Phantom Resurrection

M

mikesx

Ducky said:
I always just use Gflex Thickened Epoxy, and have never had a mount failure. I like Gflex because its super simple. When you install them, take your bolt, and coat it with something like candle wax, and thread it almost to the bottom. This will keep your threaded hole from being filled with epoxy and the wax will keep the epoxy from bonding to the bolt. One very, very important thing to consider when using these mounts, or really any aftermarket/homemade mount, is using the correct length bolt. If its too long, itll start penetrating the hull, and could cause the mount to rip off.
Click to expand...
GFlex is an excellent bonding epoxy. I am doing so much composite work that I have 3:1 on constant standby, set up with pumps, and a triple beam scale for microbatches. Plus I'm so familiar with 3:1, temps ,mixes, what you can and can't do with it, additives, etc. It's just what I'm comfy with. Pretty much any bonding epoxy on the market gonna work or it wouldn't be on the market for long. The most important factor with epoxy is YOU !, lol.
 
M

mikesx

Update to the hard mounted tank. It's been a learning experience for sure. All 3 of my Roto's popped off. No fault of the Roto's though. I believe my fiberglass was contaminated, used boat, I'm sure lots of premix and oils and silicones sloshed around that bilge for a while. I should've taken the first hint, this piece of carbon w/inserts came right off. I did a quick and dirty clean up, purple cleaner followed by acetone wipe right b4 bonding. It wasn't enough. And I tried using exact length bolts for bolting down my carbon strap. When the tank loosened up the turf pad under it shifted, I just tightened the bolts, too much ( was riding, wanted to keep riding) probably helping to "lift " the Roto's off. Of course they didn't all pop at once. One at a time, 3 different rides. Had to cut short first 3 rides.
DSC04979.JPG
 
Last edited:
M

mikesx

So, getting more serious about this I wound up scrubbing the attach points with acetone, blotting it up multiple times. THEN I used a ball stone on the Dremel to make the attachment area look like the surface of a golf ball. My Roto's popped off clean so I 60 gritted the bottoms and re-epoxied them on. Lesson learned. More attention to prep from now on. 3 more rides with some solid flopping and they seem to be holding.
DSC05960.JPGDSC05964.JPGDSC05965.JPG
 
M

mikesx

I also addressed the bolt issue by using long bolts as "studs"with nuts that I run in finger tight and back off a 1/4 b4 tighting the nuts while holding the bolt with an allen. And of course there is no room so I have to use a crow's foot to tighten the nut.
DSC05976.JPGDSC05973.JPGDSC05975.JPG
 
M

mikesx

I am happy with the hard mount strap. I really thought it was going to be the weak link but has held up well so far. Each time a Roto popped at no time did the tank contact anything ( PFP pipe, flywheel cover or h2o box).
DSC05426.JPG
 
Last edited:
M

mikesx

I also addressed what set in motion this entire failure chain, the shifting turf pad. My original just sat in the contact area, using hope and a wish to stay put. I made a new one that is held in place by the mounting bolts. And a cushion for contact area on the top of the tank.
DSC05966.JPGDSC05967.JPGDSC05968.JPGDSC05969.JPGDSC05977.JPG
 
Msdsuperjet

Msdsuperjet

Location
Rochester Ny
Dudeeeeee! This was my old hull and all i can say is you crushed that build! One day ill have another Phantom. Such a fun hull that taught me everything about riding an aftermarket hull. Gotta meet up and ride brother!
 
M

mikesx

Hey! Thanks bro! Glad you saw this. The Phantom is absolutely a solid choice for a first FW Flip boat. I’ve only got about 6 rides on it and I already feel like I’ve been riding it for years. I jumped on my buddies FX1 , and I had FX’s 20 yrs +, I couldn’t believe how much I had to turn the bars on the FX to carve as compared to the Phantom. Definitely an instantly comfortable boat for sure. Wish they had this chit 25 yrs. ago!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom