Surfriding Whitca's 2015 Krash Predator build
- Thread starter whitca
- Start date
- Location
- Tri-Cities, WA
Thanks man, I'm excited too! Hoping to have water tested this weekend and try and get it salty next weekend.
Yeh sweet man. Keep me posted with what you think. Loved the pred in the surf when I tried it.
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- Location
- Oceanside, CA
I told you you would.
I know mate....felt so easy to ride. I'd sell my evo but it's still going to cost be a fair amount to swap over.
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- Location
- Long Island
Number 1 thing I dislike about my Rickter is their sliding bedplate system. It causes problems 2,3 & 4 lol....Too bad they don't use tapped bed plates similar to Krash. I wish i could get blank bedplates from RRP.
nice looking boat you got there @whitca
- Location
- outer banks
looking good i am realy wanting to pull trigger on the card for the predator
- Location
- Tri-Cities, WA
Couple of quick engine bay shots before everything comes back out. I'll get some more detailed ones uploaded later this week. Assembly went together very smooth needing only 1 engine shim. I did manage to get the ski fired and on the water yesterday so a detailed ride report will be up shortly as well. I do have a somewhat violent vibration right above idle when decelerating that I need to track down so the driveline will be coming out tonight to track it down. I have a feeling that it could be a bed plate hitting a kenney keeper or something.
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- Location
- Cape May Court House, NJ
Severely doubt anyone would regret that decision
- Location
- Tri-Cities, WA
Found some wear marks on the keepers from vibrating against the bedplates. I will test tomorrow and find out if that was the cause for the vibration.
As much as it pained me to cut into the fresh krash pad, I decided awhile ago that I wanted to run a rear strap rather than footholds. I panelbonded tee nuts in and then covered with glass. I'll glue the chunks of cut turf back in for the time being (new turf on the way). Should be fun trying to relearn everything in surf stance.
Lots yet to do to get this ready for it's first surf ride this weekend.
As much as it pained me to cut into the fresh krash pad, I decided awhile ago that I wanted to run a rear strap rather than footholds. I panelbonded tee nuts in and then covered with glass. I'll glue the chunks of cut turf back in for the time being (new turf on the way). Should be fun trying to relearn everything in surf stance.
Lots yet to do to get this ready for it's first surf ride this weekend.
- Location
- Tri-Cities, WA
Nope, not without opening the cap. I considered going with the white but didn't want to deal with it getting crapped up after a few seasons.
- Location
- Tri-Cities, WA
*RIDE REPORT*
So far, the predator is incredible. Nimble, predictable, and stable at speed are just a few of the attributes that make this hull so great. Throttle control and body position completely influence what the ski will do, you can lay it over on a rail and carve or break it loose and make it slide with ease. The surf is where this boat shines, I'll do my best to try and put into words the fun I had over the past weekend at the coast. I headed out Friday night after work (5 1/2 hour drive to surf) after getting the ski back together. Surf was super mellow, nothing over 3' but even in the little stuff this thing was a blast. The rocker allows you the confidence to drop in on whatever you want and the wide (tubbied) nose and narrow rear allows for extremely quick turns as well as the ability to transition from rail to rail effortlessly anywhere on the wave. The wide bond line lets you make bottom and top turns aggressive and keeps the boat hooked on a rail when laid over even in chop. Again, with a little throttle control you can slide the boat across the face and lip or snap a slash with style, burying the nose knowing it will surface rather than pearling into the sand. I spent the day yesterday playing around trying to put the boat in a spot that would get me rolled, just to find out where the limits were. It amazed me how you can ride parallel to the beach and intentionally let the wave broadside you and the ski just pops up on top of the wash rather than getting sucked down into it. You can creep up to a breaking wave and with just a little steering input, the nose will stay on the fluff, spin and point to the beach, using the wave to push it rather than falling over the back into a tailstand. I don't know if any of this makes much sense, what I do know is I couldn't wipe the smile off my face this weekend while riding. The predator is a surf shredding machine.
The Jetworks 900r performed flawlessly as it always has, gobs of power on tap whereever and whenever I need it. Really makes it fun when the surf is small. Art's new steering system also exceeded all expectations. I didn't touch it once all weekend, never came loose, never skipped a beat. The combination of the steering and quick steer mod on the steering nozzle actually took some getting used to. I've been accustomed to cranking the bars to the stops which resulted in getting high sided the first few times. After shorting the pole I no longer have the issue of the pole coming down on my top of my front leg. I didn't cut the rideplate yet and may still not. I want to get some more tray time and get into some bigger surf before I make a decision on it. I can feel the plate really pushing the nose down when riding above half throttle, almost working against the changes made when shortening the pole but anything under that is no problem for me.
I'm extremely out of riding shape lol. After burning 15 gallons in a day and a half for the first time in over a year I'm feeling the burn. I don't know what took me so long to finally try a pole spring but my lower back is thanking me...this is the first time I can remember not being crippled up from my lower back being so tight after riding (especially surprising since it's my first "real" ride of the season, on a new boat, and in the surf). Aerials in surf stance will take some getting used to but I love the additional control having the rear foot anchored while doing everything else. I naturally roll to the left and my stance is regular making rolls that way backside and blind. I tried a few to the right and they turn more into a flat spin (didn't help waves were small and didn't offer a lot of pop). All these changes are really making this boat and riding a ton of fun. I haven't felt this giddy about waterscooters in some time and can't wait to get back on the water immediately.
I still have some changes to make and will continue to update this thread with pics and info as I do. I'll get some complete build pics as soon as I can.
So far, the predator is incredible. Nimble, predictable, and stable at speed are just a few of the attributes that make this hull so great. Throttle control and body position completely influence what the ski will do, you can lay it over on a rail and carve or break it loose and make it slide with ease. The surf is where this boat shines, I'll do my best to try and put into words the fun I had over the past weekend at the coast. I headed out Friday night after work (5 1/2 hour drive to surf) after getting the ski back together. Surf was super mellow, nothing over 3' but even in the little stuff this thing was a blast. The rocker allows you the confidence to drop in on whatever you want and the wide (tubbied) nose and narrow rear allows for extremely quick turns as well as the ability to transition from rail to rail effortlessly anywhere on the wave. The wide bond line lets you make bottom and top turns aggressive and keeps the boat hooked on a rail when laid over even in chop. Again, with a little throttle control you can slide the boat across the face and lip or snap a slash with style, burying the nose knowing it will surface rather than pearling into the sand. I spent the day yesterday playing around trying to put the boat in a spot that would get me rolled, just to find out where the limits were. It amazed me how you can ride parallel to the beach and intentionally let the wave broadside you and the ski just pops up on top of the wash rather than getting sucked down into it. You can creep up to a breaking wave and with just a little steering input, the nose will stay on the fluff, spin and point to the beach, using the wave to push it rather than falling over the back into a tailstand. I don't know if any of this makes much sense, what I do know is I couldn't wipe the smile off my face this weekend while riding. The predator is a surf shredding machine.
The Jetworks 900r performed flawlessly as it always has, gobs of power on tap whereever and whenever I need it. Really makes it fun when the surf is small. Art's new steering system also exceeded all expectations. I didn't touch it once all weekend, never came loose, never skipped a beat. The combination of the steering and quick steer mod on the steering nozzle actually took some getting used to. I've been accustomed to cranking the bars to the stops which resulted in getting high sided the first few times. After shorting the pole I no longer have the issue of the pole coming down on my top of my front leg. I didn't cut the rideplate yet and may still not. I want to get some more tray time and get into some bigger surf before I make a decision on it. I can feel the plate really pushing the nose down when riding above half throttle, almost working against the changes made when shortening the pole but anything under that is no problem for me.
I'm extremely out of riding shape lol. After burning 15 gallons in a day and a half for the first time in over a year I'm feeling the burn. I don't know what took me so long to finally try a pole spring but my lower back is thanking me...this is the first time I can remember not being crippled up from my lower back being so tight after riding (especially surprising since it's my first "real" ride of the season, on a new boat, and in the surf). Aerials in surf stance will take some getting used to but I love the additional control having the rear foot anchored while doing everything else. I naturally roll to the left and my stance is regular making rolls that way backside and blind. I tried a few to the right and they turn more into a flat spin (didn't help waves were small and didn't offer a lot of pop). All these changes are really making this boat and riding a ton of fun. I haven't felt this giddy about waterscooters in some time and can't wait to get back on the water immediately.
I still have some changes to make and will continue to update this thread with pics and info as I do. I'll get some complete build pics as soon as I can.
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- Location
- outer banks
nice post thanks
- Location
- outer banks
how does it work on flat water can u whipp it around a lot ?
- Location
- Tri-Cities, WA
Rides great on flatwater. If you're looking for a flatwater flipable boat then you would probably be better suited to look into the foot rocket. I have no intention of flatwater flipping this, if I install the footholds I think it's possible off a decent boat wake w/ the right driveline. It will do everything else on flat w/ ease.
- Location
- Tri-Cities, WA
Fresh pics.
Ducky
Back in the game!
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
- Location
- outer banks
thanks for input ! i have a sj but i ride on both types of water was just looking for input ,i just want a ski that is a little more nimble then the sj not looking for a flat water ski only ! i have jw portred 701 with lots mods think going to have to look into his 900 u have! steering looks sharp do u need ninja pad or can i use the standard pad?
Maybe a foot rocket would suit your needs as it's more nimble than the pred but will be good in surf and flat. You can change the ride plate for whatever your doing that day.
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