Our 24Ve is on its way!!! (photos inside)

[IDBoating]

what lake are you on?

Twin Lakes, Idaho. Google 47.879513,-116.927319.

[Ewok]

What needs to be re-assembled other than the tower? When you put it back together let me know what you recommend I do to prep my boat for the drive.

Thanks

[IDBoating]

What needs to be re-assembled other than the tower? When you put it back together let me know what you recommend I do to prep my boat for the drive.

I was off arranging other things while Forte's prepped the boat for shipment, but as I recall:

1) Collapsed the tower
2) Removed the swim platform
3) Removed and protectively packed a bunch of extra pieces like the walk-through glass panel, table and pole, trailer guide poles, etc.

Mostly I need to "open up the package" and assemble everything that is inside. Sort of like Christmas!

I also bought and need to install Tige wakeboard racks, which I brought home on the airplane.

And don't forget the shrinkwrap... the local company Tony found did an incredible job, using 7 mil wrap and miles of nylon reinforcing straps in preparation for the long road trip. They used lots of foam over every protruberance to protect the wrap, since it would be subjected to several days of 60+ MPH winds. It took a team of two people several hours to put it on and I suspect it won't be a five minute task to safely remove it all.

That shrinkwrap was expensive but worth it. Right now I can say you should do it. The front of the wrap is covered in bugs, and who knows what else it drove through (dust? rain?). None got through to the boat itself because the wrap never lost integrity. The shrinkwrap folks gave us an extra roll of adhesive wrap tape so the driver could repair the wrap along the way.

I'm hoping to start after work this afternoon but doubt we'll get it all done today.

[Ewok]

Thanks, I was planning to put road wrap around the front of the boat to protect from road grime. I was planning on leaving the tower up but i'm taking off all the accessories on the tower. I was also going to leave the swim platform on, did you need to remove it due to length of the shipping trailer?

[IDBoating]

Thanks, I was planning to put road wrap around the front of the boat to protect from road grime.

Since you're not putting it on a flatbed, I'd be tempted to run a layer of something under the hull if possible. Just imagine all the rocks and gravel and other debris that your precious hull will be exposed to.

Also, I climbed underneath and placed a big area of tape over the engine cooling intake and the speedometer sensor. I also removed the drain plug in case the shrinkwrap leaked somewhere.

I was also going to leave the swim platform on, did you need to remove it due to length of the shipping trailer?

No, the trailer was MORE than long enough. I presumed it would ship with the platform on as well, but when I came back Tony and Kevin had already removed it, protectively packed it, and stowed it in the passenger area. I didn't ask and they didn't say, but a guess would be that there's no sense subjecting the platform and its mounts to the forces encountered on a long road trip. Normally it gets at least some support from the water, but on the road it's just hanging out there a long ways. Lots of mechanical leverage, and it's sturdy (read: heavy).

[kko]

We pretty much packed it like Tige does. The way we sent it out is the way they come to us.

[IDBoating]

We pretty much packed it like Tige does. The way we sent it out is the way they come to us.

Looked great to me! You guys did a spectacular job.

Thanks again for the best buying experience of my life!

[Ewok]

Thanks for the tips on the inlets on the bottom of the hull. I was planning to put the road wrap as much as I can reach on the bottom.

[Nobody]

AAAAAH.....the joy and excitement of buying your boat. Your 8 yo son will permanetly remember this for the rest of his life, then share the stories with his kids.

[Ewok]

AAAAAH.....the joy and excitement of buying your boat. Your 8 yo son will permanetly remember this for the rest of his life, then share the stories with his kids.

I second that! I remember when we took all the boats home my family bought over the years. This one will always be an interesting story since it was shipped from FL.

[ragboy]

I have a great podcast, we haven't released yet, of when we "unwrapped" the new RZ2 as a family. Its pretty funny. The kids were extremely excited, and we did it in a Safeway parking lot in Washington, Isiqua, if I remember.

[IDBoating]

You're all correct about the memories. We actually went to the trouble of taking our son's wakeboard along, and Tony gave him a pull behind the boat during our on-water test.

Only later did someone mention water moccasins. {grin}

[thtrog]

You're all correct about the memories. We actually went to the trouble of taking our son's wakeboard along, and Tony gave him a pull behind the boat during our on-water test.

Only later did someone mention water moccasins. {grin}

Did they forget to mention the gators!

[dom w. forte]

Did they forget to mention the gators!

The gators make you a better skier!

[IDBoating]

I've unwrapped the boat and started reinstalling things. Photos when I'm done. I've started a new thread in the V Series forum with questions about some weird things I've found....