Gas on a Ski - This Can’t be Good

[BlueSki]

One of the kids on the college team at our lake had her ski out of it’s case to get ready for a set and someone moving gas spilled some and got it on her ski. I don’t know how, why the can wasn’t well sealed, or how long it was on the ski. She tried to clean it but the ski is stained.  I know gas is nasty stuff, but does anyone with more materials science knowledge know if she should expect problems to arise or a shortened life span of the ski? I’m mostly concerned with any weakening that could result in breakage and injury. 

Edited September 3, 2023 by BlueSki

[ScottScott]

I'm a little surprised that it stained like that, and the fact that it did is a little conserning regarding the structure....

I spill gas on a lot of things, whether the cheaply painted plastic around the fill cap of a lawn mower or weed eater, or drip some down the side of the car or boat and never see it stain like that. I would even use gas as a cleaner for various stubborn substances that have stained various things with similar finish as a ski....

I know you say you don't know how long it was on the ski...assuming then that it wasn't noticed right away? Still, with as fast as it evaporates its a little surprising. 

I wonder if there was alread a crack of some sort that alowed it inside the ski? 

[jpwhit]

I'd email Radar and ask them.

[BlueSki]

@ScottScott the ski is fairly new, it’s a 2022 Vapor and she loves it like it is her childhood dog, so it’s been well cared for. My guess is that it wasn’t noticed quickly and somehow reacted with the outside material. 
 

@jpwhit Definitely, that’s on the to do list for Tuesday. 

[Deke]

Is it possible that the stain is something that the gas picked up from whatever the ski was sitting on? Carpet or wood or even dirt?

[S1Pitts]

It could be that there was some residual dye in the fuel from marked gas having been used? I have noticed that some of the premium grade fuels are dyed red so hopefully it is just a stain and nothing more. 

[BlueSki]

@deke good thought, it was in carpet. 

[BraceMaker]

It may flash off overtime

[ScottScott]

The carpet thing is a good thought. I could see the gas activating the dyes in the carpet and staining anything touching it.

[Horton]

my guess is the ski is fine.

[RichardDoane]

unless there was a crack in the ski, the fuel should not get into the ski core.  a little stain adds character, kind of like a tatoo.  tell the knucklehead who spilled to turn on their brain, it could have been a lot worse

[skialex]

I would ski on that… would try to soak it in simple green but I don’t think it will make a change 

Edited September 3, 2023 by skialex

[LeonL]

I don't think it'll be a problem,  other than cosmetic. 

[swbca]

The finish on most modern skis is fairly soluble, so products as mild as Goo-Gone will soften and damage the finish.  The color of a ski will wipe right off on a rag with lacquer thinner.   In general the finish on skis is not resistant to solvents.  Unlike Gel Coat or most most industrial paints.

It may not look great but it won't affect the strength of the your ski.

I learned this from experience on D3, KD and other brands.   I bought a slightly used KD Titanium where the owners child put some dinosaur stickers on the ski.   I could not get the sticker adhesive off the ski without damaging the finish.

Edited September 4, 2023 by swbca

[BlueSki]

@swbca that’s super helpful, Thank you

[Cooper_Trelawney]

On the other hand, T-Gas on a ski is a good thing.

[The_MS]

It kinda depends on the octane of the gas. It will crack the ski if its 87 octane.  89 or higher and no problem. 

[Hockdog]

Only if the boat runs Rotella……

[DW]

The stain will disappear when the ‘someone’ replaces it.

Strong solvents will probably only make it worse, dawn soap and water may be as strong as you want to go.

[gsm_peter]

Plus on the carpet.

There are fuel tanks out of epoxi  so gas  can not damage the ski. Maybe, just maybe the colored cloth if the epoxi is open????

[BlueSki]

The ski seems to be fine aside from a battle scar. She PB’d in this weekend’s tournament.