Custom/Hybrid When will there be a hull everyone can afford?

[Brian_216]

I have been dreaming of owning an aftermarket hull for a long time. When will there ever be an entry level hull that everyone can afford to get into? I would love to see a hull thats has the option of being light or a standard glass version, strong, handles well, and can accept either Yamaha or Kawasaki components. Even if it was a builders kit, where the consumer puts the decks together, their choice of scupper and exhaust placement, even to foam or not to foam to keep the cost down. And I would like to see it priced at 2500.00 Somebody with the ability and skills needs to take this idea and run with it and do something great to get the regular working class guys in the game. Anyone care to discuss this idea?

 

[waterfreak]

economically not feasible for a builder to do unless they like to work for $5 per hr

 

[jamesgunter68]

Once all the wars end and the US gets out of debt and straightens out the economy

 

[Cannibal]

Aren't you buying some molds? That somebody could be you!

 

[OCD Solutions]

Dream less, work more. It is foolish and shortsighted to expect the things you want to become cheaper just so you can afford them. Work hard, put in your time and you will be able to afford anything you want.

Cheap aftermarket hulls have already been introduced into the market with varied success. Some corners should never be cut.

 

[Brian_216]

Aren't you buying some molds? That somebody could be you!

If the deal works out I may do it. Depending on material cost as long as I could have a small profit I would definitely have a go at it. (I'm not counting my time or cost of the molds into the price either just on the raw materials.)

The plan was get them and build 2, 1 for myself and one for the guy splitting the cost with me. Depending on how that works out I would consider producing them. I would love to make something that will take abuse, glass construction and be able to sell it that cheap. I think it would be great for our sport. Then again I still want to just buy a superfreak...

 

[Fro Diesel]

Did you not hear about the ROK? Glass version is sure affordable if u sandwich the halves.

sent from Fro Diesel using tapatalk.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Then again I still want to just buy a superfreak...

Factor in your time, stress and labour and you will be far further ahead in the long run if you do.

If you are just looking at this from a financial standpoint then you will be much further ahead to save your money and buy what you really want. Picking up a cheap hull and doing all the work yourself rarely ever works out cheaper unless you already have specific knowledge or a major advantage of some sort.

If you are after knowledge and possibly bringing a new product to market then that is a different situation altogether and the learning experience trumps mosts costs.

Let me put it this way. Imagine that you are about to put 200 hours into the first hull, (because you are, you just don't know it yet). What would that 200 hours net you at your day job? What else could you do with that time? How will your current relationship suffer with 200 less hours of your attention.

 

[HBCwatercraft]

You stated: Depending on material cost as long as I could have a small profit I would definitely have a go at it. Once you figure that out you will realize
you will need to be in the 4500.00 to make it even worth you while. Like waterfreak stated as we both know you will be paying yourself nothing for
your time to meet a way below quota. People like my self and others spend months/ yrs on a design and need to justify that hard work in testing design and layup schedules by bringing the price in the 5-7 tho range while also using epoxy resins, vacuum bagging and care and detication with there product to justify that price.

I am not one to shun down + but facts are facts the resin/materails/paint/adds up with your time. You can cheap out big time but may cost somone
injury or atleast a failed product.

 

[Brian_216]

Again this will be after we make our own and see what we will really have in it. We are not going to sell the first thing out without riding and testing.


Right now production is just an idea. I don't want to end up with a bad reputation for selling complete crap like others in the past. After our own personal hulls are tested and perfected will we entertain the idea of production. We also plan to have a demo at some events if it goes that direction, and get feedback from others.

 

[snowxr]

Two words: Stunt hull

 

[OCD Solutions]

Again this will be after we make our own and see what we will really have in it. We are not going to sell the first thing out without riding and testing.


Right now production is just an idea. I don't want to end up with a bad reputation for selling complete crap like others in the past. After our own personal hulls are tested and perfected will we entertain the idea of production. We also plan to have a demo at some events if it goes that direction, and get feedback from others.

I believe that if you set your mind to doing something, everything is possible. Do you have a background in composites already?

 

[SuperJETT]

Jetskiing is not a cheap sport if you want custom high performance stuff.

 

[Brian_216]

I have some experience. However I do have someone very knowledgeable with carbon layup, resin infusion and prepreg. He has many years of working in the aerospace industry and is going to guide us through the process. I would not want to go into this blind.

 

[Twinturbostang]

I have some experience. However I do have someone very knowledgeable with carbon layup, resin infusion and prepreg. He has many years of working in the aerospace industry and is going to guide us through the process. I would not want to go into this blind.

And this buddy you know works for free too? If you guys both think your time is worth nothing, ill hire you guys today.

 

[Brian_216]

He's family, so yes. Not for the whole endeavor, but to get things started for sure.

 

[tokarzl]

I know your excited to get the molds and bouncing ideas around to make some cash at it. Wait untill u get the molds to make a few skis for u and close friends, track every hour worked and every cent spent o materials, after you make a few skis you will get the layup right for the hull and assembling and plumbing. I aquired a set of mold over a year ago and built my personal ski out of it I'm still testing tracking and learning every day on it.
You will find there is a significant amount of work to plumb when connecting the two decks, pump alignment is crucial to making a good product selling a product that required people to do the work would really cause problems

 

[Brian_216]

I know your excited to get the molds and bouncing ideas around to make some cash at it. Wait untill u get the molds to make a few skis for u and close friends, track every hour worked and every cent spent o materials, after you make a few skis you will get the layup right for the hull and assembling and plumbing. I aquired a set of mold over a year ago and built my personal ski out of it I'm still testing tracking and learning every day on it.
You will find there is a significant amount of work to plumb when connecting the two decks, pump alignment is crucial to making a good product selling a product that required people to do the work would really cause problems

THANK YOU! I really appreciate the positive response.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Selling a product that required people to do the work would really cause problems

Two words: Stunt hull

This sentiment will continue to come up as long as this thread stays active. The point I wish to make is that you are not forging a new path by any means, which is actually a good thing.

The Stunt hull was introduced with the same concept as you have described here in this thread so you actually have a similar business model to research. If I was looking to do what you describe, I would be all over the history of the Stunt and how each build played out here on the "X". Not only do you get to see the intentions of the builder, but you also get to see how that played out in the hands of the buyers. What worked, what didn't. What steps or stages did the buyers struggle the most with. What ultimately led to the Stunts lack of success. Was it flawed in design, execution or simply poor market press? Your success is in the answer to each of these questions.

 

[tipafew]

The key is coming out with a truly good design and good riding hull. Otherwise you might as well just keep riding a Superjet hull. There is still nothing wrong with a OEM hull.