convex vx issues

[Tulsah]

Hi Ragboy my friend has a 2012 RZ2 with a Convex VX. Do you know if this issue affects RZ2 as well. Harvey Smith@Tige said "Yes we have never made any changes to the RZ brackets.". when I showed him this forum thread he then said Tige just repaired the Z1 & Z3 brackets. Is Tige right?

My 2013 RZ2 required new brackets. They most certainly did make changes.

[Coop]

Tulsah, have you done the measurements Ragboy describes earlier in the thread? On my 2011 RZ2, I have a VX that I ordered in Nov. 2013 (which was delivered in late Dec./early Jan.). I assumed all the bracket problems were fixed by then. I did Ragboy's measurements and they came out to roughly 4.25" on the starboard side and 4.5" in the port side (which seemed to be within Ragboy's specs, including for the RZ, which he posted on another thread).

I was just curious if others out there had done the measurements with the updated brackets on the RZ2 and if so, what value(s) you were getting.

[Tulsah]

Hi Coop. My experience with these brackets is a bit different in that I am the second owner of my boat, and have no first hand experience with the VX performance with the original brackets. The original owner removed the VX last summer after finding that it completely killed his surf wave. Through the whole saga, Tige sent him replacement brackets, but too late in the 2013 season for him to try out. When I purchased the boat in the spring, I immediately swapped out the brackets and re-installed the VX.

I did check the measurements as Ragboy suggests, and found them to be in the 4.25-4.5" range. On the water, the original owner commented that the new bracket VX was a huge improvement over what he had experienced with the original brackets.

[ragboy]

The 4.25-4.5 range is good, and if you have that, you are using correct brackets.

I will add this, we spent a lot of time and we optimized the VX further with hours and hours of testing. We found that the VX works even better higher, but at the same time it is VERY sensitive. A quarter inch off here or there could make a huge difference.

We finished optimizing for the Z3 and Z1, and were beginning on the RZR and RZ2 and then Tige decided to go forward with the adjustable VX which makes sense. The reason this makes sense is that we found there is a perfect setting for this much weight, and a perfect setting for that much weight, and then its a bit different on goofy and regular. We found the best overall position on the Z1 and Z3 but there were some compromises, which is why Tige went to the adjustable so that you can make it perfect for whatever situation.

After testing at the Polar Bear, we made another suggestion, it doesn't need quite so much movement, and would be better off with a bit less, but with more FINE adjustments. Tige said they are doing that.

I also heard they were going to start cross venting, all great stuff.

As far as wakesurfection's friend with the RZ2, if its in the 4.25-4.5 range its a great wake. Could it be better a little higher? Probably, but I don't know how much better or how much higher. But if some people test with the RZ2 with AVX, you could probably find out since the shape is the same.

As far as modifying the VX brackets to make a different angle, its not too difficult and I can tell you how you would approach it for those who want to.

1. First make sure you know EXACTLY where you want to be. You would have to do this by testing on an AVX with the same hull. You also need to test in similar depth to your own conditions, since we found that the perfect setting is NOT the same if you are in shallow water.
2. Order a new set of brackets for your boat from tige, that you are going to hack up, keeping your old ones in tact.
3. You will have to cut the VX so that it mates properly at the new angle to your boat. Its ok if you are not perfect.
4. Mount your VX and use fiberglass, resin and other stuff like that to "fill in" any parts on the VX so that it mates almost perfectly.
5. Get latex rubber about 1/2 inch thick and seal the VX to the hull compressing the latex so it stays for good.
6. Paint it and make it look nice.

Keep in mind, that you may NOT be doing the brackets the same on both sides. Your swim step could be mounted a bit lower on one side vs the other, the key is not that the VX is symmetrical to the swim step, but mated to the hull perfectly and the same angle on both sides.

Do this at your own risk!

I was hoping Tige was going to sell their taps plate, but I don't think they are going to, but you want that new design. I gotta be honest, I am nervous selling those, but it makes a significant difference with the VX and which is why Tige is using that design, although slightly different than what we gave them.

Hope that helps.

[Coop]

Ragboy, just curious - why are you nervous to sell the new TAPS plate? Is this the one you said could make a difference with the prop wash?

[Booms]

Ragboy - another question - So I can have my 2015 Z3 piped with cross venting for faster transfers from goofy to regular?

Sorry to hijack this thread.

[chpthril]

Ragboy - another question - So I can have my 2015 Z3 piped with cross venting for faster transfers from goofy to regular?

Sorry to hijack this thread.

Crossing the vent and drain lines to prevent passive draining is not a ballast transfer system, 2 different things. Not sure if either is offered from Tige, but you would need to clarify what you are getting so no surprises when boat arrives.

If the new Tige surf sacs do not have a strategically placed port for a ballast transfer system (cause its not an option), one can be added.

[ragboy]

@booms What he said. ;-) Tige has taken apart and thoroughly gone through our system a few times, and have played with the idea of the cross fill system, which is what I think you are referring to. Not sure if it will see production, but it is one of the easiest installs to do.

You just mount a johnson reversible pump on the firewall in front of the motor and then route the hoses to each side sac (your sack must have the available ports in the rear like the wake9 sacks do). Then you wire the pump to the batter and run the switch under the dash. Its a great upgrade and fun to do with your kids or a buddy and a bear.

One big tip, whenever you use reversible pumps, if the impeller that comes with is black, just throw it away. They just burn up and will burn fuses. I have tested several and I LOVE these, and they are dirt cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

there are others, but the point is, you NEED a run-dry impeller. And make sure you fuse the pump properly.

@coop Liability. Also, mine is powder coated, not stainless. I haven't had any issues with ours, but it may not last as many years as a stainless. But it works.