Thinking about buying a Tige, and have a few questions...

[IDBoating]

We currently own a 2001 Seadoo Challenger 2000 (aka "C2K") powered by a Mercury 2.5L V6 powerhead sitting on top of Mercury's M2 jetdrive. We started playing around with wakeboarding about three years ago after our then-5YO son taught himself to kneeboard. When it was obvious that a low tow point wasn't enough we bought and installed an aftermarket waketower (which turned out great).

We've been progressing along but the C2K's hull was never really designed to generate serious wakes. I've looked into fat sacs but they can't reshape the hull; I can probably make bigger wakes but they'll still be substandard compared to a boat designed to do the job properly.

There's also zero chance we can wakesurf behind the C2K, something we'd all like to try (we're also whitewater kayakers and surfing on rivers is a blast, so we figure surfing at the lake will be too).

So we're starting to look at wakeboats. I'm an Engineer so I do tons of research on new subjects and try to get as informed as possible. I did this with the C2K and it turned out great; it's been an absolutely great boat for the ~6 years that we've owned it and I frankly will hate to see it go.

During my self-education on wakeboats I came across Tige, its hull shape, and the wakeplate. I've reviewed the Tige patents and spoken to some local Tige owners and I'm impressed with the innovation. I really like the ability to dial in the boat's behavior without resorting to static ballast.

We are a broad-spectrum family so the ability to shift the boat from "wakesurf" to "wakeboard" to "tubing" to "skiing" is very appealing. In fact, it's probably a necessity since we have a lot of family and friends that visit our lake property with varying degrees of skill, interests, and ages. For that reason we're leaning toward a used direct drive, probably a 2003-2006-ish 22i because it seems to get good reviews for its multi-sport flexibility and seating arrangement.

My questions involve Tige boat ownership and maintenance. I do virtually all of my own maintenance on the C2K and its engine, including mods that improve it where appropriate. Reliability is probably #1 on my list of priorities because water time is always limited and I want to spend it having fun, not working on the boat or towing it to and paying some dealer.

The C2K and its Mercury engine have set a pretty high standard for low maintenance and reliability. In the years that we've owned it I have never taken it to a dealer for service and had precisely one "malfunction" that turned out to be caused by a failed mechanical wiring splice in the FNR/throttle lever console. I fixed that better than factory new and that was the end of it.

Annnual maintenance and winterization for the Mercury engine and jetdrive takes me about two hours in my own driveway and costs about $100 in parts and chemicals. Then I tuck it away for the winter in enclosed storage. That's it. Nothing else. I run 92 octane non-ethanol gasoline with Seafoam in every gallon. I replace all filters and plugs every year. I live by the mantra "Take good care of your equipment and it will take good care of you".

I'm anal about this stuff because I want the boat to be 200% reliable. And it is. When I get into the boat, I know for certain it will start and run every single time.

I'm boring you with all of this because I want to know if it's realistic to expect a direct drive inboard - and specifically a Tige 22i - to be this bulletproof. How difficult is it to do the annual maintenance? Is changing the oil easy, or a nightmare of hanging upside down in the bilge wiping up spilled oil? Are these GM-based engines as reliable as my Mercury? I put 100+ hours a season on my engine and it never, ever fails... will these GM powerplants do that?

Is it realistic to do your own maintenance on Tige boats? Can you get full factory service manuals for the engine and transmission?

Hopefully I'm making sense. Basically I have what I consider to be the ultimate in low hassle powerboats. I feel bad for my friends with other boats who always seem to be spending another thousand bucks on this-or-that engine problem, but I don't want to share their misery. I'm interested in getting a more capable wakeboat but not if it means all sorts of repairs and downtime and expense and hassle. But I've never had an inboard boat, or a Tige, so I don't know what to expect.

Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[lohe]

I have done all the Maintenance on my 21i, This was my first boat ever and I found it very simple to work on ( but I am a BMW Tech so mechanical stuff for me is easy) I just purchased it last year and it has been completely trouble free for me so far, mine is an older one (98)

[Lucky 275]

I do the main on my 22V myself. Never had a problem that kept me off the water, or left me stranded.

As you progress, you WILL add ballast. You can never get enough

[brett22i]

I owned a 05 22i for 2 years. Great boat, I dont remember one single mechanical problem with that engine. I did change the steering cable but that is a fairly common issue on any boat, specifically on inboards because they lay in the bilge and are more likely to come in contact with bilge water.
Maintenance is a breeze since it is a direct drive. You simply pop the gas struts off and the engine cover will open fully vertical to allow access to the entire engine. I had the Marine Power 340HP and have one in my current boat as well. Draining the oil consists of lowering the drain tube from the oil pan down through the center drain plug and removing the end cap. The oil filter is on the side of the engine and couldnt be easier to get to, as well as the impeller which is mounted up front and easy to replace.
Nice wake all around for your needs, and one of the most interesting seating arrangements on the market. Good luck and hope you join the Tige family.

[jwanck11]

I put 100+ hours a season on my engine and it never, ever fails... will these GM powerplants do that?

Is it realistic to do your own maintenance on Tige boats? Can you get full factory service manuals for the engine and transmission?

I have an '04 22i.

The GM engines are 350 blocks. They are well tested for certain. I also put on many hours a season and ours runs very well. It is important for the boat to have been used... an 03-05 with less than 100 hours would be a warning. Seals dry up when sitting too long.

One thing I can think of is the vinyl. Those years for Tige were not good in the vinyl department. It is what it is. I think from 05 forward things got better. My vinyl is showing signs of failure and I am pacing patching until a re-vinyl will be necessary.

Working on the 22i, as the others have said, is a breeze for the most part. The access to the engine and major components allows a mechanically inclined person to do it all... not just some. For instance, winterization should take less than 45 mins and likely not cost 100.

I have the manuals for mine. I guess it will depend whether the previous owner kept them or not.

The versatility of the 22i is encompassing. At 18 mph, I can raise or lower the plate and the bow will quite obviously raise or lower as the plate is contracted or extended. You literally watch the wake shape change just by the push of a button. The hull, TAPS plate and throttle allow the driver to create various wake conditions. It might not do any one thing the absolute best, but it does everything quite well. That to me makes it the best towboat on the water.

I do not have ballast and have pulled serious boarders who were more than impressed with the playability given the shape of the wake. I can then dial down the TAPS, up the speed and get a decent set of slalom in. In order to surf, you would need ballast, but it can be and is done. Kneeboarding, tubing, wakeskate... anything you can think of will be possible with the 22i.

The seating arrangement is unique and quite nice. People fight over the observation seat (back of the engine hood.) While a direct drive puts the engine smack in the center of the cockpit, there is room to move around... we make it work and have been at it for years now.

Well, hope that gives you some help. At the end of the day, any tow boat will be an upgrade from your machine. I am not dissing your ride; however, towboats are purpose boats.

I do strongly suggest , if possible, getting out on the water and in several boats with your family and also see if you can get pulls behind prospective boats. You can do all the research on paper, but it is what happens on the water that counts.

[IDBoating]

I have done all the Maintenance on my 21i, This was my first boat ever and I found it very simple to work on ( but I am a BMW Tech so mechanical stuff for me is easy) I just purchased it last year and it has been completely trouble free for me so far, mine is an older one (98)

Excellent, thank you. This is what I was hoping to hear!

[IDBoating]

As you progress, you WILL add ballast. You can never get enough

I agree that's likely someday. But I like the fact that it's optional, that Tiges CAN generate decent wakes without fat sacs and lead. At least at first {grin}.

Thanks!

[bolo]

I have a 99 21i and even for me who is not much of a mechanic I find it a simple and accessible to get at the engine. We have had ours for 4 years, put about 60 hrs a year on it, and have had only one mechanical issue(touch wood) so far. 450 hrs on boat total. With the help of my father in law and this forum I was able to diagnose and repair a tranny fluid leak coming from the shifter linkage o ring in an hour. This weekend with the help of the same two i will be upgrading my prop to an acme 515 which i hope will improve the performance of the boat as I'm positive the original prop has been repaired more than once.
Its a pretty good crossover type boat, we ski short lines and wakeboard some. I've not found it a great wakesurf boat but maybe the new prop will help.

[IDBoating]

I owned a 05 22i for 2 years. Great boat, I dont remember one single mechanical problem with that engine.

So why did you get rid of it?

Maintenance is a breeze since it is a direct drive. You simply pop the gas struts off and the engine cover will open fully vertical to allow access to the entire engine.

I wasn't sure how far "down" on the engine your access extended. Obviously the floor doesn't reach down to the inside of the hull, so there must be some part of the engine that is "below deck". Is the cover larger than the engine, so there is a gap and you can step/reach down around the engine to access its bottom?

I had the Marine Power 340HP and have one in my current boat as well. Draining the oil consists of lowering the drain tube from the oil pan down through the center drain plug and removing the end cap.

Not sure I understand exactly what you're describing, but I get the idea that you're extracting the oil with a tube, right? Probably by suctioning it up out of the oil pan?

The oil filter is on the side of the engine and couldnt be easier to get to, as well as the impeller which is mounted up front and easy to replace.

What "impeller"? To me, an impeller is the equivalent of a propeller within a jetdrive. Sounds like this one is on the engine itself, and requires periodic replacement. Can you elaborate, please?

Nice wake all around for your needs, and one of the most interesting seating arrangements on the market. Good luck and hope you join the Tige family.

The more I learn, the more I hope you're correct! Thanks!

[IDBoating]

It is important for the boat to have been used... an 03-05 with less than 100 hours would be a warning. Seals dry up when sitting too long.

Yes, equipment doesn't "sit" well. Interesting quandry, you don't want too little use and you don't want too much!

One thing I can think of is the vinyl. Those years for Tige were not good in the vinyl department. It is what it is. I think from 05 forward things got better. My vinyl is showing signs of failure and I am pacing patching until a re-vinyl will be necessary.

Thanks, first I've heard of upholstery issues. Glad you brought it up.

The access to the engine and major components allows a mechanically inclined person to do it all... not just some. For instance, winterization should take less than 45 mins and likely not cost 100.

Wow, that's fast! The articles I've read on the topic so far sounded like it would take longer than that. Far more hoses to disconnect, etc. than my current engine. On the other hand, the jetdrive has front and rear lube (both ends of the impeller shaft) so those take time that presumably an inboard would not... at least until it's time to repack the stuffing box.

I have the manuals for mine. I guess it will depend whether the previous owner kept them or not.

Does it come with a complete service manual from the engine manufacturer? I presume those are available directly from the manufacturer, or that there are third party aftermarket manuals.

Did you get a full wiring diagram from Tige with it? Not just the engine (which would come from its manufacturer), but how Tige wired up the hull itself? I've found that useful when installing accessories, etc.

The versatility of the 22i is encompassing.... It might not do any one thing the absolute best, but it does everything quite well. That to me makes it the best towboat on the water.

Precisely why I'm settling in on that model from Tige. There may be others like it from other manufacturers but I haven't found one so versatile yet.

Well, hope that gives you some help. At the end of the day, any tow boat will be an upgrade from your machine. I am not dissing your ride; however, towboats are purpose boats.

No offense taken, and you're absolutely correct. I really like our current boat. It's totally reliable, easy and inexpensive to maintain, has tons of room and seating and versatility. It's perfect as an all-around family boat - until you need better wakes. What I want is all of my existing boat's attributes but with a hull that can generate good wakes on demand. I have considered dumping fat sacs, etc. into it but at the end of the day it's a traditional V hull with ~20 degrees of deadrise and no amount of ballast is going to change that.

One thing I'll miss, if we make the change, is the maneuverability of the jetdrive. I can literally move the boat sideways through the water. It also has "brakes" because I can drop the thrust reverser at any speed. It will turn in its own length, which makes "parking" really easy even in tight spaces.

Another thing I'll miss is the mechanical simplicity (and thus reliability and economy) of the jetdrive. The driveshaft comes out of the engine, through a set of bevel gears, to the impeller shaft. And that's it. No transmission, no linkages, almost nothing to go wrong. It's not realistic to expect that from anything but a jetdrive, but I'll miss it.

I do strongly suggest , if possible, getting out on the water and in several boats with your family and also see if you can get pulls behind prospective boats. You can do all the research on paper, but it is what happens on the water that counts.

Agreed. I won't buy something I haven't tried on the water first.

Thank you very much for the comprehensive response, I really appreciate it!

[zad0030]

On the bottom of the oil pan there is a hose. You drop this hose through the bilge and let the oil flow out. For some people this isn't quick enough so they pump it out.

There is an impeller in the seawater pump and this draws water into the engine for cooling. They tend to rot and crack over time. Most people replace these biennially.

[IDBoating]

With the help of my father in law and this forum....

Yes, forums are a HUGE asset. Right now, I hang out on several sites related to my current boat and engine. I help a lot of people diagnose and/or improve their equipment, and vice versa. One of my selection criteria this time around is to see what brand(s) have a good user community. Tige is looking pretty good in that respect so far! {grin}

If I end up with a Tige I'll probably repeat my past, read the service manuals for entertainment, and hang out on the forums trying to help people. The fastest way to learn more is to help and teach others, and I want to know as much about my equipment as possible.

I've not found it a great wakesurf boat but maybe the new prop will help.

One local Tige owner says he can generate 3-4 foot waves with the stock boat. However, the general consensus is that more ballast is required. I've found detailed discussions of where people put fat sacs that may prove helpful someday.

Thanks!

[zad0030]

Wow, that's fast! The articles I've read on the topic so far sounded like it would take longer than that. Far more hoses to disconnect, etc. than my current engine. On the other hand, the jetdrive has front and rear lube (both ends of the impeller shaft) so those take time that presumably an inboard would not... at least until it's time to repack the stuffing box.

One thing I'll miss, if we make the change, is the maneuverability of the jetdrive. I can literally move the boat sideways through the water. It also has "brakes" because I can drop the thrust reverser at any speed. It will turn in its own length, which makes "parking" really easy even in tight spaces.

Another thing I'll miss is the mechanical simplicity (and thus reliability and economy) of the jetdrive. The driveshaft comes out of the engine, through a set of bevel gears, to the impeller shaft. And that's it. No transmission, no linkages, almost nothing to go wrong. It's not realistic to expect that from anything but a jetdrive, but I'll miss it.

Thank you very much for the comprehensive response, I really appreciate it!

Winterization really only consists of draining all of water from the entire engine block. Most people take this as a chance to replace the impeller, change the oil, etc. Also dont forget to add the Stabil.

Inboards are just as simple... Engine>Transmission>Prop

Depending upon what year boat you buy, you might end up with a dripless maintenance free packing.

Driving an Inboard will definitely be a change from your jet. After learning that you can only back up to the right, you can really use that as an ability to "walk" the back end around.

[IDBoating]

On the bottom of the oil pan there is a hose. You drop this hose through the bilge and let the oil flow out.

Oh, so you feed it through a drain plug on the hull? The oil drain pan then sits on the ground outside the hull?

There is an impeller in the seawater pump and this draws water into the engine for cooling. They tend to rot and crack over time. Most people replace these biennially.

Got it. On my jetdrive, the area around the impeller is obviously pressurized so they just put an opening there, run a hose from it, and that drives water directly into the engine block and exhaust system. The impeller turns whenever the engine is running, so if the engine is running it automatically has cooling water. Totally passive, no extra moving parts. Another example of the ultimate simplicity that I'll miss, but part of the price that must be paid until someone creates a jet-powered Tige style hull {grin}.

Your details suggest you no longer have a Tige boat. Is that true? If so, why not?

Thanks!

[IDBoating]

Inboards are just as simple... Engine>Transmission>Prop

Actually, my jetboat is just Engine>Impeller. No transmission at all, just a set of bevel gears.

Depending upon what year boat you buy, you might end up with a dripless maintenance free packing.

I've read mixed reviews of those dripless systems. But I have to say, I'm not thrilled with a thru-hull design that intentionally drips into the bilge (which seems to be how most stuffing boxes work). My boat's bilge stays bone dry. Seriously, there's dust on the floor of the bilge.

Driving an Inboard will definitely be a change from your jet. After learning that you can only back up to the right....

HUH? Only back up in one direction? Seriously? Or are you just kidding me?