If you have a pair of old water skis, you might not know what to do with them. You might end up wanting to throw them away, but you do not have to. There are plenty of things that you can do with your old water skis so they do not go to waste.
What do you do with old water skis? You can repurpose, sell, donate, and build things with old water skis. Your old water skis do not have to go to waste, and there are plenty more things that you can do with them that might benefit you or another water skiing fan.
Do not throw your water skis away. If you do not know what to do with your old water skis, keep reading for the best tips and tricks on how to repurpose, sell, or even donate them.
What to Do with Old Water Skis
As mentioned earlier, there are plenty of things that you can do with your old water skis. Older water skis are usually made of wood, which gives you a lot of opportunities to do many things with them. Some of these things include selling, donating, and repurposing them.
1 – Sell them
You can sell your old water skis if they are in good enough condition to be used or repurposed. Most people sell their old water skis for anything between $100 to $300. If you have taken good care of your old water skis, you could probably sell them for more.
There are also water skiing enthusiasts that look for vintage water skis. Sometimes, the older they are, the better for some people. It would be a plus if they were in good condition, however. You could also sell them for a lot if they belong to a popular brand.
2 – Donate your old skis
You could also donate your old water skis, and there are a couple of ways you can do this. First, you could start a DoSomething campaign. This website typically lets you donate any of your old items for a good cause.
You could also reach out to your local organizations, such as YMCA or your town’s Boys and Girls Club. If nothing comes of either, you could also go to a water skiing school or a water skiing team. You will more than likely have luck donating your old water skis to any of these organizations.
Another thing you could do is go to your local ski shop. If you can not donate it anywhere else, your local ski shop will do all the work for you. They usually know all the right places where they can donate them to charity.
If your old water skis are totally damaged and can no longer be used at all, you could always recycle them. Recycling them will prevent pollution and help the environment. You can donate your old water skis by going to Earth911.com.
3 – Repurpose those obsolete skis
You could repurpose your old water skis into a lot of things. There are plenty of people who have repurposed their old water skis into usable furniture. Since older water skis are made of wood, they are relatively easy to reshape and repurpose. Many water skiing fans enjoy this aesthetic.
15 Ideas to Repurpose Your Old Water Skis
If you have chosen to repurpose your old water skis, you are in luck. We have some of the best ideas for you to try out for your old water skis. This will not be too difficult for you thanks to your water skis’ old wooden design.
List of 15 repurpose ideas for your old water skis:
- Side table
- Wine rack
- Picture showcase
- House decor
- Lakehouse hanging rack
- Bed headboard for your summerhouse
- Mailbox
- Chalkboard
- Chairs
- Shelves
- Coffee table
- Bench
- Wall art
- Fence
- Lamp
All of these are great ideas that can renovate your home and give it a new, creative, stylish breath of air. You will probably like all of these ideas if you are an avid fan of water skiing. You can look up a simple DIY online for all of these repurposed ideas.
How to Clean Wooden Water Skis?
Cleaning wooden water skis can be pretty simple:
- You first need to scrape the extra wax off of your water ski with a putty knife. You will need a relatively sharp metal scraper to remove all the excess wax and tar.
- If there is too much dirt and wax on your wooden water skis, you might want to include a liquid wax remover or an abrasive pad mixed with spirits.
- You will then need to dry your wooden skis to prepare for the next step.
- The next thing you need to do is sand the base of your wooden water skis with 60-grit sandpaper. After one or two passes, you will want to switch to 100 or 200 sandpaper.
- You will then need to wipe your skis with a clean cloth or rag and brush off the sand particles with a soft brush.
- You will then need to treat the bases of your wooden water skis with pine tar to retain moisture and seal it well. After that, you may use the pine tar of your choice, whether it be thin or heavy.
- You need to heat the base very carefully using a torch, but not enough to burn it. You want to open up the wooden pores, then apply an even layer of pine tar. After that, you will use your torch again until the pine tar bubbles.
- Do this in sections. After you’re done, you need to wipe off the excess with a clean rug.
This simple process will keep your wooden water skis clean and smooth enough to your liking. You may then use these water skis for whatever purpose you may choose.
How to Refinish Wooden Water Skis?
To refinish wooden water skis, we recommend you remove all the finish down to the actual wood, and then you should apply a coat of polyurethane on the surface. You should let your wooden skis absorb as much polyurethane as they can.
You may then put a coat of final clear coating as soon as it gets tacky. This coating is great for UV protection. You can then apply a final layer of clear coating without diluting or holding back. This will keep your wooden water skis fully protected.
Related Questions
Can You Make a Bench Out of Water Skis?
You can easily make a bench out of water skis as long as they are made of wood. Newer models would be harder to make benches out of. You can make almost any type of furniture with a good ole pair of wooden water skis.
Can You Sell Old Water Skis?
You can sell old water skis as long as they are still in good condition. You can sell them for a higher price the better their condition is and how well-kept and taken care of they are. Luckily, some collectors might want your old water skis regardless of their condition.