When did the convex hull come about?

[talltigeguy]

I was reading on another website and while discussing Tige I started to spout off that Tige has always had a convex hull ever since being the first to put TAPS on a boat. Someone said they didn't think so, and now they have me doubting.
When did Tige start producing the Convex hull?

[lee]

This is going to be interesting.

[smendez]

I was under the impression that the Convex V-Hull was only available on 2003 and older models. However, I read here somewhere (just last week) that there were some 21i's that came out in late 2002 with it.

I think this is something that the Tige folks may need to answer - Andrew - are you checking ??

[lee]

I think it would be 2002 for the 21i and 20v, mid 2002 for the 22i and 2003 for the 22v and 24v.

[talltigeguy]

I think it's actually a little bit more confusing...there is the 'convex V hull' which Tige started circa 2002. I thought that the concept of a convex hull and TAPS was much older though.

[Paublo]

This is what I recall and have observed since 2000, when I first started looking at Tige before I bought my first in 2001-

With the original TAPS, Tige used a rockerless hull. Those models had the spray pockets too. In 2001, after the first of the year, the new style 22i was introduced, and it was the first recent Tige w/o the spray pockets. In 2002 the 21i was changed and given a new hull. I believe the 20V was introduced in 2002 too. Also no spray pockets.

In 2003 the 22V was intoduced. At the start of the year, all boats were made with the QuadraBeam construction. The 2003 brochure still only referred to TAPS, not TAPS2, and the hull was referred to as Convex V Hull. During the later end of this model year, Tige started making and shipping some boats without wood, calling it LifePlus Core. In 2004 was the first brochure reference to TAPS2 and all boats had LifePlus Core. The 24V also came out in 2004 along with the Switch models.

Now there were other changes besides these, such as the 22i hull and I think the 21i, changed from their initial introduction. Some of the changes may not have happened all at once- mfgrs call it "continuous improvement". This is really one of the things that I love about Tige, they never call it good enough. They are always making improvements. 2005 is the year of interior upgrades. Wait until you try out the drive by wire in the 2006 models along with the integrated Perfect Pass. I think that it is great, but I always want a new one.

[Andrew]

In 1995, Tigé made a dramatic move by taking the hook out of the inboard hull. It was the first dramatic modification to the inboard hull in over 50 years. Tigé also introduced TAPS to control the running attitude of its variable hull in '95. Tigé has since refined this improvement in inboard hull design by developing the ConvexV, fully rocker hull in 2003. Tigé received a U.S. Patent on the ConvexV hull in 2004.

Hope this helps.

Andrew

[talltigeguy]

Andrew,

Since I'm a little dumb here, let me restate what you are saying: This means that once the hull had the hook taken out of it in 1995, it had a more "convex" shape to it. So I am right about Tige changing the hull shape when they added TAPS (long before the modern 'convex V hull').

[lee]

When you take the hook out it becomes flat not arched downward.

[Paublo]

I think that we may be getting caught in the semantics of these boat terms. Since '95 the Tige boats have not had a hook, rocker, lip or ever so slight turn-down of the hull at the very back of the hull. The last few feet (at least) of the hull is flat. Then in 2003 the hull was given an even greater overall upward arc (Convex V Hull). But we're still talking about relatively minor dimensional changes.

For the Convex V Hull to be patented, there has to be a greater difference than the previous no-hook hull.

At the Phoenix boat show this year I spent a little time talking to Charlie Pigeon talking about boats and the changes going on. We walked over to the MasterCraft display and he pointed out the new X-30 hull that for 2005 does not have a hook and they had added a wakeplate or trim tab. But the X-30 does not have fins, so the handling is horrible.

Many mfgrs seem to be trying to copy what Tige is doing, but are still one step behind.

[Tige M.D.]

what andrew said about taking the "hook" out of the hull in 96' is correct. that is why so many hardcore slalom skiers are seaking out the pre-taps, pre 96' tiges. once you remove the hook you lose the perfect slalom wake. also, if you install a taps system on a pre 96' tige you have to be very careful how much down travel you allow the plate to have. you can actually stuff the nose in a hard turn under full throttle. i know this because i did it in my brothers 95' 2002 fslm.

this will probably get me in trouble but, if you put a straight edge, maybe 3' long, under the boat you will see the rocker or hook we are talking about.