My sweet fiberglass skills!

[jetskier79]

So um, I don't know what the hell I'm doing. ahah :arms: :arms:

I'm in the process of fixing the broken transom on my blaster. It's been cracking for a while, and I just didn't want to spend the time to fix it. Last weekend it broke through, and now I'm forced to take care of it.

I've layed everything up, just waiting for it to gel so I can trim it up. But yeah, I realized that I pretty much have no idea what I'm doing with this stuff. It's probably going to fall off within the first month hehe. :Banane09:

Props to you guys who actually know how to do this stuff.

 

[Big Kahuna]

just be sure to prep the areas real well.......... Get-R-Done!!!!!!

 

[jetskier79]

oh it was prepped well....I took all the gel coat off. It's all set up, has been for a while. Waiting to sand. Then gonna go ride it way sooner than I probably should....in the morning.

 

[Maine Coast]

yeaaaaaaa might wanna give it a little time, and put a heat source near it? i cant remember if thats polyester or epoxy that hardens faster with external heat, i cant remember? oh and post some pics, id like to see your craftsmanship

 

[SuperJETT]

I stick a flood light on my stuff to quicken things up and it works well.

 

[LBE]

The only way to lern and get better is to just do it. Prep well, clean the surface and take your time. An extra squirt of hardner may not be a bad idea. My wifes space heater has spent an awaful lot of time curing fiberglass. If you have a heat lamp, that will cure it much quicker.



Take your time!!!!

You know whats worse than fixing a Blaster transom??
Fixing it twice because you didn't take your time. Do it once and do it right, this will actually save you time.

Good luck

 

[gj_fx1]

You want to give epoxy a good 24 hrs. Polyester sets much faster, which is the only thing its good for, you can throw on a quick patch and be back out in an hour or 2. Dont bother making it pretty though 'cause you'll be doing it again soon enough..

 

[jetskier79]

I'm actually pretty happy with the results. I layed up 3 layers of mat and one layer of cloth. I have no idea what weight any of it was. The mat was from a MASSIVE roll my dad has from his days with the race car and the cloth was the stuff they sell at Home Depot.

In reality, I could have been a little more picky with my material selection I suppose, but I had a day to get it fixed and back on the water. The true test though will be time and abuse. I rode today, and I definitely beat it up quite a bit. We'll see how it lasts.

Overall, it was a great experience. Like LBE said, the only way to get better with it is practice.

 

[RoyalFlush@PCB]

You need one of these to start from scratch---:biggrin:

 

[ArtMaybee]

don't add an extra squirt of hardener with epoxy.
It won't cure any faster and you might get some bad results from doing it.
Mix epoxy exactly as the instructions say.

 

[Air Gramps]

Jerry, I agree don't add extra hardner. Poly hardens faster then epoxy (Unless you use a fast set) The heat lamp will help, but glass needs a slow set time to bond correctly.

I don't blame you for not doing the whole rip open and work, it was a big PIA. Took about 25 hours to do both of the ski's at the same time but I'm done now... Just need paint.


p.s. I just noticed I forgot to take a picture of the inside transom glass work before I closed it up..... F#$K!

 

[Air Gramps]

one more, the external lip....

 

[jetskier79]

Here's a little time lapse fiberglass action.

30 minutes of glassing in 30 seconds

 

[onesojourner]

whoa that looked sweet

(on a side note what program did you use to create that?)

 

[BlowStuffUp]

you look evil when the video stops.

i was wondering what that time lapse was going to look like.

 

[hangtime]

Jerry ,a little roller works good to get any air bubbles out .:wink:

 

[Ross_C]

Jerry...I love that video! You are one tallented video ****ing with mo fo!

And for sure you can set epoxy off "hot" by adding a little extra hardener...
Is that the right way to do it??? Well...no. From my understanding, the more catalyst is used, the quicker it kicks (hotter it goes off) the more brittle it will be. But did it get the job done...and was the blaster doing BR's the next day...yep.

Art, you are right a roller would have been very helpful.

Derm...you job looks good! I guess that is the right way to do it.

I just started doing the MikeSerlin nose mod on my SJ hull last night. But the camera crapped out so no cool time elapsed stuff for that one. But that is something you may want to consider for the lip on the underside of the blaster.

p-dawg...you are next to go under the sander. We are doing Jerry's standup now, and my new hull. You should stip yours down and come join the fun.

 

[Matt_E]

And for sure you can set epoxy off "hot" by adding a little extra hardener...

Careful - that depends entirely on the brand of epoxy used.
The stuff I use calls for a mix of 17%-25%, with the higher percentages causing quicker cures.

However, follow the instructions for YOUR epoxy to the tee - bad results ensue if you do not.
Many epoxy resins do not have variable mix ratios, so be sure to read the instructions.

External heat will speed up the cure for sure - use that if unsure of mix ratios.

 

[jetskier79]

(on a side note what program did you use to create that?)

The video was put together in Final Cut Pro. It's actually the first video I've output from FCP. All our videos will be done in FCP from here on out, and I must say, the jetski world better watch out, because it's time for some "high quality h2o (video)

Jerry...I love that video! You are one tallented video ****ing with mo fo!

I just started doing the MikeSerlin nose mod on my SJ hull last night. But the camera crapped out so no cool time elapsed stuff for that one. But that is something you may want to consider for the lip on the underside of the blaster.

p-dawg...you are next to go under the sander. We are doing Jerry's standup now, and my new hull. You should stip yours down and come join the fun.

Thanks Ross, this is only the start of the video fun. I'm super bummed the camera broke last night, the time lapse with the foam would have been really cool.

Not sure if I'm going to do it with this blaster, but fairing the transom into the lip is definitely the end all fix to the broken ass end. Reinforcing is just a bandaid, not a solution.

However, follow the instructions for YOUR epoxy to the tee - bad results ensue if you do not.
Many epoxy resins do not have variable mix ratios, so be sure to read the instructions.

Instructions are for sissies. I like to fly by the seat of my pants. :fingersx: :headbang:

:wink:

 

[BlowStuffUp]

i think my ski is ready to go under the jerry/ross knife. the only thing is that you and jerry have other skis to ride. maybe ill talk to derek about riding the gp while my skis no good. i wouldnt mind filming either.

we can start whenever you guys are ready i know that you guys have a lot on your plates with jerry sj and your own sj. just let me know when.