Z3 Side to Side in 4 Seconds

[ragboy]

I was watching the Malibu Surfgate teaser a week ago or so, and it said "average time to switch sides, 45 mins". Hmm, not on my boat. We have a simple cross link system, its just a Johnson reversible pump mounted in the engine compartment and then plumbed to each rear corner system. If you stop the boat, and hit the switch you get from dialed weight on one side to the other in about 4 minutes, not 45, its pretty cool. Since we have been doing so much hosting, we have gotten in the habit of weighting the regular side even when we are only riding goofy. We do it so that we are in practice for making the best dialed wake on both sides. Also, it has been great practice for the kids and even Thomas is starting to really do great on the regular side. Check out this pic:



So RJ was practicing his hot dog skills on the long board on the regular side and we were going to stop and switch to the goofy side. Dennis said, "Why not just turn the pump on now and then we we move over to the other side and see if RJ can cross over and keep riding?" That sounded like fun. We didn't prepare or anything, just tried it one time, and went from side to side in like 4 seconds. Pretty cool.

[Ewok]

I saw that surf gate video too and I'm thinking who's boat takes 45 min to fill bags, even manual ones? I fill my surf side in 7 min, with a tsunami 800.

[Moki]

That is really cool Ragboy. So,if I understand correctly, you still have separate pumps for each bag, but you installed an extra pump to switch? I am still using a Tsunami by hand to fill my bags and will pump from one to the other bag when switching.

[houstonshark]

That's awesome! I had John out on the RZR a month or so ago but we were really having problems getting the wake adjusted. The dealer had just installed a new TAPS plate and ram and I didn't realize that they had moved the Pop bags around in the boat while working on it.

The only way I could get it clean was to run TAPS at 4. The wake was so steep that you almost had to Ollie down it cause it felt like you were jumping off a table. I finally got it dialed in. Can't wait to have him back to try it out.

I'm not sure I understand how the extra pump let you switch sides so quickly.

[ragboy]

The extra pump is just a johnson reversible pump plumbed to each corner bag with a switch under the dash.

@houston The RZR/R20 is a narrower boat, and is going to have a steeper transition, but I would check with Squid (Alan Kendall). He came out to the west coast open, and got some tips, but applied them to his boat that he knew well and the wake he shows me is the best looking R20/RZR wake I have ever seen, super clean. When you get that wake dialed, and get some nice length out of it, you can surf a bit farther back, and not so close to the boat where the transition is tougher to deal with. Hope that helps.

Technically, its the Z3 and not the pump that makes this so easy. The Z3 weights TOTALLY differently than any other boat we have had, or even experienced. I can't speak for the enzo, since I haven't been in and weighted that boat, but def the supreme and sangers and the other tiges require most or all weight in the corner. The Z3 needs weight on both sides and little list so the difference in weight from side to side is much easier to move back and forth from. Basically we ran the transfer pump for about a minute or so, then dennis and I got on our knees and when we said go we moved over to the other side, and the wake just formed. We were surprised that it formed so cleanly already. NOTE: Dennis and I together are about 650 lbs, so for most people it would take 3 220lb guys to do the move.

[chpthril]

I'm not sure I understand how the extra pump let you switch sides so quickly.

Its a reversible impeller pump connected to each sac. Since its a positive displacement pump, it acts as its own one-way valve. Flip the switch one way and water flows from one sac to the other. Flip the switch the other way, and water flows back to the other sac.

To increase fill time, start filling both sacs. Once there is some water collecting in the non-surf side sac, flip the transfer pump on and it will take water out of the non surf side sac and pump it into the surf side. To speed the drain cycle up, start start draining both rear sacs and then flip the transfer pump on so its moving water to the empty sac.

[ragboy]

yes, we also use it as you described to increase fill or empty times when we need to, but most of the time, we just fill on the way through 5mph, and we only use stock system.

[chpthril]

yes, we also use it as you described to increase fill or empty times when we need to, but most of the time, we just fill on the way through 5mph, and we only use stock system.

Yeah, with PnP or piggyback sacs, the method above may not work as well as it does when using a traditional custom sac with a transfer pump. You would have to wait for the in-floor tank to fill before you can begin moving water from the sac above it.

[Moki]

You probably have this posted somewhere on the forum but do you have the stock Pro System and then added extra bags on top of that?

[ragboy]

I have the stock pro system, yes. I didn't add extra bags, I replaced the stock rear corner bags with bigger ones. However, I didn't replace with huge enzo style sacs that go all the way up the sides like I did on the RZ2 or 24Ve or would on the RZ4. The Z3 doesn't need that, and IMHO its too much. The boat takes weight all over and if you put 1750+ in the corner (that includes 250 under floor), you would have to put about 1000 or so on the other side and then 1500 up front, and then add people. If you put TOO much weight in the Z3 the wake may get bigger, but it makes an even deeper hole and the transition isn't as good. I do want to take some time in the fall, though, and see what it would do with it sac'd out like that, just for fun. I don't do that in the summer, too many people on the lake, even on the weekdays. A nice late september day is perfect for that kind of craziness.

My sacs fill up the rear lockers almost to the top, they are very deep, and then are L shaped and stop just about at the start of the hole for the side storage under seat. The cool thing about this is that we don't lose our side storage in the Z3. We also keep empty 440s in those side storage locations, there is the RARE occasion when there is just a driver and an observer, all skinny people, you can just fill up these side sacs for that extra people weight, and its still all under the seats.

[Davidggriffith]

Rag boy what sacks did you put in? Are they custom made?

[ragboy]

They are plug and play sacs, custom from wakemakers. However, I hate to say this, I would get them from Chpthrill. Wakemakers has done some good R&D, and have some great stuff, but their customer service at times can be horrendous. You can go weeks without calls returned, emails, they just go dark. They have done it to me several times and I have also been getting feedback from people I have referred that are having the same kinds of problems. It is too bad, because they were nice guys and local. I never had a problem with Chpthrill, he is just WAY to far on the other side of the country and I was trying to work with a ballast company that was close enough to visit and do some good podcasts.

My 24Ve system is still not finished, and they left my boat out and there was some serious vinyl damage. I kept that to myself, figuring it was a burp and would be made right.

The only difference in my sacs is that you have extra places to connect the transfer pump, and 2 fittings on the top for relieving air or manual filling.

[gl's-z3]

Ragboy,

Do you have the tige z3 bags that wakemaker sells (port 900lbs and starboard 1350lbs)? Then you fill 100% front, 50% and 100% in rear?

[ragboy]

always 100% front, usually 100% surf corner, then the opposite depends on how many people. And if too many people, I won't fill surf corner all the way. I usually put people where they want to go and then fill opposite to get about 8deg list. And the big guy doesnt' need to be in the corner. I can sit in the observer seat if I want, or even drive. I would def start with the stock wake, dial that first. Have you dialed in the stock weight yet? Best stock wake I have ever seen.

[Moki]

I am really leaning towards a Z3, I am trying to get mentally over not have a walk through bow. A lot of people that go with me love being up in the bow and occasionally we have to load people through the bow. Since you have the 24Ve which is as close the 23V as you can get, how would you compare the two boats in terms of wake, room, comfort, cruising, etc.?