Z3 Surf Attitude vs 2013 23LSV

[ragboy]

So in the interest of not hijacking that other thread, I moved this over here.

After looking at these 2 pictures:



IMG_5832 by wake9, on Flickr

Chpthril made this comment:

I gotta say in all fairness, comparing the rubrail to the water on a Z3 to an LSV is not not where near apples to apples

On both those boats, the water line looks to be in about the same spot, relative to the top of the deck.

I dont' disagree with that at all, but a couple of notes:

1. I was showing the picture above which is under SEVERE weighting which we only did one time for sh*ts and giggles. That picture above is from this set.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wake9/...7632210676661/

If you look at this picture you will see the extra weight:

IMG_3746 by wake9, on Flickr

There is the ginormous 1100 jumbo bag and then the 400 lb sack up front just visible. This put us at 5000 lbs of water and we had a boatload of people. That was extreme, and we normally run with about 3000-3400 lbs + people. This picture later in the day is still with a good load of people, but we took the weight down, emptying the 1100 lb sack.

IMG_7597 by wake9, on Flickr

So I was comparing normal setup on the bu with extreme setup on the Z3.

If you want to figure our in that flickr set, which pictures ar of the 5k setup, and which when we emptied, well, they are in chronological order and the lower weight images should be somewhere after this one. ;-)

IMG_6960 by wake9, on Flickr

2. My opinion doesn't come from pictures but riding on a couple LSVs (not the current generation, but the one just previous) and our polar bear event, and my discussions with Dan, who now owns a Z3.

Here is his LSV from the polar bear, RJ and Maddie both surfed it, and I filmed chase watching several riders.

DSC00202 by wake9, on Flickr

It required a lot of list.

DSC00231 by wake9, on Flickr

IMG_7190 by wake9, on Flickr

While surfing, the water line was at or just above the rub rail, which is interesting, if you look at this picture:

IMG_6469 by wake9, on Flickr

Not quite so bad at rest. I noticed in chase, when he engaged the wedge more to make it steeper, it was lower in the water.

So, to recap, that bu made a great wave that made every rider happy that I spoke to. But several folks were not as happy with the ride in the boat.

[Ewok]

My boat looks like that LSV when I have it leaning for surfing. Run rail is about 2" above water at rest but the water is at the rub rail when underway.

[turbonine]

The first pic is my 2007 23LSV at Powell last year. Its a different hull than the 2008-2013 that was at the Polar Bear last year. Not sure on the differences, my guess is the newer has a little more freeboard and it sinks a little bit easier. The setup I had at Powell was 650 in rear corner, 650 center, 250 front, about 1000 along the side, wedge and a few people. So about 3000lbs total and we have the 1235 prop and 350hp engine. No problems getting to speed and about 4-5 gph.

[ragboy]

@turbonine, do you use the wedge?

[turbonine]

@turbonine, do you use the wedge?

Yes, all the way down. I don't like the handling with it up any bit.

[ragboy]

So, based on your GPH, I am guessing all the way down means least drag, not engaged?

[ironpeddler]

so better surf wake is??

[ragboy]

I think that is a preference issue, I like the Z3 better. One of the things I love about the Z3 wake is how adjustable it is. The 23LSV is one of the few boats, that I also saw a good deal of adjustability, but at a price. To get that, Dan used the wedge. You engage the wedge more to steepen the wake, less to shallow it out. When you engage the wedge, it sucks fuel.

[turbonine]

So, based on your GPH, I am guessing all the way down means least drag, not engaged?

Yes, all the way down it more like a foil. I am pretty sure that is why a realize good gph consumption in my setup. Start clicking it up and it gets more downward angle. I am almost certain the the thrust from the prop runs through the wedge, so if it is up a bit it is taking your propulsion from the prop and diverting it downwards resulting in wasted energy. If you have ever not gotten the wedge all the way back up in its stored position and tried to get on plane it is impossible. It literally feels like dragging an anchor.

[ragboy]

Yes, as I understand the AXIS doesn't have a power wedge, where Dan's and most newer 23LSVs do. So he could manipulate on the fly to help get on plane or whatever, but in the AXIS, they had the wedge deployed to make a good surf wave and just left it there. When we were done surfing they went to head in and gave it full throttle, it literally took about 4-5 minutes to come on plane. I may have been more like 3, but it felt like 4 or 5, we just sat there slowly watching the bow creep downward. We were in salt water, so I am guessing no one wanted to reach down there and lift it up, or they just normally leave it down, not sure.