Considering 2011 RZ2 purchase, got some questions for you all.

[Fman]

Hello,

My name is Travis, I currently own a 2008 Supra Launch 22SSV, been a great boat but I am going to be trading it in the next couple months for either a Supra Launch 242, Tige RZ2 or Malibu VLX.

I am getting older and my back is not digging wakeboarding as much, so surfing is becoming more of a priority so I can stay in the water with my family. I want both a good wakeboard wake and better surf wake.

So I have quite a few questions for you Tige RZ2 owners. Please bare with me, any answers will be appreciated.

* Does the wakeboard wake washout easy at lower speeds (ie: 16-17mph) or is it clean on both sides?

* How is the wakeboard wake with the pro ballast system filled (2000 lbs)?

* Is the RZ2 weight sensitive, meaning you have to move people around to clean up the wake on either side of the boat.

* With the pro ballast system the surf wake from the videos I have watched looks really nice, true?

* Easy to replace the 350 lb bag with a 650+, true?

* Does the RZR use impeller or aerator pumps to fill and drain ballast tanks?

* Is the PCM engine comparable to the Indmar in quality? and is PCM Ford or Chevy block?

* How is the Tige touch, problems? can you see it in the daylight well enough? likes? any dislikes?

* Is the Tige vinyl good quality? any issues?

* Bimini top nice? big enough? different sizes?

* Alpha Z tower? good? solid? easy to fold down?

* Tige upgraded stereo system with Wetsounds tower speakers? worth it or would you just install your own after you bough the boat?

* How is Tige warranty? do they repair items for you without a hassle?

* Pro's and con's to the boat after owning one? likes? dislikes? Overall quality of the build (1-10, 10 being the best).

I am in the process of trying to schedule a demo ride. However, just found out Tige only has ONE dealer in California which is throwing a huge RED FLAG for me. I live in Nor-cal, and the closest dealer is 6-8 hours away. This I have to scratch my head about???? How do they expect people to buy a boat in Nor-cal with no dealer!!! These boats are a chunk of change these days, sorry for all the questions just want to do my homework.

Thanks for any feedback, much appreciated!

[chpthril]

Welcome to the site Travis.

I had a 22Ve, which has the same running surface as the RZ, so i'll try to answer a few of your questions.

* We towed Boy Scouts every Summer. Many of them had never been towed behind a boat in any fashion. Unweighted and TAPS all the way down, the wake is about as good as a v-drive of this size is going to get. It will have a small foam lip, but not a washed out frothy mess like an I/O.

* The Tiges really like bow weight. At least a 50/50, but a 60% front/40% rear you may actually find to be better. I know we did. So, with the 2K Pro filled, it will definitely build a nice sizable, wake, but ones idea of a great wake is so different so it's hard to say without seeing it your self.

* We never found our 22Ve to be too sensitive, but it did like to be somewhat balanced.

* The 22ft Tige produces one hell of a surf wake. When weighted down, the best in the Tige fleet IMO

* Ive got a 600 lb and 1000+ lb custom sac that will plug right into the fittings for the factory 350 lb sac. If you want a different sac, or want to plumb in pumps for faster draining and filling, its doable with a little modification.

* Tige uses aerator pumps. Low current draw, quieter, less maintenance, faster.

* PCM is considered the crown Jewel, but they all use GM marine blocks.

The Alpha Z is just a different version of the time-tested Malibu Illusion. Seems to be a rock solid tower.

* Tige stereo: Its definitely worth as far as quality and performance, but it will depend on what you goals and needs are for tower speakers.

* Tige has a great warranty and does honer it. A good dealer will have more to do with how warranty items are handled. Ive seen crummy dealers brown-nose the customer while placing all the blame on Tige. Then the truth comes out.

Good luck with your search.

[Ewok]

Ill give you my impressions of the RZ2 after I put my kids to bed.

[Timmy!]

Hey Travis, glad you found the site! Welcome aboard! The only thing I would disagree with chpthrill on is the bow weight. From what I have found if you put a lot of weight in the bow of an RZ2 it collapses the wake height pretty quickly.

[chpthril]

Hey Travis, glad you found the site! Welcome aboard! The only thing I would disagree with chpthrill on is the bow weight. From what I have found if you put a lot of weight in the bow of an RZ2 it collapses the wake height pretty quickly.

Just to clarify, my question above was in reference to the OP's question about the wake-board wake with the Pro Ballast option.

For surfing, yes, adding bow weight does decrease the wake height as it adds to the length to the pocket.

For wake-boarding, we were running about 1200 lbs and the wake was good and rampy. Once we added an additional 400 lb sac in the bow, the wake got a whole lot more rampy with a ton more pop. it didnt seem like it got taller, but really changes the characteristic of the wake.

[Ewok]

* Does the wakeboard wake washout easy at lower speeds (ie: 16-17mph) or is it clean on both sides?

- The wake is clean on both sides but you will probably need a shorter rope length and at beginner speeds like 16-17 that is usually the case.

* How is the wakeboard wake with the pro ballast system filled (2000 lbs)?

- I have the basic ballast system (900 lbs) and the wakeboard wake is very solid and clean. a few years ago it would have been considered massive. stepping up to the pro ballast seems to give more height and pop, see Chpthrils comments above.

* Is the RZ2 weight sensitive, meaning you have to move people around to clean up the wake on either side of the boat.

- IMO, the boat is very weight sensitive. I don't move people around to clean up the wake, it's more like I move them around to make it better. It is very beneficial when setting up the surf wake.

* With the pro ballast system the surf wake from the videos I have watched looks really nice, true?

- The surf wake is very nice. With my basic ballast and 5 people on the boat the surf wake is great. With more weight its fantastic. Check out Wake9.com for many videos from a Tigeowner.com member Ragboy. He spent some serious R&D with a custom sac to dial in the perfect surf wake on his new RZ2. He is also from Northern CA and can tell you where, how he bought his boat. Don't be afraid to send him a PM.

* Easy to replace the 350 lb bag with a 650+, true?

- Yes, check out Wake9.com, you can purchase that custom sac from Mikes Liquid Audio, Mike is very helpful.

* Does the RZR use impeller or aerator pumps to fill and drain ballast tanks?

- Tige ballast uses aerator pumps

* Is the PCM engine comparable to the Indmar in quality? and is PCM Ford or Chevy block?

- GM block, very good reputation and no problems reported on this site with them.

* How is the Tige touch, problems? can you see it in the daylight well enough? likes? any dislikes?

- I test drove a boat with Tig Touch and it was very easy to see in the daylight and very easy to use. I did buy a left over 09 in the summer of 2010 when Touch was brand new. My grandfather said never fly the "A" model of anything so I preferred to have regular switches. I'm a big DIY guy and I think its easier and cheaper to replace a little switch than a big control module.

* Is the Tige vinyl good quality? any issues?

- The vinyl quality improved with the 08 and newer boats and it gets better every year. I am very happy with the vinyl in my boat.

* Bimini top nice? big enough? different sizes?

- The standard size is 6' bow to stern with a 2' extension available. I bought and used my boat in TX last summer to the extension was a must. LOTS of shade under the extension, and it's not to hard to set up either. The integration with the tower is very nice, there should be some pics on this site with Z biminis up, if you can't find any I'll post one of mine.

* Alpha Z tower? good? solid? easy to fold down?

- Very solid and VERY easy to fold up/down.

* Tige upgraded stereo system with Wetsounds tower speakers? worth it or would you just install your own after you bough the boat?

- Wetsounds are not an upgrade, they are standard and sound terrific, very much worth it! You can install your own but you need to make sure the cans can be mounted on an Illusion or AlphaZ tower.

* How is Tige warranty? do they repair items for you without a hassle?

- The 2011 warranty is incredible, read on the website all that it covers. The factory is usually good about warranty items, the issues most seem to have on this site is how dealers handle the claims. As you know dealers and their customer service vary greatly, there are a few complaints about dealers on this site but the overwhelming majority has positive things to say about their dealers.

* Pro's and con's to the boat after owning one? likes? dislikes? Overall quality of the build (1-10, 10 being the best).

- Quality of the build is very high. I did a lot of research like you and test drove and got rides behind my friends boats (MC, BU, Nautique) and I like this one the best. I had a 22' I/O before and I was going to lose some interior room with the big engine compartment. The layout of the interior and the wide bow make up for the room I lost in my old boat. I have been amazed at how much room the boat has and how big it feels on the inside, but how well it drives and maneuvers at the dock, and how compact it is on the trailer for what you get in interior space. The hole shot with the 343 is very strong and the surf wake is killer. If I was boat shopping again I would get another RZ2 and I have not heard any bad things about Tige Touch so I wouldn't be afraid of that either.

[Timmy!]

Just to clarify, my question above was in reference to the OP's question about the wake-board wake with the Pro Ballast option.

I know you were referring to the wakeboarding wake and that is what I disagree with. Maybe it's an RZ2 vs. 22Ve thing but my experience is that if you run 60/40 front/rear that you will not have as nice of a wake on the RZ2, that's just my opinion and preference, your mileage may vary, please consult your owners manual before operation.

[chpthril]

I know you were referring to the wakeboarding wake and that is what I disagree with. Maybe it's an RZ2 vs. 22Ve thing but my experience is that if you run 60/40 front/rear that you will not have as nice of a wake on the RZ2, that's just my opinion and preference, your mileage may vary, please consult your owners manual before operation.

Thats why I always finish with "get a pull for yur self" One mans trash is another mans treasure so to speak Everyone's idea of a "great wake" is different.

[wallacmc]

I bought one of the first RZ2s off the line last year and have absolutely no regrets. Ewok and chp covered most of it, but I'll add a few things.

IMO, no tower/bimini combo looks half as sharp as the alpha z tower. Note: on mine there was some extra powdercoat where the top piece hits the base and rubs under side/side force and made a horrendous noise. Dealer covered it under warranty and simply sanded off the excess. No big deal.

My cousin that runs a Wakesetter with about 4,000 lbs of weight covets my wake with the 1,600 surf option. The shape of the wake is gorgeous. I only put weight in the front if there are a bunch of people sitting in the rear.

TigeTouch is the real deal. It was very well designed and thought out. Daytime glare is not an issue. I did notice, however, that the depth guage on there doesn't work well once you get above about 25 mph.

The boat is extremely heavy and handles rough water well to a reasonable degree. I like filling the front ballast to minimize the banging of the hull on the next wave. The shape of the hull under the pickle for bow does an amazing job of defecting the spray away from the passengers. The only time you will take on water is when you immediately turn into your own surf wake just right and at low speed.

Tige markets the boat as having an extremely versatile wake. However, do't expect a competition slalom wake, especially with folks on board.

I would recommend trying to figure out exactly what you want before buyign or ordering. Consider getting only the internal ballast and simply adding chp's big ballast if that is what you want or going without racks knowing that the Samson swivels are better. I am in the position of adding a bunch of crap for the summer and am hating it. Still on my list is an FAE, (probably for next year), Samson swivel racks, and a new surf board (don't even bother buying anything less that $400.00. Eventually, I'll get Transom lights, since they are downright sexy. Basically, try to do it upfront and not continuously upgrade. But, like I mentioned, some of the aftermarket stuff is more desirable that the factory stuff (custom sack, racks, FAE) so try to plan ahead.

The biggest problem about the design of the boat I have encountered so far, which is more of an annoyance, is the lack of an option for connecting the mirror to your tower. And, the factory mirro generally sucks anyway. Get a big CIPA that easily swivels wherever you want it to go. it isn't expensive and is worth the extra bucks until someone invents something different that gets the mirror off the windshield.

That's all I have for now.

Oh yeah, if you are someone that doesn't like people looking at you, don't buy this boat.

[NICKYPOO]

The dealer situation is rough right now for everyone. There is a Tige dealer just over the hill in Reno. They have been around for a long, long time and probably won't ever go out of business. They have survived this last recession so...

Good luck on your purchase.

[Fman]

I am trying to arrange a demo soon, the dealer situation is a little bit of a concern for me. Ben from Tige is trying to locate someone in Nor-cal willing to take me out, otherwise I have to fly down to Los Angeles for the day. Which honestly, sounds a little crazy to me. I am taking out a Malibu VLX next week, so it will be nice to compare the boats.

I was surprised that the Tige RZ2 is more expensive than a loaded up Malibu VLX, so I will have to take everything into consideration. Granted the VLX is 21'6" and the RZ2 is 22' with a 2" wider beam. The Malibu sales rep is claiming you dont even need any fat sacks to produce a great surf wake on the VLX because of the power wedge which adds another 1200 lbs of downward weight on the boat. Should be interesting to see how it looks.

Thanks again for all the feedback, it appears everyone is very satisfied with there RZ2 purchase.

[Ewok]

Try to get a hold of ragboy or at least his in-depth review of the RZ2 on Wake9.com. I am amazed at the surf wake he dialed in with the custom sack and that is the MUST upgrade I'm doing to my boat this winter.

[majestic]

I rode Ragboys wave the weekend he got his new boat up here in Washington and I thought the stock set up was pretty respectable. I also rode his wave the weekend he installed the new sacks and will say it is great it has tons of push but be warned it is steep IMHO. I'm not sure my Ve could ever get that steep without a platform change and more weight than my 1000lb custom sac. My Ve hasen't responded well to bow weight for surfing but from talking to the Team Tige guys the Ve's have the better wakeboard wake for some reason. I've been told the running surfaces are the same for the RZ vs. Ve but something must be different.

[robert theisen]

fman remember one VERY IMPORTANT THING. a salesman is going to tell you what you want to hear. if you disagree or have questions he will compensate or whichever is easier. he doesn't get paid to tell you things you don't want to hear.another thing i have found is tige's seem to use less fuel than comparable wakeboats.if thats important at 3.00 plus a gallon.

[dom w. forte]

fman remember one VERY IMPORTANT THING. a salesman is going to tell you what you want to hear. if you disagree or have questions he will compensate or whichever is easier. he doesn't get paid to tell you things you don't want to hear.another thing i have found is tige's seem to use less fuel than comparable wakeboats.if thats important at 3.00 plus a gallon.

A good salesman is going to ask you questions to find out what your needs are, show you the features that fit those needs and answer all of your questions even if they may not be what you wanted to hear.
Before you make a choice you need to demo and see if everything you were told fits your needs, there is pros and cons to every brand, my 2004 tige has been outstanding, from gel coat to performance and fuel economy was double of my nautique.