24V Dissappointing after first trip

[Original Wing Nut]

I just got back from my first trip with my new 24V. I put it in the water and didn't even get to the dock to pick up my wife before my feet were wet from water pouring out from the heater core. I put it on the trailer and called my dealer, then headed to town to bypass the heater. It would have been nice to have the heater since the first day air temp barely hit 60 and water was 63. We moved on to try to enjoy the rest of our trip. A few hours later we were back on the water and my daughter loaded a cd into the stereo to find that it was all jacked up. Oh well we'll get that fixed too. We had a great time testing all the new toys and thought we were through with grief, then my son says, what is that gurgling noise? Well now, we discovered that the Vdrive is leaking when we are under way and it is a pretty major leak. The bilge will handle it until we can get it fixed. You would think that would be enough bumps with a new boat, but no! We were on the lake about six hours and headed for the trailer, just before pulling out I looked at the gas gauge and still had almost 3/4 of a tank, that was with the boat at rest. The second day we were only going to play for couple hours so I did not top off the boat, not wanting to haul the extra gas back home(400 miles). Well now you know where I am going. With the boat sitting at rest at lunch the gauge showed just under half a tank. I decided to take one more turn and then head back for the trailer. In the middle of the run, yep out of gas with the gauge still on a 1/4 of a tank. I called and the park service came two hours later and gave me 5 gallons. The 5 gallons took the gauge almost to 1/2 a tank. We headed for the marina about 25 minutes away. Well at 2800 rpm the 24V will only go about 20 minutes or just outside the marina. Yes, we were rescued again. When you pay 50 grand plus for a boat you would think you could get a gas gauge that was some what close. Just when you thought I was done griping well here is some more. My stearing wheel is about a 120 degrees from being straight. The real kicker is that I met a neighbor that was just breaking in his new Mastercraft X45, his throws a nicer wakesurf wake, I was ensured by two different salesman that the 24V needed no ballast. Well I have a family of four and when it is just us, you do need a ballast system to get a comprable wake to at least an X45. I realize this one is my fault, but I hate it when stupid hurts. Well enough crying for now, after getting off the lake 4 hours late and driving 7 hours to get home at 2:00 am. I was at the boat store an hour from my house this morning at 9:00 am. They say they will get it right. I hope so because I really want the boat I had been dreaming about.

[talltigeguy]

Alright, I'll chime in on a few points. So far 19 people have read your post and no one has responded.

1. I feel bad for you having a miserable experience on your maiden voyage, when most of us have enjoyed ourselves immensely.

2. Your dealer has seriously screwed up and owes you an apology (and maybe some free gear?) Several of the things you had go wrong could have easily been fixed had the boat been adequately checked out before you bought it. Bad Stereo, leaky heater, VERY WEAK.

3. I may defend Tige a little bit here, but don't take it personally. I've never been in a boat with an accurate gas guage. After six hours on the lake, you should fill up. I get about 7 gallons per hour while wakeboarding. 7 x 6 = 42 (the capacity of your tank). The X45 has a 90 gallon gas tank!

4. Did you test drive an X-45? Your neighbor likely paid 20K more than you did. An X-30 might be a better comparison. I noticed the specs quote an 18 passenger capacity and only an 8'6" beam. I'm sure it plows more water than the 24V to create a huge wakesurfing wake. The 24V wakeboarding wake is very competitive, without ballast, IMHO. You were mislead if they told you most people surf without ballast, however.

I hope your dealer gets you squared away quickly. Every boat has issues similar to this that need to be worked out. I wouldn't recomend to anyone to take their first trip to the lake 400 miles away.

[smendez]

Origi....:

I completely agree with talltigeguy, I really think that most of these issues should have been resolved by the dealer while doing their in-water test. The stereo, water in the bilge, the heater core, the steering wheel - No excuse there.

When you get your boat back, grab the dealer and go to the water with them. Start making a list now of what should be checked and don't let them go home until it's all in perfect order. They owe you that.

And lastly, get yourself a fuel meter. That's been a hot issue and it doesn't seem to be getting closer to a resolution today than it did a year ago.

Best of luck your next time out (and all other times after that!)

Saulo

[Matt Garcia]

Original,

I agree with TallTigeGuy, specifically numbers 3 and 4.

The gas gauges on all of the wakeboard boats I have been on have never been accurate. Just use the formula that TallTigeGuy posted and you should be safe, or look in to the fuel flow meter found here ( http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...uel+flow+meter ) it also explains a little bit about the inaccuracy of the fuel gauge.

The X45 is going to be a bigger boat weight wise and length wise so you must compare apples to apples. A better comparison would be the X30.

I have surfed a 22V with no weight and only two people in the boat, but IMO you must know what you are doing and have a bigger board,otherwise it would be challenging. With weight in the boat it is a lot easier to surf and feel out the wave to know when to drop the handle. However, the 24V puts out a huuuge wave when weighted down, it is my favorite wake surf wakes.

Like Saulo said these issues should be resolved by your dealer.

Good luck!

[raythompson]

That is why the dealer should do a lake test and then you should go out with the dealer onto the lake before you actually take delivery. Use the boat for an hour, check everything, water in the bilge, steering position, stop the boat and restart several times in the water, run the TAPS in and out multiple times, check every light on the boat, check all the guages, check under all the seats, check for vibration at all throttle settings, inspect the engine for leaks, run through wakes and listen for rattles. Basically be very petty with everything. Do this with the dealer in the boat and note everything that is not right.

I would do this all again after the dealer takes care of the problems that you have encountered.

As for the gas gauge, join the crowd. My gauge also does not appear to to work although I have never gotten below half a tank the guage has yet to move. Tige needs to install a fuel flow meter as standard equipment because the gauge is doing little more than taking up space in the dash.

[Hoots]

Sorry for the bad first experience. I can imagine your frustration and I hope your dealer is responsive to your needs. The folks on this site have been a great resource for working out issues and getting advice for dealing with the factory and dealers.

For the fuel gauge issue, I'd definitely recommend a fuel flow meter on any boat. Good luck.

[Original Wing Nut]

advice appreciated

I appreciate all the advice. I also want to rebut a few things. I was ensured by my dealer that all things had been checked and that going the 400 miles to Lake Mead would be no problem the first time out. Of course this was when I had called him to go to the lake with me last week so that I was comfortable with how everything worked. First time for me with a v drive and alot of other things I had included on this boat. My comment on the X45 was not that I didn't realize what he paid for his boat, I know they are considerably overpriced and it is marketing that sells their boats. I was just a little dissappointed in my wake. I ordered every option that was reccomended, I would have ordered the ballast system had it been reccomended when I was just out with my wife and 2 kids. That is why I stated stupid hurts, I know ignorace is no excuse. The fuel gauge issue is a real Tige' issue. There are engineers that have gone to school to figure this stuff out and I'm sure Tige' has several of them on their payroll. In my opinion assign one of them to get the issue fixed if they can't, replace them with someone who can. It also is probably Tige' just taking the cheap way out, if that is it offer a computer management system similar to cars. I have one in both cars. I also have an air management sytem for scuba diving and it was a couple hundred bucks and it is wireless. I went to the thread about fuel flow meters. If it is that big an issue several things must be done.

1- Dealer must let new owners know.
2- Manufacturer needs to fix the problem.
3- Lastly at least offer a fuel flow meter option. (I will have one installed) before hitting the lake again.

Once again ignorance is no excuse, but I was told these boats were extremely efficient and could go 10 to 12 hours on a tank. That is why I was told it did not need the 75 gallon tank that was on the Supra that was my next choice. I would like a bigger tank, are the any options?

Lastly I think Tige' has a good product and has some leading edge technology. That is why I bought one. Like said in other posts I have friends with Malibu's Sunsetter and Wakesetter, Master Craft X30 and X45, and others. I was sure the Tige' would out shine the others that is why I have the boat I do. I hope all issues get resolved quickly and I can get onto bragging up my boat, but for now there hasn't been much to brag about. I do have a trip to Lake Powell planned in July with the 2 malibu's and the X30. I think the Tige' will be the tow boat of choice. All the issues I'm having now should be long in the past by then.

[talltigeguy]

I think when you go to Powell, you will have the towboat of choice once they feel their cramped, overpriced rough riding boats.

I didn't quite understand, you called for a trip to the lake with the dealer and he told you it wasn't necessary? The sour taste left in your mouth should remind them that it IS necessary, because of how unsatisfying (how's that for an understatement?) your first trip was. I wonder if they are too busy to give that service. I think they need to step up big time, or you'll seriously have to consider another dealer next time. Dealer support has to weigh in on your decision of what boat to buy. How does this thread sound to someone who reads it who is investigating Tige? Having said that, I know there are very similar threads on the owners' sites for Malibu, etc...

Between lunch breaks, idling time, etc. I'm usually able to go from sunup to sundown without refueling my boat. Which engine do you have? I've seriously considered a fuel flow meter myself, but have heard there can be glitches with them as well.

[Original Wing Nut]

Engine size

I have a 330 PCM Excalibur. I would like to have a boat that would go sun up to sun down on a single tank, that is not the case with the combo I have. I researched and spent much time on buying a boat, I thought Tige' was the best choice. I called my dealer 2 weeks before my trip and tried to set a trip to the lake. I gave them 4 different days I would be available. They gave me the Thrusday before I left as a choice, then called and said the boat would be fine because they had checked it out thouroughly (sp). I have since found that they had sold another boat and were delivering it to the new owners when I had arranged for my lake demonstration. I am afraid that the set up on my boat was extremely rushed. I had ordered it in October and when it came in December they did not want to unwrap it and deliver it. They wanted me to come and pay for it, but as far as seeing or delivering it. They were having some grand unveiling party for the 05's and they wanted to wait for that. I waited until the day of their big 05 party and went in to meet Charley Pidgeon (CEO or Owner of Tige') and some of the other Tige' people. When I went in I discovered the event was not that big a deal, no Charley Pidgeon only a service tech from the factory. Anyway they delivered the boat to me that day. They must have rushed getting it ready because they also unwrapped and prepped numerous other boats that day. I hope they get it right the second time around. Is there a bigger fuel tank option????

[Tige M.D.]

when you filled up your tank the first time, how many gallons did it take? just thinking that maybe the gas pump clicked off early or something.

that's b.s. that they cancelled your on water delivery. every boat should go to the water with the new owner and dealer rep. i have never seen a boat come to use that didn't need some sort of adj. and then to send you 400 miles on your shake down trip, what were they thinking?

i honestly hope this all works out for you. as for the larger fuel tank, i think your out of luck. look at it this way, you would use even more gas with the ballist system

[Original Wing Nut]

Fill up

When we filled up the first time it took 35 gallons and came out the vent so I'm pretty sure we were full. I just can't believe with the technology available these days that we can't have a gauge that works.

[Matt Garcia]

The fuel gauge issue is a real Tige' issue. There are engineers that have gone to school to figure this stuff out and I'm sure Tige' has several of them on their payroll. In my opinion assign one of them to get the issue fixed if they can't, replace them with someone who can. It also is probably Tige' just taking the cheap way out, if that is it offer a computer management system similar to cars. I have one in both cars.

I wouldnt say that its a Tige issue but just maybe a general inboard boat issue. I have been in all the major wakeboard boats (Mastercraft, Corect Craft, Malibu, Supra, Moomba and even Toyota) and the all have the same in accurate gas gauge display.

But I do agree that it should be an issue that should be resolved. That is one gripe I have about wakeboard boats. The only real accurate way to tell is when you are at a stand still.

[Original Wing Nut]

guage at stand still

My gauge read 1/4 tank and I was dead in the water for over two hours. I don't know how to get more still you can get. When I put five gallons in it went to 7/16 of a tank or almost touching the 1/2 mark. If my math is close it should have 22 gallons or so at half a tank.

[talltigeguy]

My gas guage seems to err on the other side of things. It often will be going between 1/4 and 1/2 when I've only used 15 gallons or so. Fortunately, I've never ran it to all empty to see what it looks like then.

I have the GM Vortec engine. Is the PCM more of a gas guzzler?

[Beau McCrory]

gas guage

well, I hate to sound like an echo, but here goes... TIGE' is my second inboard (the first was Moomba) and I feel your frustration. I learned about the gas readings the hard way.... Lake PK after dark in July with a boat that won't start and a 1/2 tank showing on the meter! Lucky for me the BRA boys found us, but it is 1500+ strokes of the paddle just to get back to Hell's Gate from the first curve!!!

Fuel meter is the best way I've heard of; but the formula does work.

Look, you were sold down the river on the performance, efficiency, and service from your dealer. Consider reporting the dealer directly to TIGE', Inc. if you're still unsatisfied....