weight VS power

[buxtonous]

as the tittle suggests

currently i have a fully ported 701 in a stock rn hull

all i wana do is arial tricks

i only weigh 60kg so should i use this as an advantage and go for lightweight or do i get a bigger hp engine?

thing is i can only afford 1 or the other???

 

[OCD Solutions]

I think you would be amazed at what you could do with a lightweight hull and a mild to limited engine.

 

[baxt3r]

sAt 250 pounds, I'd be looking for a lighter hull first. Seems like it would be a major improvement for me and I keep the reliability of a stock motor. And some of those motors cost more than a lightweight hull. But that's just me.

 

[sjetrider]

GO light but reliable IMO. I rode 2 VERY simular motor set ups a week or so ago. ported 760, stock pump , one in a RN hull and one in a carbon ROK hull.
I HATED even riding the RN but had alot of fun on the ROK. IMO any light short hull will MUCH improve your flatwater ride times. If in surf then I recomend a little more power and rok the SJ, down the road upgrade to a long freak hull or something.

 

[OCD Solutions]

MattE built up a similar engine to yours and only recently pulled it from his heavily reinforced superjet and dropped it into a lightweight Superfreak. Ask him which order he wished he did it in.

 

[tor*p*do]

its all about the horsepower to weight ratio
that being said, it is easier to cut weight than to add horsepower (within reason)

 

[SXIPro]

its all about the horsepower to weight ratio
that being said, it is easier to cut weight than to add horsepower (within reason)

I'd like to see the formula for that. For instance Would you say If I took 40 lbs off my ski, it would equal a Factory B-pipe?

 

[MADMAT]

For sure go with a relatively light hull and mild motor....then a motor someday if you want....

 

[WaveDemon]

I'd like to see the formula for that. For instance Would you say If I took 40 lbs off my ski, it would equal a Factory B-pipe?

I don't think it works like it does in a car. Different hulls can feel lighter/jump better because of the shape of the hull, not because they're actually lighter.

 

[DK-Freestyle]

Very light hull with a stock motor is a lot more fun than a OEM hull with a big motor.

Stock Kawi 800 motor w/ BOB Hull:

 

[Waternut]

I don't think it works like it does in a car. Different hulls can feel lighter/jump better because of the shape of the hull, not because they're actually lighter.

Exactly... My advice is to look at the cost of motor upgrades and hull upgrades. Don't forget machining, carbs, etc for a new engine. Similarly, don't forget new turf, padding, footholds, and paint on a new hull. There are plenty of people rocking big motors in stock hulls as well as plenty of people rocking mildly ported engines in aftermarket hulls. IMO, both require a lot of work. No aftermarket hull is a perfect bolt and go mod and no engine upgrade will be 100% reliable. Some are better than others but there's always a tradeoff. Regardless of which way you go, you're inevitably want the other later. Also, there will always be bigger, more powerful engines and lighter/cooler hulls available after you make your purchase so don't pretend like one is a better investment than the other in the long run.

 

[Buckwild12]

I have witnessed my ski do a no trim backflip off of a 3 1/2 foot boat wave powered by my lil J.M./ Blue 710 with a b-pipe. Alot is to be said about skill in this case as well. If you have it, you can do tricks with lesser skis, much easier than if you dont have skill. At the time I will put money on it that Justin was every bit of 8 feet out of the water.

 

[WaveDemon]

don't pretend like one is a better investment than the other in the long run.

I think there is a better chance of a catastrophic loss of a motor than a hull.

 

[Freakrider]

I think there is a better chance of a catastrophic loss of a motor than a hull.

that's potentially a deep topic...

 

[SXR-FOREVER]

lighter

1. easier on the body
2. easier to throw
3. easier to maneuver in the air
4. easier to move around...
5. softer landings
6. etc

my back is night and day difference from when I said bye to stock hulls 2.5 years ago..

 

[D-Roc]

to increase performance you can add hp, or loose weight. both ways work.

 

[Waternut]

lighter

1. easier on the body
5. softer landings

I disagree with both of these. Less weight makes you jump a little higher plus it stops faster/sinks less when you hit the water...both of which increases stress on the body. It is possible your new hull is padded more or set up better but heavier is far smoother in both landings and chop. Adding or subtracting an inch from the pole/steering makes a night and day difference in my back. A slightly nose high ski feels like the pole length has increases as well which helps the back. Glad you're happier with your new hull though... :fing02:

 

[djkorn1]

GO LIGHT! Changing my hull did more for my power than the pipe did! Made this ski RIP!

More maneuverable, easier to throw around and turn, yes.
My landings have been harder though......and my body feels like chit!

 

[BruceSki]

I say more power. OEM hulls are cheap. you can swap a hull in half a day.

If you are trying to do aerials on flat water, a lighter hull is a requirement. They can be done on a stock hull but it takes a lot more skill.

 

[Polish jet pilot]

I've been down the road on this topic. Started with a OEM RN. It was fun, I added few things made the ski go better. Cool. Not enough power me thinks (reality is not enough skill). Let me defoam my ski, reinforce, put light hood on. Way better, but ski is still long, and started to behave differently than heavier oem hull (by differently it is more difficult to pull some older tricks - spins, subs, bulldogs). So I went XFS, with the same motor as in my light oem hull - 727cc, epic, pipe, porting - If it turns out that I still cant do BR and BF that means I suck and need to train more..... the XFS will be here soon, maybe I will make a ride report if season does not end too quickly here...