We had the opportunity to head to Texas and have some fun with the folks at Tige boats. Among other things, we finally got to test and video the wake on the new Z1 with the Convex VX. I was REALLY looking forward to this, since we love our Z3, and the Z1 is the same hull, just 2 feet shorter. It also has the same wide beam of 102", so it should make a great surf boat. Right? Don't take my word for it check out the video first.
The wake was very similar to the Z3, but had some differences. The boat required less weight to make a wake which is great, it was REAL easy to get a wake with the stock setup. Then we added about 350 lbs to the surf side and it just got better. The wake was a bit shorter than the Z3 but it was very powerful, at least as powerful as the Z3. You could tell right away from looking, and RJ said he could also feel it right away that the wake had more hook than the Z3 and other boats he could remember. I don't know if there is a more technical term for "hook" but it is something you notice on various wakes, and most of the really good surf boats have noticeably more hook than other boats that don't surf so well. Hook is just a term for the way the wake wraps around the rider, getting behind the rider. Some wakes and setups do that more than others. It gives you a greater sensation of push when the wake is right behind you. You can watch RJ playing around in the video because it was very noticeable to him. The wake was a bit shorter than the Z3, which is to be expected, but we could easily be happy as a family in this boat with this wake, it was great. It will be fun to see how this boat does as it gets even more dialed in.
We took some pictures also, here are a few.
Here is a picture of the boat we took out, it was straight of the factory, completely production/stock. No prototype parts or custom ballast.
IMG_1610 by wake9, on Flickr
Here is a good pic of the stock regular side wake.
IMG_1638 by wake9, on Flickr
Here is the goofy wake, stock, no additional weight but me and a driver smaller than RJ.
IMG_1791 by wake9, on Flickr
We had an extra sac, and added weight here, about 350 lbs, that is it.
IMG_1840 by wake9, on Flickr
RJ didn't have his own board, and was riding this old, slow Ronix board, I think it was 4'4" or 4'5" long. With the extra weight the wake was bigger, still clean and had a great lip to even launch a bit with this board.
IMG_1851 by wake9, on Flickr
Here is the low side shot with the extra weight. You can see this boat has a TON of free board like the Z3, and it also only needs about 8-9 degrees of list for the best wake.
IMG_1930 by wake9, on Flickr
Here's a fun fact for all you weekend warriors out there. The Z1 doesn't have a trash can, bummer for mom, but great for Dad. You can put a custom sac on the goofy side that goes all the way up under the driver's seat if your heart so desired. No more pinched room for goofy nuts that want to sac out.
IMG_1979 by wake9, on Flickr
Lastly, the money shot. Side by side stock wakes.
z1-split-screen-side-side by wake9, on Flickr
Can't wait to see someone really dial in this boat.
The wake was very similar to the Z3, but had some differences. The boat required less weight to make a wake which is great, it was REAL easy to get a wake with the stock setup. Then we added about 350 lbs to the surf side and it just got better. The wake was a bit shorter than the Z3 but it was very powerful, at least as powerful as the Z3. You could tell right away from looking, and RJ said he could also feel it right away that the wake had more hook than the Z3 and other boats he could remember. I don't know if there is a more technical term for "hook" but it is something you notice on various wakes, and most of the really good surf boats have noticeably more hook than other boats that don't surf so well. Hook is just a term for the way the wake wraps around the rider, getting behind the rider. Some wakes and setups do that more than others. It gives you a greater sensation of push when the wake is right behind you. You can watch RJ playing around in the video because it was very noticeable to him. The wake was a bit shorter than the Z3, which is to be expected, but we could easily be happy as a family in this boat with this wake, it was great. It will be fun to see how this boat does as it gets even more dialed in.
We took some pictures also, here are a few.
Here is a picture of the boat we took out, it was straight of the factory, completely production/stock. No prototype parts or custom ballast.
IMG_1610 by wake9, on Flickr
Here is a good pic of the stock regular side wake.
IMG_1638 by wake9, on Flickr
Here is the goofy wake, stock, no additional weight but me and a driver smaller than RJ.
IMG_1791 by wake9, on Flickr
We had an extra sac, and added weight here, about 350 lbs, that is it.
IMG_1840 by wake9, on Flickr
RJ didn't have his own board, and was riding this old, slow Ronix board, I think it was 4'4" or 4'5" long. With the extra weight the wake was bigger, still clean and had a great lip to even launch a bit with this board.
IMG_1851 by wake9, on Flickr
Here is the low side shot with the extra weight. You can see this boat has a TON of free board like the Z3, and it also only needs about 8-9 degrees of list for the best wake.
IMG_1930 by wake9, on Flickr
Here's a fun fact for all you weekend warriors out there. The Z1 doesn't have a trash can, bummer for mom, but great for Dad. You can put a custom sac on the goofy side that goes all the way up under the driver's seat if your heart so desired. No more pinched room for goofy nuts that want to sac out.
IMG_1979 by wake9, on Flickr
Lastly, the money shot. Side by side stock wakes.
z1-split-screen-side-side by wake9, on Flickr
Can't wait to see someone really dial in this boat.
I like what the convex vx does, but i dislike that it makes the boat 2 feet longer. Maybe at some point these boat manufactures will incorporate this technology in to the hull of the boat, and stop hangging crap off the back of it.
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