Hydro Turf install on a 1999 XP LTD

[dimesismoneytoo]

Alright y'all, just got the XP back from the shop and took it out yesterday. Boy is this thing fun. Handles like a dirt bike on water. Real easy to spin out and get thrown from. Had a absolute blast on it.

Next order of business is hydro turf. Gonna order some up tonight. What's the easiest way to do this? The OME mats are held on by rivets, what do I need to use to fill those holes?

 

[Coastiejoe]

Double stick 3M tape is what most use from what I have read. And you do want to fill the rivet holes as they will flood your ski...

 

[dimesismoneytoo]

I know I need to fill them, just what to use? Silicone caulking, epoxy?

 

[Coastiejoe]

I know I need to fill them, just what to use? Silicone caulking, epoxy?

I have heard MANY things being used. Once concern to think about is, whatever you fill them with needs to be adhesive to whatever you use to install the mat. Some have installed the mats using RTV type product. If this is the case, use RTV to fill the holes. Some have used like JB Weld product then sand it down.

 

[Pointhunter75]

Marine epoxy.

 

[Pointhunter75]

Did my95 last week. Cut the rivet heads off with cutters.tapped the rivets partially through with punch. Put epoxy on top of them.

 

[Krispy]

I am a big fan of the adhesive backed turf. Saves some headache.

I used Silicone to fill the holes and it has worked fine for the past couple of years.

 

[Pointhunter75]

I also used the 3m backed hydro turf. Very easy to install

 

[mikidymac]

If you use a silicone product to fill the holes the mats will not stick to it.
Do yourself a favor and spend the few dollars more for the factory applied pressure sensitive adhesive. The contact cement method is a pain it the butt and messy if you are not careful.
I fill the holes with 2 part marine epoxy like Marine-Tex but have also had good luck with SunCure. If you are close to the beach any surf shop will have SunCure, it is a surfboard repair epoxy that hardens by the sun's UV rays. It is cheap and easy.

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

Take us some photos. I just got a 2000 XP I'm going to 'murder out' (black out), and the yellow OEM matts look like crap.. so get us photos!!!

 

[dimesismoneytoo]

Got my turf in yesterday and immediately went to work. Installed the turf and some new handlebar grips

Excuse the mess of a garage

 

[Krispy]

Looks nice man! I have the same grips (picked them up at walmart) Digging the color combo!

 

[Mekanix]

Hmm, When I did mine I just used a flat paint scraper to cut the rivets flat and left the rivet ends in the hull.
Then I just covered the deck with the hydro. So far not one leak inside and I've been over the whole thing with a borescope and the runs flooded just to check.

 

[dimesismoneytoo]

Hmm, When I did mine I just used a flat paint scraper to cut the rivets flat and left the rivet ends in the hull.
Then I just covered the deck with the hydro. So far not one leak inside and I've been over the whole thing with a borescope and the runs flooded just to check.

That's what I ended up doing. Just a trusty chisel popped em off, left em in, and flooded the runs the double check. Once everything checked out, cleaned them up and laid the mats.

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

Looks cool!

I just removed all the stickers from mine. Still waiting on parts to assemble it! No point in making it pretty if it don't run!

 

[Mekanix]

One thing I do hate about the hydro is that now I have to protect it when I'm working on the inside. I really don't want to stain it