06 Boat Buyers Guide

[dgutz]

Cheeky - your are right about the no ballast in the sunscapes. But fortunately for Tige it is still not apples to apples....the malibu 247 used an 8.1 liter 450hp engine and got to 30 in 5.3 seconds where as the Tige 24Ve, with a 5.7 liter 340hp got to 30 in 5.5 seconds. That is pretty significant and then to consider it uses half the gas consumption, thats not too bad. As I was looking over the test it seems that the best comparisons to malibu is in the sunscapes because they are the exact same boat as the wakesetters, but have no ballast. You can see that in that apples to apples comparison, Tige clearly excels!

[Zacky]

I think the Malibu did 0-30 in 6.2 seconds...

[dgutz]

even better

[Wake Havasu]

8.1 liter 450hp!

The boat should do 60mph!

Mine does 53 GPSed!

[NICKYPOO]

Just curious as to why all of the Tiges were tested without ballast. Did that request come from Tige or was Waterski trying to expose the TAPS for what it is or isn't. Either way the Tiges did outstanding IMHO with zero ballast. Gold star on your homework boys. Sure would like to see the results with ballast.

[Andrew]

Tige built these boats for the test and it was our decision to run the complete test without any ballast installed and with the engine that is installed in 90% of our boats. This was as accurate 3rd party testing you could do. Each other manufacturer set their boats up as they wanted to also.

Again, if we added ballast to the boats then we could have rocked the scoring, but this was not our approach, we truely feel that our boat is the most versatile boat on the market today.


Andrew

[NICKYPOO]

Now if we could just do something with the interiors I might be in the market for a new ride.

[bfrank]

What dont you like about the interiors??

[talltigeguy]

I'm not sure what nickypoo doesn't like about the interior, but I'm gonna get on my bandwagon again about dark interiors. They become too hot to touch in the bright sun. Sometimes it is no big deal because there is plenty of water around to pour on it, but on the ramp it is unacceptable. I shouldn't have to watch where I step on the sundeck so that I don't burn my feet!

Can Tige offer any special options that you get get rid of the dark and replace it with a lighter color? When I look for a new boat, 07 or 08, this one issue will be enough to make me look at other brands. (When I bought my 05, I didn't even look at anything else, and would prefer not to look anywhere else).

[NICKYPOO]

That question is huge to me. I'll try to sum it up. Helm, seats, use of available space (or lack there of), and just the overall feel. Gets me just about as excited as a blade of grass. Don't get me wrong, I like the overall boat but, what could be done is nothing like what is in there. Now I've yet to even sit in the 06's but, just by the pictures available to the public I am already dissapointed. I'm hoping that now the hulls seem to be pretty dialed in, Tige will spend some time in that new R&D department on doing something, anything with the interiors of what I feel is a superior craft. I understand these things take time but, the time has come.

[bneub]

I'm with talltigeguy! We talked our dealer into talking tige into the option of a grey dash in our 06 20i. The armrest behind the throttle was black and I could envision blisters on my forearm when the 105 deg. sun was shining on it at powell.

I also don't think I should have to wear shoes to step on the carpet in my boat. I think a copule of shades lighter would be better.

[johnbandrews]

At the risk of all your wrath as one who's jumped ship to Malibu, here is my 2 cents:

Tige builds their boats like tanks, which is great for safety, durability, etc., but the very nature of how they support the seats with the integrated fiberglass and cutouts under the cushions for storage limits accessability. Those small holes to put your stuff in limit the functionality of the storage.

When we're paying so darned much money for our boats, it seems that they should spend a little more time on the comfort of the cushions, easy access to storage under the cushions, and overall look and feel of the interior. Maybe it all comes down to personal preference, but one of the main reasons I went w/Malibu was, in fact, the interior and amenities.

I didn't like how the new Tige seat cushions fit "inside" a surrounding fixed cushion, and how hard they were to remove and replace. Yes, the Malibu is carpet covered wood for the seat platforms, but boy is the storage easily accessable, and those seats are soooo comfy! Besides, I think it's safe to say that we all baby our boats ... I know I do!

The helm seat is much better on the Malibu, as is the dash (IMHO). The glove compartment has a nice padded tray in it, there is a trash can under one of the seats - very handy. Dual gas fills. Etc. Etc.

The Malibu Bling caught my eye, and my wife as fairly set against anything but Tige until we saw the new interiors. She changed her mind pretty quickly ... even though we still feel pretty loyal to the Tige brand.

I'm w/Nicky. It seems the hull has been perfected. Now Tige should focus on the interior. It's kind of like an American manufactured car vs. an Import. For the most part, the American interiors suck compared to the imports.

Sorry for the rambling post.

[talltigeguy]

JohnB,
Thanks for your thoughts. I think you are right on. My 02 21V seats were actually more comfy than my 05 (although the 02 seats are less durable). I think the seats I have now will last forever.

Bneub,
I never felt the carpet was too hot. The areas of the vinyl that are white are so white that they are hard to keep clean. Both the MC and SAN that I was in last year had a light cream or off-white vinyl. The bright white looks pretty on the showroom, but I'm afraid that I can never get it showroom color again.

[Dan]

The interior is the number one reason I have considered other boats over Tige. And like John, the Malibu interior blew me away. As you noted John, the accessibility of the storage is more practical in the Malibu even though the Tige has more.

My current Tige has pretty dark carpet and while I mostly boat in Havasu or Mead, it's temperature hasn't been a problem. I went with the white base on the interior and have been happy with that as well. It's held it's "clean" look and stays much cooler than the color accents.

I'll be taking the 24Ve for a test drive in the next few weeks and hope to have a decision made right after. Unless we get snow each weekend, then I'll be busy.

BTW: Only 4 months till Spring Break. (I'm not counting or anything).