Smoothing out the RZ2's swim platform

[Booms]

One of my off season projects is to reduce the lip on the bottom our RZ2's swim platform. I was lucky enough to get a 2010 platform which helped with the surf wake a ton.
However, there is still a "wash" that is associated with that 1/2 inch lip on the bottom of the platform. I am thinking that I could use a self leveling epoxy. I would only need to pour the epoxy in an area 12-18 inches in from the ends of the swim platform. Let it cure and I should have a smooth bottom on the platform. It sounds good in theory......

Do you guys think this will work?
Is there another product out there that I should look into?
Would it be easier to bring it to a fiberglass shop and have them do it?

I am looking for suggestions.

[Timmy!]

Why not use fiberglass or fiberglass resin? I've also seen those gelcoat kits that you can buy, that might work as well. Not shooting down your idea, just throwing others out there. Fiberglass is pretty easy to work with.

[Ewok]

Would it be easier to bring it to a fiberglass shop and have them do it?

I am looking for suggestions.

It is always easier to take it to a shop and have them do it, the tough part is getting them to realize what you are attempting to accomplish. Pro shops like to make it look good but they might miss your goal, you will need to work closely with them.

[NICKYPOO]

I would think you could use teak to achieve the same result. If it extends beyond the lip, BFD, the lip will be gone. In fact, if you have a 1/2" lip, a srtip of 3/4" might be better than trying to get an exact flush with an epoxy. It'll be much easier to get a nice flat surface for the water to "release" from. I think the question with that would be, how wide of a strip would you need. 4"? 6"? 8"?

[Timmy!]

The other thing you could do is cut the lip off entirely, round the edges and have it re-gelcoated.

[dingleberry]

The other thing you could do is cut the lip off entirely, round the edges and have it re-gelcoated.

I would be careful going that route, though. You could potentially lose a lot of strength by removing the lip. There most likely was a reason they designed it the way they did. It would suck to remove the lip, and the next time your 300 lb friend stands on the corner of the platform it breaks off or flexes so much that you get stress cracking in the gel.

[Timmy!]

Hmmm - not sure on that one. Just save your money and buy an RZR platform

[Ewok]

Hmmm - not sure on that one. Just save your money and buy an RZR platform

Very interesting idea, the rzr is a little narrower in the beam, I suspect the transom as well, but it might be possible to adjust the brackets to fit.

[chpthril]

I see no issue with leveling epoxy. The only hard part in my mind will be getting the platform leveled just right both directions so the epoxy flows right and is indeed level between the lip and the bottom edge of the platform.

[Goodwin]

In that case you may need to do one side at a time. Then possibly after you get one side done you could test it to make sure it is performing how you want before doing the other side.

[goboardgo]

I don't understand this problem. Is the platform dragging into the wake? If it is, how is smoothing the bottom of the platform going to help, it will still be dragging but maybe not throw as much spray into the air. Is that the goal?

[chpthril]

I don't understand this problem. Is the platform dragging into the wake? If it is, how is smoothing the bottom of the platform going to help, it will still be dragging but maybe not throw as much spray into the air. Is that the goal?

There's a lip on the bottom edge of the platform and the thought is is that it is acting like a plow and disrupting the wake.

[dingleberry]

I don't understand this problem. Is the platform dragging into the wake? If it is, how is smoothing the bottom of the platform going to help, it will still be dragging but maybe not throw as much spray into the air. Is that the goal?

Here is a long thread about Ragboy's observations on his 24Ve, wake interference with the platform, his R&D work, and his final solution:

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...latform+ragboy

[Duncan]

Smoothing the (big) lip on the bottom of my 2009 RZ2 swim platform is a winter project of mine. I am waiting to get an estimate from a local shop as to how they will do it and how much they will charge.

[Booms]

Smoothing the (big) lip on the bottom of my 2009 RZ2 swim platform is a winter project of mine. I am waiting to get an estimate from a local shop as to how they will do it and how much they will charge.

Duncan - let me know what you hear from the local shop. To bad you live in STL or we could work on this together.