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Making a rescue sled for a waverunner?
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Post new topic   Reply to topic    Northwest Kiteboarding -> Gorge / Portland / Oregon Coast
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Nak

Since 19 May 2005
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PostMon Jun 08, 09 11:14 am    Making a rescue sled for a waverunner? Reply with quote

I'm wondering how hard this would be? They're made similar to a boogie board, seems like layers of semi stiff foam? These things retail for $1000 to $1800 which is a lot more than I want to spend.

I'm not thinking taking this into big surf at all, so it doesn't have to be as bomber construction as those. Main use would be a cargo sled to carry kiteboarding gear. Second use would be to rescue kiters in trouble. I was one of the waverunner volunteers last year at KBFC, and it seems that something like this would be perfect for that.

Anyone have an idea how doable/hard this would be? Where would I start?

Thanks!


Something like this.
 Something like this.  Rescue Sled.jpg 

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Nic

Since 21 Jul 2008
109 Posts
Bend, Oregon
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PostMon Jun 08, 09 11:34 am     Reply with quote

This board isn't as big but they work great and take a beating. Relatively cheap. The second one is inflatable but still holds up pretty well.


http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=1870&deptid=1071


http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=1868&deptid=1071

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Nak

Since 19 May 2005
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PostMon Jun 08, 09 11:44 am     Reply with quote

Thanks! I wonder how well these would take to being mounted to the 'ski? They'd need to have mounts added at 3 points which would rule out the inflatable. The first one is a possibility though. I'd prefer to make something bigger, but I really don't know what's involved...

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Nic

Since 21 Jul 2008
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Bend, Oregon
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PostMon Jun 08, 09 11:54 am     Reply with quote

You could tie off the D ring and two front handles on the inflatable. Or Get a blank and put some mounts and handles on it.


http://www.foamez.com/marko-foam-body-board-blank-p-679.html

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Bettyboarder

Since 18 Mar 2005
1823 Posts
PDX/ White Salmon
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PostMon Jun 08, 09 12:04 pm     Reply with quote

You could make something like this but smaller...see the tow thing they used

http://www.schoepski.com/states/illinois/hydrotrailer/camp.htm

Nak keep me posted I have thought of trying to build something like this for a while

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skilja

Since 02 Jan 2008
75 Posts

 



PostMon Jun 08, 09 12:08 pm     Reply with quote

I'd bet Stringy could be of help putting that together. From what I've read, he has some impressive fabrication skills.
http://pskite.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3251&p=21027&hilit=kite+bike#p21027

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DROCK999

Since 31 May 2007
852 Posts
Left Coast
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PostMon Jun 08, 09 12:13 pm     Reply with quote

I'd rather just buy a life sled (www.lifesled.com), usually rescue sleds are much bigger/heavier/floatier/durable than any body board you're going to find. but if you still want to make your own a bully board may give you what you need http://www.bullyboard.com/buffalo.htm
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bwd

Since 04 Aug 2007
385 Posts

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PostMon Jun 08, 09 4:42 pm     Reply with quote

If you build one yourself, just keep in mind that pressure on a planing surface
rises with the square of velocity, (or something like that)
so if the sled is loaded and you blip the throttle a sec too long,
you will find out if it is strong enough fairly quickly!
If you exercise restraint when there are peeps or gear on it, though,
I bet you could go a lot lighter/cheaper than the $$$ ones.

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Vankiter

Since 24 Jun 2007
34 Posts
Canvouver
 



PostMon Jun 08, 09 8:49 pm     Reply with quote

Low budget option: plywood covered with indoor-outdoor carpet. Add some board handles or loops of webbing or rope for something to hang on to. Similar items have been "ridden" towed behind boats when...well, just for the hell of it.

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Nak

Since 19 May 2005
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PostMon Jun 08, 09 9:30 pm     Reply with quote

Thanks for all the input everybody. Unfortunately, none of the alternatives are really what I want. Yeah, I'd like to buy a LifeSled, but it's not in the budget. I'm gonig to try and make one if I can figure out how. I'm thinking foam layers with possibly fiberglass in between. I'm not sure if fiberglass will be flexible enough? Also, I need some sort of base.

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PDXF

Since 10 Sep 2008
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PostTue Jun 09, 09 11:48 am     Reply with quote

Why do you want it to flex? I would think being rigid would allow for more weight capacity.

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Diggy

Since 25 Nov 2006
342 Posts
Gorge to Coast
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PostTue Jun 09, 09 1:48 pm     Reply with quote

Nak wrote:
Thanks for all the input everybody. Unfortunately, none of the alternatives are really what I want. Yeah, I'd like to buy a LifeSled, but it's not in the budget. I'm gonig to try and make one if I can figure out how. I'm thinking foam layers with possibly fiberglass in between. I'm not sure if fiberglass will be flexible enough? Also, I need some sort of base.


I was thinking foam layers with a layer of polycarbonate in the middle and perhaps on the bottom.

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Nak

Since 19 May 2005
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PostTue Jun 09, 09 4:50 pm     Reply with quote

Thanks Diggy! I was thinking Foam layers, but hadn't thought about Polycarbonate... I know NSI carries some foam, but I'm not sure what size sheets they have. Do you know where I could get the Polycarbonate sheets? Also, what would you use to glue the layers together?

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Nak

Since 19 May 2005
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PostTue Jun 09, 09 4:52 pm     Reply with quote

PDXF wrote:
Why do you want it to flex? I would think being rigid would allow for more weight capacity.


I want it to be semi rigid. I think if it didn't flex at all it might break, unless you added some kind of stringers. I'm note sure how hard adding stringers would be...

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kitezilla

Since 22 Jun 2006
453 Posts
gorge
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PostWed Jun 10, 09 6:38 am     Reply with quote

How about towing a polyethylene John boat? $800.

http://www.directboats.com/20in12jonbo.html

If the Jetski breaks down, you could row it back.


   1stdirect_2057_35229828.gif 

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Mark

Since 20 Jun 2005
3677 Posts
I need my fix because I'm a
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PostWed Jun 10, 09 8:05 am     Reply with quote

What about a sheet of plywood (fiberglassed) with a layer of foam on top?
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Nak

Since 19 May 2005
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PostWed Jun 10, 09 8:23 am     Reply with quote

I think the plywood wood work for a cargo only sled. I'd like to avoid something that hard for the rescue mission though. Plus, Plywood wood be a lot heavier; I want to be able to handle this thing in & out of the truck & be able to toss it on top of other gear.

Layers of foam should be stiff enough, & maybe add some aluminum stringers if I can find some info on bonding them to the foam. (The LifeSleds use aluminum stringers...)

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