Building a kicker ramp!!

[perry386]

OK guys yesterday my buddy and I began building a kicker ramp to put down at his boat house to use this summer. We finished building everything but couldnt figure out how to make it float. If any of you guys have an idea for flotation let me know thanks.

Also, here are some pics of the ramp.

[Txpilot83]

Cool man let us know how it turns out. You could try 55 gallon drum barrels. I saw a video on youtube of some guys winching and hitting a kicker that was made with them. Seemed to work. Ill see if I can find the video. Many years ago I tried making a portable slider using huge blocks of styrofoam that blew away from docks. Did not work well at all. Was very unstable and moved all around. If you could find an old john boat hull or one of those floating swimming docks you could probably make something really awesome like a transfer box or whatever they are called.

[Txpilot83]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbI7tiG_esA

[gride]

not to be a negative nancy, but next time design everything before you build it. you can probably put a 2x4 or two in the frame to hold the barrels, then add some water to adjust it's float. however, that's not a kicker. it's a ramp. a kicker has an arc in it like a quarter pipe. make sure it's got alot of reinforcement studs under the deck or else you're to break it and possibly injure yourselves. have fun and be safe.

[perry386]

not to be a negative nancy, but next time design everything before you build it. you can probably put a 2x4 or two in the frame to hold the barrels, then add some water to adjust it's float. however, that's not a kicker. it's a ramp. a kicker has an arc in it like a quarter pipe. make sure it's got alot of reinforcement studs under the deck or else you're to break it and possibly injure yourselves. have fun and be safe.

We included mounting spots for whatever we decide to use we just werent sure on what to use for floatation. It has a 2x4 frame with 4x4 support braces on the sides and the plywood is 1/2 inch so there was no need for support in the middle other than at the very top. My friend and I got on it at the same time and it held us both so it will be ok as far as support goes.

[TRIP]

Make it less steep before you put it in the water. Will save you a lot of time if you do it now, cause trust me: this is wayyy too steep. Good luck with it and get some video when you hit it for the first time!

[gride]

it needs ribs just like a halfpipe/mini ramp. half in plywood aint gonna cut it. you'll also need at least 3 anchor points, preferably 4.

[perry386]

it needs ribs just like a halfpipe/mini ramp. half in plywood aint gonna cut it. you'll also need at least 3 anchor points, preferably 4.

It has 4X4s running all the way to the front of the ramp with 2X4 for the base frame. There is a 2X4 screwed into the middle of the front of the ramp and screwed into the base. I could literally stand on it and jump around...I even rode a bike up it and it supported my weight and the bicycle plus the force that came with my speed,

[perry386]

Make it less steep before you put it in the water. Will save you a lot of time if you do it now, cause trust me: this is wayyy too steep. Good luck with it and get some video when you hit it for the first time!

I cant really make it less steep now. Why do you think this is to steep? I want to go as high as possible . But if you think its SO steep I wont even be able to hit it then there is a problem.

[gride]

i've seen much better built(reinforced) ramps snap right in the middle. I don't think you understand the physics here. The amount of force applied to the ramp when hitting it on a wakeboard is far greater than jumping on it or riding a bike up it. However, building and learning will only make ya'll better builders so this is a great first project. I just don't want to see anyone get hurt from faulty carpentry. good luck.

[FLY6584]

I cant really make it less steep now. Why do you think this is to steep? I want to go as high as possible . But if you think its SO steep I wont even be able to hit it then there is a problem.

Yeah I think thats borderline un-safe steep. The only way to achieve a steep kicker like that is to have an arc in it to provide for a smoother transition like someone mentioned earlier. When making a ramp, which is what you all made, you are limited to the steepness because you don't have the smooth transition of a kicker. Honestly dude I'd start all over and if you want to stick with the simplicity of a ramp then make it less steep and if you want it just as steep then design a kicker with a smooth transition.

[TRIP]

I cant really make it less steep now. Why do you think this is to steep? I want to go as high as possible . But if you think its SO steep I wont even be able to hit it then there is a problem.

Because it'll make it really hard to be able to ride it away, it'll be just uncomfortable hitting it, you'll get yanked forward mid-air while you'd want a smooth flight if you want to be able to do anything more than just holding on and trying to land it. What FLY-guy said: make it a kicker with a nice transition, that's the way to go.

[1sicknautique]

yeah that's way to steep, the entry level on that thing is going to make it virtually impossible to hit. you need more of an entry plane.

[Quinner]

Are the builders the dudes in Pic#2??

A typical waterski ramp is around 3-3.75 / 12 pitch which is only a 15-17 deg incline, no idea specs on a typical WB ramp however as the other guy's mentioned, it sure looks steep.