RESTO My Big Red Racing Carbon Fiber GSX Builds

[Matt Braley]

I have these two sweethearts in hand and was able to make a little progress today. I bought a "already been picked" 98GS at a near by boat repair place for $50 and started swapping parts over. I'm not sure exactly how to go with them yet but just wanted to get started on the things I know are needed.

The one with Budweiser on it was built and raced in 96. The hull is just like a normal GSX in shape but made of Carbon Fiber.

The other one is the one I'm currently most excited about. I believe it is the only one ever of it's kind. It is a different style hull modeled after a racing Yamaha molded to a GSX deck. Both are Carbon/Kevlar(I don't know exactly) on the bottom and Fiberglass just painted red on top. They are both set up for the 787's and the usual 140mm pumps.

 

[racerxxx]

Sweet, can't wait for the progress. You should have enough stuff laying around to have these built in a few nights. I thought Chris had a few of those GSX/Yammie hulls or was it just one? Any better pics than the 50' teasers? Are the engine mounts the same spread as the belly pan engines? I saw your other pics of this with an aluminum angle front motor mount. Do tell.

 

[Matt Braley]

I'll get more pics of the inside soon. These have 800 mounts glassed in. No this was the only Yami bottom ever. Perhaps it did not work that well? I will see. There is custom sponsons and a custom ride plate made for it. I will see how it feels before I spend for a lot of add-ons.

 

[nammer]

who snuck into your garage and cleaned those hulls?

very excited to see the progress matt, keep up the good work

 

[Matt Braley]

That pic is the garage they came from. He cleaned them and I'm glad I saw the light.

 

[nammer]

lol, i was pretty surprised that u took the time to wash and clean them

 

[Matt Braley]

Here are some more pics. The black hull is painted white inside. You can tell them apart because I got a tank and some body parts on the ole Yami hull yesterday. My $50 donor has a real nice rub rail with front bumper and even that rear piece that always seems to be missing on GSX's. I'm gonna take a look at swapping it over today but it sure is cold and windy out here.

 

[CurtisGSX]

Nice project, cant wait to see how it turns out.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

lol, i was pretty surprised that u took the time to wash and clean them

hahaha ! my first thought as well, that's why I power washed that 95 xp project for him, I knew he wouldn't do it ! (kidding !)

but seriously, these should make great projects, i'm curious how they turn out, keep us posted !

 

[Matt Braley]

Got the rails swapped over and put on a splash guard as well.

 

[racerxxx]

Nice splash guard. You just score that on eBay recently?

Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Matt Braley]

No I found it on ebay a year or two ago. I hate spending it and would love to find another.

 

[racerxxx]

About 3-4 weeks ago there was an NOS one on eBay

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[Matt Braley]

Getting closer! I got the engine and the pump aligned and bolted down. I have the exhaust system and the carbs on.

 

[racerxxx]

Is that a clutch slave cylinder reservoir for the rv? If so, that's clutch- pun intended.

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[Matt Braley]

Yes that is what it's for. The darn thing is vented so it drips oil when it tips sideways. It also took forever to fill initially.

 

[Matt Braley]

This is the same hull I have on my one of a kind GSX. He was rocking some more aggressive sponsons though.

 

[Minnetonka4me]

No I found it on ebay a year or two ago. I hate spending it and would love to find another.

Ive got a NOS GSX splash guard in red if interested.

 

[CurtisGSX]

This is the same hull I have on my one of a kind GSX. He was rocking some more aggressive sponsons though.

Is that Dustin Farthing?

 

[Matt Braley]

Is that Dustin Farthing?

Great call, yes it is! He was hired away from Yami in 98 to ride for Big Red Racing. My best guess is that he liked that hull and my ski was made for him to transition on.

 

[Matt Braley]

If I didn't have to go out of town this weekend I'd be test riding this baby! I am dangerously close but saving the pleasure for later. I lack an intake grate, battery and fuel.

Oh and primer line and pto cover

 

[Minnetonka4me]

Cant wait man...have you ridden stock GSXs? Very curious how different it feels.

And if you love it...we gotta get you some black trim and grab bar.

 

[AdamXP800]

That is sweet! Can't wait to hear how it rides. Nice project!


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[Matt Braley]

Well I rode it. I didn't exactly ride off into the sunset with a big smile on my face. Here is how it went....

First I was amazed at how light this thing really is. As soon as it slid off the trailer I could see how high up it sat in the water. When I grabbed it to pull it closer it felt more like an inflatable raft then the skis I'm used to. When I jumped on the seat water didn't even come into the footwells like it normally would with me on a GSX.

I'm real happy with the engine I built. I lucked out on the setup it was just an educated guess. I bought the performance parts used and tried to keep it pump gas safe(although right on the line). Time will tell on that when I really get a chance to dial things in. I think I'm gonna do that dialing in the other hull though.

The upside is that trim was not needed. It did not fly up when gunned just straight forward. There was never any porpoising either. It was really snappy of coarse being so light but I just did not like the way it felt in turns. It was just way to loose for me. Don't get me wrong lots of people have fun spinning around doing 360's and whatnot. I just like my skis to run on rails for tight rivers or turning buoys.

I think I will put a stock 787 in it with a yellow APE pipe I have which is a mild pipe. It would match the color scheme and then I can just sell it to somebody who likes to jump waves and thrash around.

 

[AdamXP800]

How much would a ski like this go for on the market?