Wet Foam Aftermarket Hull

[Balduccimoto]

I have a carbon fiber aftermarket hull that the foam is wet. I weighed it at the end of the season and it is 282 lbs RTR no fuel. I am happy with the weight, but im wondering what the weight loss could potentially be. I removed a intake grate bolt and it continuously drained for some time sitting in my garage. I also drilled a small hole at the rear and it seemed wet there as well. Should I be concerned? It's pretty light as it sits and maybe if I open it up there will be only a few wet spots. I don't want to open up a can of worms to save a pound or 2. As long as it floats I think i'd be OK with it.

 

[TontoM3]

If it's wet and is draining there is obviously a leak, but you can't expect the foam to stay dry. Water will find a way in. The answer to your question 'should I cut open the tray?' depends on a few things. If it is two part foam then it will retain water. If it's a big leak then yes you'll want to redo the foam. If it isn't two part and it's non absorbent then your answer could be as simple as installing a drain plug.
But first you need to find the leak, or leaks.

 

[Balduccimoto]

How about this, how much weight have people lost by refoaming? My hull/hood is supposed to be 70lbs so I think im in the ballpark range of what it should weigh RTR. Im assuming whatever water that found its way in there is from the previous 3 years this ski been on the water and it's obvious the intake grate bolts aren't sealed properly. Or it got in there from my 2 hour ride with no intake grate..

 

[TontoM3]

I don't know that stat off the top of my head but we can make an educated guess.

Well a cubic ft of water is 62.4 lbs. assuming the tray is all foam and the actual area of the tray is around one cubic foot you could plausibly say there could be about 20 lbs of water in a full tray.

 

[OCD Solutions]

The foam out of my waterlogged SN weighed in at 32lbs. Dry foam should account for around 4lbs so that leaves up to 28lbs of trapped water in a stock hull.

 

[TontoM3]

The foam out of my waterlogged SN weighed in at 32lbs. Dry foam should account for around 4lbs so that leaves up to 28lbs of trapped water in a stock hull.

I was close on my guess. lol. 28 lbs of something that's not supposed to be in my tray would make me want to get it out of there. but to each his own.

 

[Balduccimoto]

Don't forget I weighed in at 282 lbs RTR no fuel, with heavy RRP billet pole. I can't imagine it being that much. This is one of those posts "What would you do?".

 

[Joker]

Cut it open. Replace with sheets of foam and install a couple drain plugs at the rear and ride. If water gets in just drain after every ride. And the sheet foam wont hold water problem solved. I just installed a tom21 wide tray on my fx1 and I didnt properly seal the bulkhead and my dumbass put 2 part foam in. Now I am cutting up a beautifil tray and having to gut it and do it the right way. I shoild have listened when everyone said to use sheet foam and not 2 part. Just my $.02

 

[madness maker]

Cut it open and get the wet stuff outa there, replace with poly or sheet foam and then install 2 small drains in rear of hull.. Its not as bad to do as it seems. if it is actually very wet in there the decreased weight will be a noticeable difference. (Maybe u don't need a longer ride plate after all, wet foam could be the culprit

Sent from my Blackberry 970 using Tapatalk

 

[CRJ]

id just put drains in the back. its carbon, i wouldnt be cutting that. glass, id chop open and refoam.

 

[yamanube]

Refoam, a carbon hull with waterlogged foam is like having a stock pipe on a billet motor.

 

[DAG]

People pay a couple thousand to buy a carbon hull vs the same hull in glass just to save 10 lbs and you have about 20lbs of extra tray weight... but if the weight does not bother you then just leave it.

 

[XJCrawler]

my 70lb hull was 255 rtr, I would cut that thing open and defoam

 

[High Speed Industries]

Get all of the wet stuff out of there. Have you considered some other alternative to foam as far as flotation goes? I used ping pong balls and it works great. By far the best mod I've ever done. Occasionally I get a bit of water in the tray and I can drain it right out with ease.
http://www.x-h2o.com/index.php?threads/rdrttoys-2008-super-jet-build.127160/

 

[TontoM3]

You could do the ping pong ball after cutting open. Don't have to worry about foam and it's relatively easy.

 

[yamanube]

You could do the ping pong ball after cutting open. Don't have to worry about foam and it's relatively easy.

I really feel like this is far from the best option, poly foam is stronger, easier, cheaper and (in my opinion) longer lasting. I would honestly, never buy a ski filled with ping pong balls unless I planned on cutting it open, removing them and putting foam in.

 

[Scraggly]

I would rather run no foam then poly or other alternatives. If I was going to foam again it would be with old life jackets.

 

[TheBuzzard]

like michael jackson used to say JUST BEAT IT!

 

[yamanube]

I would rather run no foam then poly or other alternatives. If I was going to foam again it would be with old life jackets.

You're crazy, the tiny amount of weight foam adds is worth the extra insurance when your ski sinks.

 

[Scraggly]

I used to agree. After seeing many many no foam skis over the past couple years personally has changed my mind. Put together right makes all the difference. Also the life jacket foam if you think about it a half a cubic foot supports 150 lbs+ is light weight, closed cell etc..
I should have put it in mine, but to late now.