Newbie Needs Some Advice

[rsouth]

Hello All!

I just purchased a new (carryover) 2012 22VE and can't wait to get it in the water. (Living in Idaho, however, that won't be for a few months; it's going to be a long winter!)

Anyway, I have some time to gather all the goodies I need and want to be ready to go when the weather is good. I have 3 young girls (9 and under) and am looking for advice on what things to get. (Jackets, suits, ropes, boards, etc.) We definitely want to surf and tube. I would like to get better at wakeboarding and my daughters seemed to enjoy skiing this summer on a friend's boat. (that about covers everything) This is the first boat we have owned, so additional advice on general boatmanship is welcome.

I appreciate the help!

[skippabcool]

Welcome and Congrats.

First off we need some pics of your new ride.

Your family will have lots of fun with it.

[rsouth]

Absolutely! Here are a few.22VE2013BLKWHITE1.jpg22VE2013BLKWHITE4.jpg22VE2013BLKWHITE5.jpg

[robert theisen]

Sharp looking boat! Welcome to the site.I would suggest you get the dealer take you on a maiden voyage and show you how to back your boat down the ramp. Unload and load your boat.Maneuver your boat Dock your boat and use all the buttons and gauges.Also it would be good to find a boater at your local lake or river to help you out with future procedures.Good Luck.

[AdaminMN]

Very Nice! You are correct, it's going to be a long winter having to wait to get her in the water.

I second RT's statement, since you bought it from a dealer, have them show you the ropes in the spring.

[jslayde1]

Good looking boat man. I love the look! Congrats and welcome to the site! You will love your family time on the boat!

[WakerideN]

Hello All!

I just purchased a new (carryover) 2012 22VE and can't wait to get it in the water. (Living in Idaho, however, that won't be for a few months; it's going to be a long winter!)

Anyway, I have some time to gather all the goodies I need and want to be ready to go when the weather is good. I have 3 young girls (9 and under) and am looking for advice on what things to get. (Jackets, suits, ropes, boards, etc.) We definitely want to surf and tube. I would like to get better at wakeboarding and my daughters seemed to enjoy skiing this summer on a friend's boat. (that about covers everything) This is the first boat we have owned, so additional advice on general boatmanship is welcome.

I appreciate the help!

welcome to the site and owning a Tige. very nice looking ride.

I woudl demo alot of gear in the surf world, figure out what you like before you spend a chunk of change. I personally like straightline ropes and handles. and would just find the gear your girls like by looking around online. activewake.com and buywake.com are great sites for gear. I think since its the first boat you have owned, and being new to inboards I would get your boat out early in the spring and work on launching, trailering, and comming up to the dock with less people around. will make learning how it handles alot less stressful with out dealing with hoards of boats and people around. If your wife is game take the time to teach her how to trailer or back it in water. having two people make all this happen smoothly will make your whole boating experience much better, not just for you, but your kids and all involved.

[Joeprunc]

Get New:
-nicer neoprene vests for everyone in the family and a few loaners for guests, they will last and are much more comfortable to wear than the cheaper ones, and given your daughters are younger they may have to wear them at all times while on the boat (I'm not sure about boating laws in Idaho).
-anchor: box anchor seems to be the best money can buy.
-Ropes to tie off to docks (I'd recommend 4 - 15' ropes 3/8" or 1/2" thk.)
-Bumpers, bigger the more protection, but harder to store.
-First Aid and safety kit.
-A knife and snorkel mask for if you get the rope caught in the prop.


As far as wakeboard/ski/surf gear:
-I'd try to get as much of it second hand as you can.
-With the exception to ski & wakeboard ropes.

I'm pretty sure West Marine does some sort of promotion for first time boat owners. I think it was 30% off your entire first purchase. That is where I purchased a lot of my gear, but that was several years ago.

[miller]

+1 on the "A knife and snorkel mask for if you get the rope caught in the prop."
I didn't think i needed these until i ran over my anchor rope. I will not be stuck again...

[EricU]

Absolutely! Here are a few.[ATTACH]35999[/ATTACH]

Wow! That is your first boat? a '12!???

Pretty nice for a first boat! Maybe too nice if you don't have a good friend that is pretty knowledgeable about boating. That is one hell of a nice ride to be learning how to trailer, back up, launch and load with.

My suggestion, get an older used I/O and spend some time behind the wheel trashing it!

But I guess that isn't an option, so really, try to hook up with someone that has been around boats, as our boats these days are much larger and heavier than the 16' to 19' V-drives and jets that I grew up with (Yes I am old) and a V-drive wakeboard boat is kind of a PITA near the dock, but as it was mentioned earlier, go out EARLY next year when it isn't crowded and practice coming up to the dock at a 45 and hitting reverse (one side only!)

Main thing is to learn SAFE boating, what to do when you come up to another boat, pass another, have your kids in the water, come up to others in the water,etc, etc.! You really need to get the feel of that thing under different situations.

Don't take this wrong, but if you have not been boating before (I may be totally wrong here) I wouldn't want you to be around my kids when they are in the water.

But again, take the time to learn your boat and basic boating safety. And most of all, don't forget to have fun as it is a great family activity.

[talltigeguy]

www.nopowerturns.com That is the proper way to tow a skier and not throw waves over the entire lake. Read it, watch the video and internalize it.

It is illegal in most states to tube before 9am. Save that water for someone who wants to wakeboard, ski, or something that requires more than just hanging on.

The boat is beautiful, and good times are ahead. I would focus on learning how to have the boat ready to go. If the wife knows it requires 2 hours of preparation just to go to the lake for an evening, she ain't gonna like it. Develop a plan of some snacks that work for you, and have 5 cases of them already in the garage or house, and a favorite pizza joint for the ride home. Those memories will be something the kids will cherish the rest of their lives.

[rsouth]

I appreciate the advice and will certainly seek to be comfortable driving the boat, particularly around others. I did say it was the first boat we have owned; however, that was meant as in my family (wife and kids). I have had ample experience with trailers of all kinds (boats included) and have gone boating a fair amount - fishing as well as playing on the lake - not a pro by any means, but I'm certainly not jumping in for the first time on a 2012! Regardless, I'll take the advice as given; Thanks!

[sandm]

man, they must have ordered several of those. mine came from precision as well but was sold thru tyrell at prestige in boise. almost the exact same boat down to the missing tower speakers and board racks.. is your black the metalflake? even same grey graphics. I don't think precision does a lot of wakeboat business. mainly fishing so guessing they ticked the same boxes on most of the orders.

if you order board racks, go samson. cheaper than tige and great racks.

you over on the east or west side of the state?

[Duncan]

Great looking boat!

This thread will help alot.

x10 re goggles and knife (I like a filet knife).

Buy an air horn and keep it close to the driver -- you will need it.

Buy a box anchor (small if you do moderate windy lakes, medium of windy or river). If you anchor alot and are on a soft bottom lake, a 15 lb mushroom anchor holds fine and is ALOT easier and more convenient.

Upgrade your bilge pump for more capacity.

Replace impeller every two seasons.

Replace bow strap every three seasons or keep an extra close (maybe more if trailer stored outside). Use rear safety straps, if not present, install them.

Replace trailer tires every 3-4 seasons no matter miles. Make sure always proper psi -- just a little pressure down makes a big difference in weight capacity and risks blowouts.

Always pick up a rider on the starboard/driver side (never ever port side).

Carry an extra plug in the boat.

Consider upgrading to an on-board battery tender/charger.

Teach your wife to back the trailer

Get a real first aid kit including a big 30 gram bag of Celox powder (and hope you never need it).

Research and buy wax, daily spray, vinyl cleaner, and vinyl conditioner. Get used to wiping everything down every time the boat comes in.

Use Sta-Bil ethanol treatment marine formula in every tank if you have to buy gas containing ethanol. It is much worse on a boat than a car because of moisture.

[whitlock87]

Congratulation on the new boat.
The tige I currently own, was also my first boat. Like a another person said, V-Drive / D-drive boats handle different then other boats at low speeds and backing up. I would sugest you give your self a lot of room the first time you lunch it, is it will want to turn to the right regardless of what you do with the steering wheel. Also I would find a buoy that you use to simulate docking the boat. You will notice that once you go down to an idle, you have zero steering control. ( I dock by coming in at slight angle, and bump it in reveres to get it to straighten out.
Also to maintain sanity in the family, have your wife learn to drive the boat and or backing up the boat.
What we do, is my wife drives the boat on and off the trailer. I take care of driving the truck with the trailer. When we lunch, she will get into the boat along with our kids while we are still in the parking lot. After I have removed all the straps and installed the drain plug, I will then back it down the ramp until it is deep enough to start the engine. Once the engine start, I back up a few more feet and hit the brakes. The boat will drift off and then I put the truck in drive. As I am driving back tot eh parking lot, she is driving the boat away from the ramp. ( In and out in about 1-2 min) She then picks me up at the dock. We reveres this for going home and we all help to clean the boat before hitting the road. (she does the inside with the kids and I wipe down the outside)
(I always see couples arguing over lunching and retrieving.)
For stuff, check out Overtons.com or barts.com they have some good deals

DW