wave smoothing surf flap -- easy to mount on 2009 brackets

[Duncan]

Having given up on a factory-supported VX for a 2009 Tige, I made and installed a wave smoothing surf flap this weekend. The mount is cheap and easy and uses the existing two rear 1" holes on the swim platform bracket for our 2009 RZ2. All mounting parts from Ace hardware. Rubber mat was from "Rural King", a farm supply store. Pics appear below.

In short, a 3/8 threaded rod spans the platform through the 1" hole on either side. A 1" gasket with a 3/8" hole was used to cushion the inside of the hole. Two neoprene washers and a plate washer secured with double nut are on either side of the platform bracket. The 3/8" threaded rod was cut to length so that no threads exited the second nut (nothing to get cut on).

Rubber was 3/8" material 4' feet wide and sold $8/foot (the farm store was out of 3/4 horse mat). The rubber mat was cut to fit the entire underside between the platform brackets, then expanding out to the inner side of the platform. The back of the mat extends about 1" past the trailing edge of the platform.

U-bolts (cut to length) hung under the threaded rod and secured the rubber mat. The back of the rubber mat was extended over the bar that secures the FAE to the platform.

Unfortunately, the boat did not hit the water this weekend. Performance wave shots soon to come. (No clue how bad reverse will be).

Finished


Parts


Cut mat


Gasket inside 1" platform bracket hole


Threaded rod installed


Underside of installed mat


Topside of installed mat

[loudelectronics]

What is the purpose of this? Why do you need to smooth the wake? I do not see how this is even close to the VX?

[Duncan]

What is the purpose of this? Why do you need to smooth the wake? I do not see how this is even close to the VX?

Minimize spray and small rooster tail from FAE. Reduce white froth on receding edge of the surf wave. Decrease turbulence from trailing lip of swim platform.

I am not suggesting this even comes close to the VX function. Before the VX hit, several here on TO put on "mud flaps" for smoothing turbulence and decreasing spray. I was going to do the flap then the VX hit and there was a period of uncertainty when we thought it might be retrofit to older models. But that is not going to happen.

So I am back to to the flap.

[IDBoating]

Very clean install. Excellent work! Can't wait to see photos - and hear about reverse (yikes!).

[Booms]

Nice install Duncan. Seems like it could be a 2 hour project.

I am excited to see the action shots. Those will help me decide if I should try on our 08 RZ2.

[loudelectronics]

ok cool. Why not just take the FAE off then? have you ever done a CO test 10' back from the boat? It is non existent.

Does your swim deck cause your other issues? On my 24V the wake is clean and huge. Never needed to smooth it out. I wonder what the difference is.

[wired1236]

ok cool. Why not just take the FAE off then? have you ever done a CO test 10' back from the boat? It is non existent.

Does your swim deck cause your other issues? On my 24V the wake is clean and huge. Never needed to smooth it out. I wonder what the difference is.

Read the FAE claims. It's not to just limit the CO for the boarder, which from what I have heard is minimal as you say, but more to lower it for the passengers in the rear seats which most of us typically have in our boats. The CO circles up around the back of the boat and into the rear of it. Otherwise known as the station wagon effect. You also don't need your "loudelectronics" to be so loud. Sorry, couldn't resist

[WakerideN]

What is the purpose of this? Why do you need to smooth the wake? I do not see how this is even close to the VX?

for the same reason your 2013 Z3 has a finished bottom on the swim platform.... same same... great mod duncan... want to see it in action now.

[Timmy!]

Very clean install. Excellent work! Can't wait to see photos - and hear about reverse (yikes!).

+1! Very nice install!

[harv]

Nice work. Did the same on my old Tige' (mine was pretty boring compared to yours). The spray was crazy after I raised the swim step 6" to keep it from messing up my wake. FAE was a must for my passengers but it made a pretty big rooster tail.

[Duncan]

Nice work. Did the same on my old Tige' (mine was pretty boring compared to yours). The spray was crazy after I raised the swim step 6" to keep it from messing up my wake. FAE was a must for my passengers but it made a pretty big rooster tail.

How did your flap do when moving in reverse (especially pressure against the FAE)?

[Duncan]

U-bolts (cut to length) hung under the threaded rod and secured the rubber mat.

Credit and thanks to duffymahoney (king 'o the flaps) for this idea

[shawndoggy]

I'll be a naysayer... Unless that rubber is very rigid and inflexible (which looks not to be the case given the arc of the mat by the u bolts) a lot lore water is going to get past it than you think because the water will just push the mat up while you are underway.

Duffys is rigid and points straight down in comparison.

[Duncan]

I'll be a naysayer... Unless that rubber is very rigid and inflexible (which looks not to be the case given the arc of the mat by the u bolts) a lot lore water is going to get past it than you think because the water will just push the mat up while you are underway.

Duffys is rigid and points straight down in comparison.

You raise an excellent point and one I want to get the answer to on the water.

The material is not "spongy" but rather very dense and very heavy. I expect the surf side to be pressed hard against the partially submerged edge deck, noting that the rear edge extends one inch past the back of the platform (function 1 = decrease turbulence from lip on 09 platform). As the platform merges out of the water toward the non-surf side, I expect the flexibility of the mat to allow it to lay flat on the water (function 2 = spray barrier).

[IDBoating]

decrease turbulence from lip on 09 platform

I don't understand this comment. The platform on my 09 is deep in the surf wave, yet doesn't cause any turbulence at all. If anything, it actively smoothes out the face of the wave. Is this a difference between the RZ and Ve style of swim platforms?