Initial impressions of 2013 Tige Z1 vs my RZR not impressed so far with the surf wake

[loudelectronics]

For the record the Z3 wakeboard wake is the best wakeboard wake Tige has ever put out. skishow.jpgskishow2.jpgskishow3.jpgz3wake.jpgz3wake2.jpg

[barry1me]

I can't speak to the quality issues so much. If they have problems with boats to dealers, that def needs to be addressed. I can tell you that we put over 400 hours on our RZ2, and are on about 800 hours on our Z3 and the RZ2 was like new when we were done and the Z3 still runs great. We have had some wear and tear issues that seem reasonable to me for the amount of hours and the fact that this boat has been trailered across country once last year and now another this year. The events take a toll and it keeps going. We had to change a steering cable around 500 hours, replace a front ballast pump, our throttle assembly is sticking a bit now and we have a new one to replace. We had 2 warranty issues, a hard tank with a bad weld from the manufacturer and a PCM recall on a cylinder head. That's been it.

We just sold our 24Ve with 650 hours to a family that is on our lake and we surf with regularly, and they love it, no problems there other than oil and maintenance.

Tige has been doing well lately and have increased production and there may be some bumps along the way, but I have nothing to do with that, and in my experience, they make it right.

Regarding the Z1, I don't remember it being tippy or feeling underpowered, I think it could definitely use a high altitude prop like the 1235 if you use a lot of weight, but I will check when we get up there to test in a week. The 24Ve was very weight sensitive, and so was the RZ2, I always felt the Z3 was much more stable than those, IMHO. The new RZ2 will DEF be less tippy and more stable if they continue with the direction I saw. Surf boats are always going to be a bit more tippy because most great surf boats have more deadrise (deep v) than a wakeboard boat. The Z1 has the full 102 inch beam like the Z3. Anyway, I will check when I get in one, and I will take video from every angle of the surf wave with the correct VX on it. I am very excited to do this on the Z1, RJ and my wife think I am nuts, but I have thought about moving into a Z1 from the Z3. Only reason I can't, is due to the loss of space and how much hosting we do. I think that boat with the right VX can tow a competition and surf with the best of them, but more on that in a week or so.

One more thing, even with the wrong VX on the Z1, its still very good but you have to adjust the weight a bit. RJ and Dennis rode one at the West Coast Open, kwood's boat. So REALLY looking forward to it with the VX right.

I believe you have had some good luck I think my local dealer has just had a string of either bad luck, bad boats or possibly a combo of each. At this point I dont know what to think? Have you spent any time with a RZ2 with convex VX? If so how did it do vs a non convex VX boat? How did you weight each? I just love wakesurfing and what a good reliable boat to go behind with family and friends.

[harv]

We also went behind a 2013 SANTE 210 today with the NSS and it produced a clean wake, but had no push, very soft, not long....unimpressive. .

This may not have been weighted correctly... They will produce a very long wave that's tall with plenty of push. The older 210's struggle but the newer ones especially with NSS seem legit.

[talltigeguy]

[QUOTE=loudelectronics;710413]For the record the Z3 wakeboard wake is the best wakeboard wake Tige has ever put out.

Coming from a guy who has owned a 24V, that says something. Any pics from in the boat?

[Bruizza]

My guess is the sluggishness you felt in the Z1 was from the prop. Last year at Powell I bent my 1235 and had to put the stock 537 on. The 537 is a POS IMHO. I couldn't even get our wakeboard wake to clean up with that prop. I am mystified as to why Tige puts that on as their stock prop.

[WakerideN]

My guess is the sluggishness you felt in the Z1 was from the prop. Last year at Powell I bent my 1235 and had to put the stock 537 on. The 537 is a POS IMHO. I couldn't even get our wakeboard wake to clean up with that prop. I am mystified as to why Tige puts that on as their stock prop.

$$$$$$ that is my guess.. haah but not sure why the ship any boat over RZR with one...

[JreisRZR]

They don't even ship the rzr with one.... I have a 1631 (shipped with boat) and the things a stump puller....

[2thdoc01]

My guess is the sluggishness you felt in the Z1 was from the prop. Last year at Powell I bent my 1235 and had to put the stock 537 on. The 537 is a POS IMHO. I couldn't even get our wakeboard wake to clean up with that prop. I am mystified as to why Tige puts that on as their stock prop.

AMEN!

[Timmy!]

After 5 seasons, I finally upgraded from the 537 to a 1433 and it made a huge difference! The only place where I would prefer the 537 is at cruising speeds, like 30 mph, due to the lower rpm's and better fuel mileage that it provides.

[loudelectronics]

[QUOTE=talltigeguy;710630]

For the record the Z3 wakeboard wake is the best wakeboard wake Tige has ever put out.

Coming from a guy who has owned a 24V, that says something. Any pics from in the boat?

Will get some this weekend. Changing the prop to a 1235 tonight so we can really get this thing dialed in. Just stock though it is great and better than our 24V with 4400 lbs of ballast (537 prop, 6.0l 2600' elev, and up to 8 people sitting properly and no issues getting out of water and holding speed). The 24V was dialed in too. This is our 24V wake 2 years ago at 23 mph 80'. Also keep in mind he is 6'2" not the tiny like the other guys so wake perspective for him is at his knees where other pros it is up there thigh as they are shorter. (Brother is much improved since then as he rides in FLA in the off season trying to make the PWT) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xtf7TEGx3k

Will be putting our wake up against a 2013 Xstar this weekend to show the differences in the wake. It is going to hurt some peoples egos that is for sure. The new Xstar actually has a similar shaped wake as ours does at taps 6 position. Rampy with a kicker at the top to send you high rather than way far into the flats.

[talltigeguy]

[QUOTE=loudelectronics;710657]

Will get some this weekend. Changing the prop to a 1235 tonight so we can really get this thing dialed in. Just stock though it is great and better than our 24V with 4400 lbs of ballast (537 prop, 6.0l 2600' elev, and up to 8 people sitting properly and no issues getting out of water and holding speed). The 24V was dialed in too. This is our 24V wake 2 years ago at 23 mph 80'. Also keep in mind he is 6'2" not the tiny like the other guys so wake perspective for him is at his knees where other pros it is up there thigh as they are shorter. (Brother is much improved since then as he rides in FLA in the off season trying to make the PWT) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xtf7TEGx3k

Will be putting our wake up against a 2013 Xstar this weekend to show the differences in the wake. It is going to hurt some peoples egos that is for sure. The new Xstar actually has a similar shaped wake as ours does at taps 6 position. Rampy with a kicker at the top to send you high rather than way far into the flats.

Sweet video. What the heck is that he does at the 2:15 mark?

[ragboy]

The 1235 is our goto prop, great prop. But on the Z3 with the 409 its not quite right for wakeboarding and cruising I think. I want to find the right one, I keep forgetting to call ACME. Works amazing for surfing, weight it to the gils if you want and 2950 RPM all day wakesurfing.

[loudelectronics]

Just installed the 1235 on Friday. It is a stump puller. It is not a cruiser that is for sure. It's screaming at 35 mph. However surfing now speed holds well, boat does not work hard like it did. Wakeboarding seems ok too. Much better than stock 381. I put every ballast bag we had in the boat to test that ability of the prop and even at 4200 lbs it pulled out of the water like boat did with no weight on stock prop. Again running like we normally do with just pro ballast boat held speed good and could make a turn with out losing speed. Actually a joy to drive now.

The 1235 is as you mentioned maybe a bit to much but it works. If they had one with 14.75" of pitch it maybe ideal.

[barry1me]

Local dealer got another 13 Z1 today and this one also had the incorrect VX angles. I also noticed that there were bolts missing on the brackets that attach to the VX platform.

I have now seen 5 2013 boats at my local store and I have noticed several mechanical/gel coat/and quality issues on these boats. Im starting to wonder if Tiges quality is slipping or maybe my dealer gets the 'friday made' boats.

[Jeepdude]

Maybe they are spending to much time in their dance classes?