I have run the Aeroski R2800s for several years and thought I'd show the recent recover job.
Had a flat tire when landing resulting in a need to redo my bottoms. Wish I would have looked at the forum before I started. I used 1/8th inch UHMW material on the bottoms and1/4" for the skegs, because that was what was on there before. I think the 3/16th would have been better and maybe 3/8" skegs. Talking to Aeroski, they use the 6-7AD rivets, so that's what I purchased and finished both skis using a hand squeezer around the edges. Didn't burst any aneurysms or hernias, but probably came close. Those are big AD(hard) rivets. Got hold of some 6-7A (soft) rivets as I was finishing - SO much better/easier for non structural stuff like the ski bottoms. Live and learn. At least I got some good practice and a workout.
Extended the outside edges an inch, but could easily have done 2" with the 3/16. Left the back decks closed in and it has worked well on flights since. Haven't done any deep snow since, but did notice that when manually turning the plane, I didn't have to pull the skis around much as they were sliding around better. Have now thought of getting rid of the big U bar in the back, but nice to have a place to grab when turning the plane and skis manually. I have always had the rear cross-bar hoop/axle mounted on the tops. Just had to machine out some room for the tunnels so they would lay against the ski top. You lose some clearance on the pavement, but if you're not operating on gravel, it won't matter. They aren't good for gravel ops anyway.
For many years having the kids around the hangar has reduced my ability to get much of anything done, unless they are otherwise occupied destroying something that I have to clean up later. At 6, Miles now was kicking my butt to keep up with the work flow and we got the second ski done in an afternoon. He wasn't around when I did the first ski and it ended up taking several evenings and quite a few adult beverages.
The sheets for the bottoms were $100 a piece and the 1"wide strips for the skegs were $5 each
Getting the plane back to the hangar
Starting point
Bottoms look good
Skegs first. The 1/8th was a benefit here as I could see through it when drilling the holes in the bottom sheets to line up with the pre existing holes in the skis
The 1/8th molded nicely to the curve of the ski after left lying on the ski bottom overnight. I didn't do that with the first one and was struggling with it a bit more to avoid bulges or waves in the UHMW.
Speedy countersinker and rivet bucker!
Marking the wheel cut outs which can be quite a bit smaller than original.