gap with epoxy.
Where are you located? There is probably someone nearby who could help or take a look at it with you to see what needs to be done.
 
chadman154

chadman154

#Itsonlymoney !!!!!
Location
Dirty south
Speleopower said:
Pull everything out and reinforce on the inside. Flip over and fill gap with epoxy.
Where are you located? There is probably someone nearby who could help or take a look at it with you to see what needs to be done.
Click to expand...


NH number on hull. I would guess op is in New Hampshire
 
H

Honda118

Location
United States
Yep im in NH - so do the inside first and then fill the outside gap - will the epoxy be strong enough or should I use some other adhesive - what about inside the outer tray walls - does the tray need to be cut out and the upper and lower hulls reinforced there too?
 
WFO Speedracer

WFO Speedracer

A lifetime ban is like a lifetime warranty !
Location
Alabama
To be truefull yes I was joking, at any rate you will probably have to separate the deck from the bottom to fix this,( now I am not joking) the stresses put on the hull will not allow it to just simply be glued back together at this point, I have seen this many times on old 440-550's. You need to split it apart and relieve the stresses on the hull, defoam it, glue it back together and refoam the ski, you can of course try it some other way, but if you want it done right that is the way to do it.
 
H

Honda118

Location
United States
Has anyone got experience splitting the top from bottom hulls on a super jet? I have never heard of anyone doing this before. I see WTF did it on that old vintage ski but on a RN super jet?
 
djkorn1

djkorn1

kidkornfilms
Site Supporter
Location
Cleveland Ohio
Lots of people have separated them. It's a TON of work. If you have lots of time to work on it, go for it. That is the right way to fix it. It probably needs new foam anyway and reinforcement in the back.....BUT,

If you do not have a lot of time, tools and a shop to work on it, I would epoxy it up and clamp it together and then and put a layer of glass on the inside to reinforce. Superjets are NOT strong hulls, they crack and leak if jumped alot, especially if you land on the sides.

Another option is an aftermarket hull, if money is not an option, like a Trinity Matrix or a Wamiltons lightweight Superjet that will not ever need reinforcement.
 
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B3IS

B3IS

Waay more work than I would want to get into. I am voting for an A/M hull. How about a FootRocket ???
 
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