build wood waterski
 

Hello,
I am looking for some plans to build a wood water ski. Can anyone
point me in the direction where I might find a guide for materials and
a how to plan of creating a wood salom water ski.
Thanks,
Mike

build wood waterski
 

On 9 Dec 2003 11:50:42 -0800, (Mike) wrote:

Hello,
I am looking for some plans to build a wood water ski. Can anyone
point me in the direction where I might find a guide for materials and
a how to plan of creating a wood salom water ski.
Thanks,
Mike

I suspect the most reasonable answer to this query is similar to the
stock question about how to build wood props for homebuilt airplanes.
There, the answer is that a wide variety of soft and hardwoods is
acceptable.
For skis, getting suitably thin veneers is the issue, assuming you
would rather not steam or pickle wood in ammonia.
Epoxy would provide an easy to find glue, so it boils down to making a
rough jig with a small hill under the foot, and a good lift at the
nose. Then glue several laminates, and saw to the desired profile.
Slalem skis often show a slender 'boat hull' form. The lower edge
takes the wear, so a hardwood layer is sensible here.

If you can, take a trace of a few skis that you like, to get a feel
for size.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

build wood waterski
 

The actual lay-up and construction with veneers is pretty simple. The
problem is getting the geometry and flex right. If you don't have an
example of a ski that feels right to you to start with you can spend
years experimenting. Especially on a slalom flex, rocker and lip are
critical.

Back when my belt size was considerably smaller I built a series of
slaloms based around an O'Brion tournament pattern that I really liked.
Even with the pattern in hand it took 8 trys to get close. Used up a
lot of mahogany veneer in the process. Not enough rocker and it is a
sluggish beginners ski. A smidgen to much and it gets real squirly.

Once I got the rocker close I took a block plane to the lake and spent a
day shaving the tail a little at a time between trials to get it to cut
the way I wanted it.

Brian Whatcott wrote:
On 9 Dec 2003 11:50:42 -0800, (Mike) wrote:


Hello,
I am looking for some plans to build a wood water ski. Can anyone
point me in the direction where I might find a guide for materials and
a how to plan of creating a wood salom water ski.
Thanks,
Mike


I suspect the most reasonable answer to this query is similar to the
stock question about how to build wood props for homebuilt airplanes.
There, the answer is that a wide variety of soft and hardwoods is
acceptable.
For skis, getting suitably thin veneers is the issue, assuming you
would rather not steam or pickle wood in ammonia.
Epoxy would provide an easy to find glue, so it boils down to making a
rough jig with a small hill under the foot, and a good lift at the
nose. Then glue several laminates, and saw to the desired profile.
Slalem skis often show a slender 'boat hull' form. The lower edge
takes the wear, so a hardwood layer is sensible here.

If you can, take a trace of a few skis that you like, to get a feel
for size.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
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