Ride plate bolts (long and shorter ones)

[Allistah]

So the front ride plate bolts on my SJ were hanging out and got bent. I went to order some new ones and it looks like they're discontinued. You can however get the rear ones which are shorter.

Has anyone had any issues with using the shorter bolts all the way around on the ride plate? Anything I should be careful of? Or should I just seek out the proper length bolts/washers for the front?

Thanks,

-Alli

 

[kwakhead]

Wow. There's a general rule for this kind of stuff. If you set the bolt on the hole and it sticks out about 1/2 in your fine. Problem solve yet or still "stuck"? Lol

 

[Allistah]

I think the short ones will work fine... I just wasn't sure if there was a reason why Yamaha used longer bolts in the front that I should keep in mind.


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[kwakhead]

That was a good explanation. I wouldn't have even thought about it lol. But there's just inserts in there, nothing else. You'll be fine.

 

[Allistah]

Ah kk thx. I've been reading up on replacing the foam in the tray area. Seems like it happens a lot on these SJs which is a real bummer.


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[kwakhead]

What??? Anyway.. I think your talking about defoaming correct? Pain in the ass, but worth every minute if you make sure its all done well and sealed up.

 

[kwakhead]

Every square nose I've ever owned except for one has been waterlogged. And I got rid of that one! :'-(

 

[Allistah]

Yeah, I was getting a ton of water in the engine compartment because the ride plate bolts weren't in the front holes correctly and there is a big leak between the bulkhead and bottom of the hull. This made me think about the foam. Ugh, I'll see if I can deal with any potential wet foam for this season and fix it next season. Sucks - wish there was an easier way to fix it.


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[kwakhead]

There won't be any water coming in from the ride plate bolts. That's almost impossible. Somebody would've had to drill all the way through them to have any possibility of water getting in. But a leak into your tray, and from the tray into your engine bay through the bulkhead doesn't seem so impossible. Quick test to see how logged ur ski is. When its in the water just floating, when you look at it is one side deeply sunk in? Like is it leaning a lot to one side? If it floats straight up and bond line is level with water in the back, its not waterlogged. If it leans to one side and bond line is below the water, it is. This is a redneck test, and its not fool proof.

 

[Allistah]

Yeah, it leans bad on the battery side. The gunwale I think it's called is under the water just a bit on that side.


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[kwakhead]

Its waterlogged. Can't be a hundred percent sure till you open er up but that's a sure sign. But don't defoam it unless you're mechanically inclined or experienced. You'll do more harm than good.

 

[Allistah]

Yeah I have no experience with fiberglass or anything. I'll have a friend who is help me out if I decide to go down that road. Wish I could just know for sure so I wouldn't have to race all season with it like that. Such a bummer. I read some people don't put any foam back in there so it's easier and just use drain plugs. I wonder how well that works out..


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[Quinc]

Check out the build threads and the sj thread in my signature. Defoaming is a pain but it is well worth it. Good time to widden the tray and add foot holds too. Fiberglass sucks too but easy to learn as you go. Just read through the threads first and make notes etc on what to do.