New Z3 wake plates

[SONIC]

While in principle the additional channeling fins on the gsa will make an improved wave I'd bet money on it being a minimal difference over that "new" tige design. Probably a slightly cleaner top edge with the channels but not worth the price hike going to a competitor.

My SA makes a stellar wave with just a plate no deflector fins of any kind, I imagine gsa style plates would improve it a bit but not by an amount that's noticeable to the vast majority of people.

Imo at this point everyone has the wave figured out pretty well and if they can avoid double paying rights for tabs I say go for it and save the end user and the company some coin.
i

[SONIC]

And I agree that GSA is likely going to struggle at 5k a pop. It was already ridiculous for what it is, at 5k it's just nuts.

[cucv]

Dam, those are some big tabs. I'm just about to cut metal on DIY tabs and these have my head spinning. As it is I have 2 tab layouts. Definitely curious what the cheese grater does. Last year the GSA kit was $4k when I was considering it, now $4.6k.

2005 Tige 22v

[Ironrequiem]

So I am not 100% sure of copyright laws, I thought there some type of 20% difference to not infringe on conceptual design blah, blah, blah, a bunch of legal words...
With these new tabs, I wonder if we will we see Tige in some type of copyright infringement litigation.

I also inquired about GSA tabs last year and I was quoted $1500.00 for tabs only, so I guess I should have jumped on them then.
I do not see paying $2300 for tabs only, I think I have a decent wave at this point without having riden behind GSA tabs to compare with.
In reference to those new tabs being huge, arent the Centurion tabs somewhat massive?

I just hope someone will pick up a new Z3 soon and post a bunch of videos.

[Zackdogg]

for some reason I thought the tabs were $1500 and now $2300? I know the kit wasn't $4600 when we explored it for our z3 we sold last year. I thought it was in the mid 3k range so a grand would be right on.

with the z3 being a new hull as mentioned in the other thread, perhaps tige found out different plates will yield same or better results than gsa?

either way that's going to put a dent in gsa sales on the retrofit market. 4600 and tax pushes it to 5k. that's a lot of scratch for a retro kit.

It was something like that. I bought plates, unused, from a private seller for like $1250, shipped. I think you’re right about the $2300 from GSA. The $5k, or whatever GSAs come with the controller, actuators, and wiring, which current TAPs owners won’t need, as I’m sure you know, but some may not. Even if I put the heavy duty Lencos on, I’ll be under $2k, which I’m happy with, if it improved my wave. I’m fairly happy with my goofy side, but my regular side sucks.


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[bsreid]

I highly doubt you will ever be able to buy those tabs directly from tige. The only reason we can get GSA is because tige doesn’t make them.

[Ironrequiem]

I agree bsreid, the only way we will be able to get those tabs directly from Tige is with a boat attached to them and I think I am ok with that.

[UNSTUCK]

This is pretty interesting. With my new (to me) RZX2 I have been toying with building a copy of the Skiers Choice tabs to replace the TAPS 3 tabs. Similar to the GSA copies I built for my last RZX3. Maybe I'll build these ones instead and see how they do. Certainly easier to make than GSA's.

[MikeB313]

While in principle the additional channeling fins on the gsa will make an improved wave I'd bet money on it being a minimal difference over that "new" tige design. Probably a slightly cleaner top edge with the channels but not worth the price hike going to a competitor.

My SA makes a stellar wave with just a plate no deflector fins of any kind, I imagine gsa style plates would improve it a bit but not by an amount that's noticeable to the vast majority of people.

Imo at this point everyone has the wave figured out pretty well and if they can avoid double paying rights for tabs I say go for it and save the end user and the company some coin.
i

If they were doing it to save the $$$, wouldn't they put them on all their boats though? Lee pointed out that these plates are specific to only the new Z3 which makes me think it is performance related to the new hull shape.

My first thought was that the plates looked like a hybrid between GSA and Mastercraft Gen2 plates.

[lee]

If they were doing it to save the $$$, wouldn't they put them on all their boats though? Lee pointed out that these plates are specific to only the new Z3 which makes me think it is performance related to the new hull shape.

My first thought was that the plates looked like a hybrid between GSA and Mastercraft Gen2 plates.

This is what Lee said

Originally posted by akdoc View Post
Can anyone confirm if the ZX and RZX series boats for 2021 are going to this new plate?

They do not.

[chpthril]

I would bet that Tige was not buying GSA plates on an as needed basis, but rather had a contract that covered price p/unit, a forecast of units purchased each year and a length of terms. This would likely protect Tige from any price increase due to a judgement against GSA, until the contract is up for renewal.

So Tige going back to an in-house plate on a new hull, could be due to the transom design, hull performance using the GSA v's a Tige plate design, or preparation for said GSA contract sunsetting.

If this boat surfs like a beast, who cares why it does not have GSA plates. If we see Tige go back to in-house, hull specific plates on the 2022's and they still surf great, who cares. Watching the sausage being made is not as appetizing as eating it, right?

[sandm]

I would bet that Tige was not buying GSA plates on an as needed basis, but rather had a contract that covered price p/unit, a forecast of units purchased each year and a length of terms. This would likely protect Tige from any price increase due to a judgement against GSA, until the contract is up for renewal.

this all makes a ton of sense from a business perspective and would not be surprised if it's the answer that we'll never know...

if this is the case when that contract sunsets and if it's not renewed(why would it) that leaves only mb using gsa that I recall. based on price increases on product I would say gsa is going to be a short lived company if they don't sign on some new brands or drop the prices. there's a limited market for these setups with all the current surfboats coming with some sort of tabs now for the last half dozen years.

[cucv]

I think it comes down to ballast and cost
The new boats can hold so much more ballast than the older boats. Why pay for royalties when the gsa tab benefit becomes such a small improvement vs other new improvements such as hull and ballast.

2005 Tige 22v

[D&P Powell]

based on price increases on product I would say gsa is going to be a short lived company if they don't sign on some new brands or drop the prices. there's a limited market for these setups with all the current surfboats coming with some sort of tabs now for the last half dozen years.

This may be true, but after meeting the people behind GSA and spending some time in their shop (Wichita Falls, Texas), I can tell you they will be just fine... I have no doubt.

[cnote]

just one opinion here and my impression looking at photos the new z3 wave on the tige website, the shape looks similar to the taps3 plates. that is, steep transition, hard curl in back. if it surfs the same, its an awesome wave, but i still prefer gsa.

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