Flood Damage to Skis and Bindings?

[DonC]

Hey all, some of my ski equipment I have stored in North America (which I've unfortunately not been able to use for the past two years) got flooded after Hurricane Ida and I'm looking at possible insurance claims. Would skis (wood core) and bindings submerged in brackish flood waters for many hours be considered damaged? As I live overseas I can't assess for myself hands on. I suspect that bindings should definitely not be trusted again. But what about the skis? is a claim legitimate?

 

[slowrider]

I'd say their ok. Bindings might need some maintenance.

 

[James]

Bindings = loss. It’s not so much the water but the grit.
Skis if rusted edges just declare a loss and assess the value based on age.

I know a shop that had to declare many many thousnads of $ worth of race skis a loss when the flood overturned the oil tank and coated all the skis with oil, ruining the bases.

 

[Tom Co.]

My ski buddy lost a ski on a deep powder day. We found it in the summer after the snow melted. Everything was fine. He still skis the ski.

 

[Wendy]

My ski buddy lost a ski on a deep powder day. We found it in the summer after the snow melted. Everything was fine. He still skis the ski.

Snowmelt isn’t salty/brackish and filled with god-knows-what-else.

@DonC I’m sorry this happened to you. Especially sucks that it occurred while you are overseas.

 

[Tom Co.]

^ Yes, it all depends on what kind of flood water

 

[Ogg]

Snowmelt isn’t salty/brackish and filled with god-knows-what-else.

Yeah I'm thinking the only chance to save them would have been thoroughly cleaning them off ASAP. If that didn't happen they're likely toast.

 

[cantunamunch]

Skis if rusted edges just declare a loss and assess the value based on age.

^This. Yes, rust can and does get under both the base and sidewalls to where no grinder on the planet can salvage the ski. And yes, I have direct Hurricane Ivan experience of this.

 

[DonC]

Thanks to all replies. Based on the feedback I felt comfortable claiming them as a loss. We'll see what happens.

 

[Eleeski]

Send them to me for proper disposal! Especially the fun ones.

Eric

 

[crgildart]

Two words.. water ramps.. skis and bindings are fine. Just dry them and any rust on the edges will be light enough to rub off with a scotch brite pad assuming you get to them before next year..

 

[Bill Talbot]

Two words.. water ramps.. skis and bindings are fine. Just dry them and any rust on the edges will be light enough to rub off with a scotch brite pad assuming you get to them before next year..

Or a day of Spring skiing!
I'm sure many here have 'waterskied' on the bottom to get back on the lift! Or perhaps a full up pond skiff.

 

[Ogg]

Being submerged in grimy salt water is hardly the same as a few minutes in a pool or splashing through a puddle.

 

[crgildart]

Being submerged in grimy salt water is hardly the same as a few minutes in a pool or splashing through a puddle.

A lot of the manmade snow retaining pond water has a fair amount of road salt in it..

 

[cantunamunch]

Being submerged in grimy salt water is hardly the same as a few minutes in a pool or splashing through a puddle.

And being in a flooded basement for days/weeks is nothing at all like temporary immersion. Particularly next to other metals and concrete.

 

[crgildart]

And being in a flooded basement for days/weeks is nothing at all like temporary immersion. Particularly next to other metals and concrete.

That depends.. Folks train on water ramps all day for a week or two at a time at the camps.. Was it really flooded for days/weeks or did the water recede or get pumped out after a day or two? End of the day if insurance will replace sure, why not. But I'd probably ski them if they were mine..

 

[slowrider]

Would skis (wood core) and bindings submerged in brackish flood waters for many hours be considered damaged?

Many hrs. like in days/weeks?
IF it was less than a day then a good fresh wash flush would probably reverse the corrosion. Otherwise their toast.

 

[crgildart]

Someone could dry them off, rub off the surface rust, and sell those skis on the bay and nobody would ever know... Prove me wrong..

 

[slowrider]

Someone could dry them off, rub off the surface rust, and sell those skis on the bay and nobody would ever know... Prove me wrong..

 

[mishka]

^This. Yes, rust can and does get under both the base and sidewalls to where no grinder on the planet can salvage the ski. And yes, I have direct Hurricane Ivan experience of this.

while I'm not questioning your experience.
I think if good adhesion in ski construction rust should not travel internally. Also some but not all edges come from manufacture painted and stay painted inside the ski IMO it will take even longer to find rust inside the edges