Any reason to mod my Swim Platform for Surfing?

[EricU]

My '08 RZ4 has gotten the zipper effect going again, Just got it last May and have already added ballast, stereo and a new DC distribution panel (to support the ballast pumps).

While I was going to have the sub placed up under the helm and ported, well now it is two 12"W6s in a new sealed enclosure up under the helm, the tower was cracked, so I am dumping the tower and getting a new one, saw another post for Deckadence flooring and will be redoing the old carpet.

Anyway, I want to also redo the swim platform decking material and I was wondering if;

• Should I make the Swim Platform smaller for surfing?

I figure there are several options;

1. Mod the factory wide deck to make it narrower and glass in the recesses ($)
2. Get a newer style (narrower) factory deck and mod it fit my brackets ($$$)
3. Build one out of aluminum tube and sheeting, (smooth on the bottom if that matters) paint with automotive paint, then cover with the SeaDek ($$)
4. Build a Teak deck for testing ($) I used to be a carpenter and this wouldn’t be too bad for me to do

[tigeunrest]

I just cut a sheet of 3/4' plywood to the size I thought it should be, bolted it to the brackets took it for a test drive. I may make mine narrower then what I had cut like adamsjstt because I think it is still messing with the wave.
With mine I am going to make mine narrower and angle the trailing edge in. I did some testing before putting her away this fall. I am going to just mod my own platform, it seems like it wont be too difficult on the skill scale. Make some cuts, fiberglass edges, fill in the bottom, gel coat and paint. It will be more labor intensive then anything

[EricU]

...With mine I am going to make mine narrower and angle the trailing edge in. I did some testing before putting her away this fall. I am going to just mod my own platform,...

So did you find that a smaller platform does help?

[tigeunrest]

It is actually in my garage right now waiting for me to trim it. Preliminary testing was promising with a piece of 3/4" plywood. I tested on probably the worst day when the wind was blowing probably 30 mph. I went to a bay where it was calmer but still choppy. Here is the results, you can still see the deck cutting into the water but way cleaner then it was. I think I am going to narrow it some more, closer to the mounting bracket like adamsjstt.
Swim Deck in Water Wave1.jpg
Swim Deck in Water Wave2b.jpg
Swim Deck in Water Wave3b.jpg
Swim Deck in Water1.jpg

[tigeunrest]

Short movie of the wave.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/109214025@N05/11214840556/

[EricU]

It is actually in my garage right now waiting for me to trim it. Preliminary testing was promising...Here is the results, you can still see the deck cutting into the water but way cleaner then it was. I think I am going to narrow it some more, closer to the mounting bracket like adamsjstt.

[ATTACH]36106[/ATTACH]

So, then you would say it is worth modifying then?
Funny, I hadn't thought of using a piece of plywood for testing, that's perfect, cheap, easy and then you have a template.

We just got our RZ4 last May, (put away for our brutal Northern California winter now) and haven't really been able to dial in the wake for either boarding or surfing quite yet. I can get a clean big wake at pretty fast speeds for wakeboarding but that's not great for the younger kids. We didn't get the ballast system working correctly until the end of the season but it works great now.

We love the size and ride of the big RZ4 and really hope we can get it dialed in next season for both boarding and surfing.

• How do you plan on building/modding your final platform once you have the size/shape complete?

[tigeunrest]

I am going to use the original deck and just cut it with a saw. I worked with fiberglass a while back as long as you use a roller to roll out the bubbles everything else is pretty straight forward. If you search fiberglass on Youtube there are lots of videos on the subject.

My final shape won't be decided until I actually cut it. From what I have read go as narrow as you can without cutting the bracket. Which means I will trim mine right up to the block that the swim platform bracket bolts to. the plywood in the picture is a little wider then that. I will fill the bottom too, make it smooth so it slices the water rather then dragging through it. My Nephew has a centurion and his deck is small and does not affect the face of the wave at all. The shape is to different for me I am going for a deck similar to the one that came with the boat, just smaller.

Here is adamsjstt's mod, others have cut them too, Wickedcummins did his 2011 RZ2.

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...ight=adamsjstt

[duffymahoney]

Wave flap might cut all that wash down a lot.

[EricU]

Wave flap might cut all that wash down a lot.

1. What are you making those flaps out of now?
2. Where do you get the rubber?
3. Does it effect the wakeboarding wake at all?

We sure hope to get our RZ4's wakes dialed in this next season as we just love all the other aspects of the boat, but we gotta be able to get the thing dialed in. I am hoping to pick Ragboy's knowledge next season as we plan on spending a lot of time at Lake Oroville next year.

[EricU]

I am going to use the original deck and just cut it with a saw. I worked with fiberglass a while back as long as you use a roller to roll out the bubbles everything else is pretty straight forward. If you search fiberglass on Youtube there are lots of videos on the subject.

My final shape won't be decided until I actually cut it. From what I have read go as narrow as you can without cutting the bracket. Which means I will trim mine right up to the block that the swim platform bracket bolts to. the plywood in the picture is a little wider then that. I will fill the bottom too, make it smooth so it slices the water rather then dragging through it. My Nephew has a centurion and his deck is small and does not affect the face of the wave at all. The shape is to different for me I am going for a deck similar to the one that came with the boat, just smaller.

Here is adamsjstt's mod, others have cut them too, Wickedcummins did his 2011 RZ2.

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...ight=adamsjstt

I've done a lot of fiberglass work, but haven't ever shot (or rolled) gel coat, that is the part that I am kind of scared of butchering!!

[duffymahoney]

1. Horse stall mat
2. Big R or tractor supply company
3. None

[Duncan]

1. What are you making those flaps out of now?
2. Where do you get the rubber?
3. Does it effect the wakeboarding wake at all?

Check your existing brackets for circular cutouts -- if they are there, you can mount a flap VERY easily as described in this thread.