99 Air Pod Panel replacement or upgrade

[hornsfan]

Has anyone ever replaced the 2 panels on their "pod" These things are looking worn out and I'd like to update them somehow. If I cant get new ones then maybe sticker over the ones I currently have? Any ideas?

[TRDon]

RE: 99 Air Pod Panel replacement or upgrade

This is a good question. I also want to do this to mine. The screw holes seem to always break no matter what boat I have seen them in.

[Suicidal-Element]

Buy some rigid Carbon Fiber Panels and put those in its place.

[mcbridek]

Burlwood

They made the panels in burlwood - here is my 99.

[hornsfan]

RE: Burlwood

mcbridek, that looks nice. Is that what came with your boat or did you order that afterwards? Anyone know of a place that sells these?

[hornsfan]

RE: Burlwood

anyone know where I could order carbon fiber panels?

[polkaking27]

I have been looking at changing out those panels on the boat that I get. I was also hoping to change them out to carbon fiber. Here is a link to a place that sells the carbon fiber panel blank. You would have to take them to a local machine shop to get cut out though. I believer the .025 would be sufficient for a purely cosmetic panel like these.

http://www.dragonplate.com/

[AuMDLST]

You can cut that with a razor knife - follow up with some fine grit sandpaper for the edge and you are good to go.

[Suicidal-Element]

Go to composite envisions on the web for the carbon rigid panels. They have all sorts of options and colors and their product is great quality!!!! You can usually cut carbon with either a knife by scoring it and breaking it off or by cutting it with a saw or something.

[hornsfan]

could anyone that has access to their boat right away give me approximate dimensions as to the size of each of those panels? I'm thinking of ordering some carbon fiber panels as suicidal-element has suggested and I want to make sure i order enough to at least do the two panels.

If I had to guess (2) 12" x 12" should be enough.

[hornsfan]

I have been looking at changing out those panels on the boat that I get. I was also hoping to change them out to carbon fiber. Here is a link to a place that sells the carbon fiber panel blank. You would have to take them to a local machine shop to get cut out though. I believer the .025 would be sufficient for a purely cosmetic panel like these.

http://www.dragonplate.com/

Polkaking, I think .025 would be too thin. According to this site, that measurement would not be that rigid

.015"/.4mm panel is very flexible and will bend around something as tight as a 2" diameter pipe.

.030"/.8mm panel will remain flexible and will bend around a 6" diameter pipe

.055"/1.4mm panel increases in rigidity and will bend around a 12" diameter pipe

.090"/2.3mm panel is where our panels become rigit. These panels remain quite stiff, however they will flex a little.

.165"/4.2mm panel will hardly flex at all

[polkaking27]

You're absolutely right... Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't even look at those specs. Goes to show, I also thought you had to have a diamond plated blade to cut Carbon fiber, So this thread is teaching me all sorts of new things.

Post up some pics of your progress when you start, I'm sure I'm not the only one that would love to see 'em.

[Suicidal-Element]

I like to play with Carbon Fiber. Here is a sample of the Hydrofoil CF boards that I make.

[Suicidal-Element]

Back Side

[polkaking27]

suicidal-

What kind of resin do you use when laying up your CF- epoxy, poly, vinylester?

Also, do you just do a regular wet layup or do you bag/bake them