RZR Surf Flap Mounting

[Duncan]

Well made a surf flap for my 2009 RZ2 this weekend and wow did it clean up the wave!

I used the tractor supply horse stall mat and some 1x1/8 aluminum angle to mount to the brackets on the swim platform. It worked out great.

Wow, bnixon, very nice and clean design!!

Can I ask how much the aluminum was? Also, I assume you have a drill press for the holes?

[bnixon]

RZR Surf Flap Mounting

The aluminum was about $18 a 6' stick at Lowes and no drill press just a hand drill. I used a center punch and then drilled the first set of holes. I then clamped the two pieces of aluminum together back to back and used the first set as a guide. Once that was done then just sandwiched the mat and drilled through adding the bolts and nylon lock nuts as I went. 1" 1/4-20 Bolts fit perfect with no bolt sticking out. I am very pleased with how it came out.

[Duncan]

Did you drill through the swim platform bracket to mount? And did you use anything between the aluminum and bracket?

(Thanks for fielding the questions!)

[laserfish]

Boy, do I want to do this project. I like both designs, stiff and floppy. All jokes aside, and there are many, which works the best? Everyone has done great work and thanks for sharing! Now I just have to decide. Opinions please!

[Timmy!]

Nice work! I don't thin the RZ2 really needs this mod though. The 1st gen Z1 and the R20/RZR are the 2 boats that needed this mod the most.

[Z3CO23]

I initially was worried about the stress factor of a stiff mat so that's why I went with my floppy version. I also went with my floppy version because it was so easy to use the holes already in my brackets. Since using my mat I am confident that the stiff version would not create stress issues. I may install a stiff version. The only reason I would go with a stiff version would be to clean up my goofy wake more. The stiff mat on the goofy wake would knock down the spray/rooster tail more and smooth out the face. My floppy map does this same thing.... just not as well because it rotates freely and allows a slight amount more water under the flap than the stiff version would. This would only be for the goofy side, a stiff mat would not improve my regular wake any more that the floppy already has. I don't know if that help your decision. bnixon's install clean and awesome, nicely done!

Boy, do I want to do this project. I like both designs, stiff and floppy. All jokes aside, and there are many, which works the best? Everyone has done great work and thanks for sharing! Now I just have to decide. Opinions please!

[Duncan]

I initially was worried about the stress factor of a stiff mat so that's why I went with my floppy version. I also went with my floppy version because it was so easy to use the holes already in my brackets. Since using my mat I am confident that the stiff version would not create stress issues. I may install a stiff version. The only reason I would go with a stiff version would be to clean up my goofy wake more. The stiff mat on the goofy wake would knock down the spray/rooster tail more and smooth out the face. My floppy map does this same thing.... just not as well because it rotates freely and allows a slight amount more water under the flap than the stiff version would. This would only be for the goofy side, a stiff mat would not improve my regular wake any more that the floppy already has. I don't know if that help your decision. bnixon's install clean and awesome, nicely done!

I installed a floppy mat with existing platform holes. I am very happy with it for both regular and goofy side waves. The reason I went with floppy was to (a) decrease stresses on the swim platform brackets and (b) have a mat long enough to extend past the trailer edge of the swim platform (because a 2009 platform has a lip). I hope to be corrected that a stiff mat design is possible that extends past the back edge but I think it would droop too low given the required bend.

I do think the RZ2 benefits from this mod, especially if you have a Fresh Air Exhaust (FAE). As seen in the pics in this thread from last season, the floppy mat on our 2009 RZ9 really knocks down spray and cleans up the wave. NOTE, we have an FAE, which caused a bit of a rooster tail -- in any wind, the rooster tail blew into the rider's face.

[bnixon]

Did you drill through the swim platform bracket to mount? And did you use anything between the aluminum and bracket?

(Thanks for fielding the questions!)

No I attached the angle to the brackets from the side at two points. I have nylon washers between the aluminum and SS hardware but nothing between the bracket and mounts.it is a nice tight fit. They are both aluminum so I am not worried about that connection as it is very stiff.

My RZ2 had a pretty good rooster tail as compared to our previous X10...so much that my wife noticed :0 so this was a great project to take care of it.


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[Duncan]

No I attached the angle to the brackets from the side at two points. I have nylon washers between the aluminum and SS hardware but nothing between the bracket and mounts.it is a nice tight fit. They are both aluminum so I am not worried about that connection as it is very stiff.

Sorry for another question -- I am unclear of the attachment between the aluminum angle bar and the platform bracket. Our platform brackets have no lateral holes other than the three progressively smaller circular holes. From your pics above, those holes were not used. So I assume you drilled through your bracket to mount the angle bar. Is that correct?

[Bedwards]

IMG_1225.jpg
After reading Duffy's thread on Wakeworld and this one, I decided to go with the bnixons design on the stiff flap. It worked great!!!!! No more spray. Thanks TO!
I thought it was quite ugly and fought it for weeks. In the end I would like something more like Jmoore's plate, but will save that for a winter project. He text me a lot of info/pics already and has been super. Thanks again!

[MooseX]

duffy any advantage to going deeper into the water? Like the longer mat in the pics a few posts above? Those wave pics are cleeen'..

I feel my flap set up isn't quite that clean AND the mat really isn't that stiff. I'm def' shopping for some horse mat too.

[Bedwards]

I only made my long to cut down if possible later. Most leave long enough to extend past platform lip (from what ive read). As you can see, I filled in my lip to be flush this past winter (epoxy w/rustoleum paint). Seems to be holding up great. I am going to trim my down little my little to see what I can get away with. I have had the thought that the shorter the flap, the more pressure it will put on the platform. Not sure how short I wanna go at this point. Mine is 18" long at the moment. It gets me about 2-3" past the edge of the platform.

[bnixon]

Sorry for another question -- I am unclear of the attachment between the aluminum angle bar and the platform bracket. Our platform brackets have no lateral holes other than the three progressively smaller circular holes. From your pics above, those holes were not used. So I assume you drilled through your bracket to mount the angle bar. Is that correct?

Yes drilled two small holes for mounting.


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[jrj701]

Does anyone have the measurement between the platform brackets on a 2010-2011 Rz2 pre CVX? Boat is down at the lake 3 hrs. away and I wanted to somewhat pre make one of the rigid set ups like bnixon did so I can take it down this weekend and mount it. I can leave the mat long until I mount it and see what length I will need. Also, what is the easiest way to cut the mat? Thinking a jig saw but not sure if it would just try and melt it vs cutting it.

[Duncan]

Does anyone have the measurement between the platform brackets on a 2010-2011 Rz2 pre CVX? Boat is down at the lake 3 hrs. away and I wanted to somewhat pre make one of the rigid set ups like bnixon did so I can take it down this weekend and mount it. I can leave the mat long until I mount it and see what length I will need. Also, what is the easiest way to cut the mat? Thinking a jig saw but not sure if it would just try and melt it vs cutting it.

I used a razor knife to cut my mat. And it was a pia. I wore leather gloves and still felt like I would cut a finger off or slice open my abdomen at any moment.

I have another mat to cut and I will be trying a jig saw (absent some better method revealed here).