Z3 vs. MC X30... Reliability and Wake

[Z1Fan]

I've not had any serious issues with my 2014 Z3. Just a bunch of little issues that will all be taken care of under warranty. But owning a boat with any issues is not like a car where you can drop it off for a couple days and get a loaner. These boats are more expensive than most households vehicles combined and yet getting these things into service is such a pain in the arse. I can't even schedule my 20 hour service cause my dealer is so backed up and I won't be guaranteed to get my boat back in less than a week - there's no telling how long to fix all my warranty issues. That to me is kinda ridiculous for a boat at these prices.

I feel like I'm working with my Ford Dealership...where I should be treated like my Infiniti Dealer treats us - they come and pick up our QX and drop off a loaner for an simple Oil Change. I understand that level of service is not realistic - but the Ford/Dodge level of service is unacceptable as well. Vet your dealer pretty thoroughly.

Ahmen , I hear you ,but I've resigned myself to the fact that no matter what I buy next , I am generally on my own when it comes too warranty issues ,but tige customer service is very very good , kudos to Harvey !!!

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[LKG PH Creek]

My 2014 Z3 (delivered in 9/13) has 56 hours on it and zero issues. My dealer is close by and service oriented. I couldn't be happier with the boat or the dealer.

[Tomp]

the problem I have had with my motor has now been diagnosed as a recalled anti surge fuel canister, if that is the actual part discription I dont know?

on order, waiting again as usaual

[ragboy]

Our Z3 is a 2012 and It has about 1500 hours on it with the PCM 409. I say that, because around 800 hours or so, the hour meter reset itself or something, it was very strange. This boat has seen some of the hardest use I have ever seen. It has towed many EWT events, 2 mywake events, several polar bear events, and countless hours of demos and family and friends wakesurfing. It has been an R&D platform and has been rode hard and put away wet. I would say the use of this boat is probably akin to the F150 torture test but for wakesurf boats. I think we have chewed and replaced 6 or 7 props along the way also. Other than regular service, here is the list of issues we have had:

1. There was a PCM recall right after we got it for a cylinder head or something. Resolved quickly.
2. After putting 600+ hours in the first season, the steering cable needed to be replaced in june of 2013.
3. Last year about this time, with around 1200 hours of service the transmission broke and needed to be replaced.
4. The throttle and shifter in the cockpit has needed to be tightened up about once per season.
5. We had an issue with front pumps priming, which we resolved on our own and now they never need priming.

That is it. I am guessing the transmission would have lasted longer, if not for the harsh treatment and events.

Now here is the most amazing part, it still blows me away. We have a special ballast system in our boat and we towed the entire West Coast Wakesurf Open with this one boat. Switched side to side in about 2 minutes. We had a full set of riders, like 75. Saturday was an early start around 8am and the boat ran all day without a single break til after 6pm. The judges and driver didn't even take a food break, I think Squid (one of the judges) actually took a deuce off of the swim deck because they were dedicated to stay on schedule and give everyone a great ride. It was an epic day and the boat had about 1200 hours on it at the time.

The boat was pulled out of the water and I checked the hour meter, it clocked a full 10+ hours on the meter. The boat was FULL the night before and we filled it up. I still have the receipts, it took 46 gallons. This boat has our wake9 ballast bags and for the comp was setup with about 3500 lbs of that water ballast (1500 including hard tank on surf side rear, 900 or so on opposite side, and 1100 up front) and at least 1300 - 1500 lbs of people (judges). So that is just about 5000 lbs of ballast for the comp with the ACME 1235 prop. 46 Gallons.

The boat still runs perfect and puts out the best wake surf wake ever. I know I am biased, but come ride it and see what you think. ;-) This boat belongs in a museum. Because we are always looking to push forward and try new things, who knows which boat we will have next. But I can easily say, I would buy this same boat over and over again for my family.

Here is a great, recent, quick, video of the wake. The wake looks different for different riders, but that is all just taps and speed changes.

[rbsileighty]

Ragboy thanks, very helpful info! So for that much ballast (insane amount) you’d rec a 6.0L minimum?

Sorry for the delayed reply everyone, really appreciate the feedback! Been busy with work but finally got a chance to ride last night.

I just rode behind a Z3 on Fenton last night Tomp, it is a great lake for riding… esp after the rain storm we had because no boats + glass water! I have to say I was very impressed, but not right when we got in the water. When I first looked at the boat I was actually really impressed with the fit/finish (not sure how that’s changed from 2012 to now if at all, this was a ’14). I’d heard it was poor but I’d argue it’s on par with the new X-30 I sat in a few weeks ago (haven’t ridden yet, that’s soon). So back to the disappointing first wake impression… proballast is OK, but emphasis on OK. The boat is a 2014 with VX and a 5.7L Indmar with Proballast option. The wake is really long and steep, which is the saving grace for the stock system… at 10.6 and Taps 5 it was pretty good, but not new boat cost good to us (we had 4 people in the boat, total people weight ~900 and a half tank of fuel). So luckily we brought 2 of our Eight.3: 400 and 800 sacks with us that we use on my friend’s T-22 Axis for this wake (he was with us, it has factory ballast and we also run another 1100lbs on top of that):


Once we added the Eight.3 bags it was GREAT! I think there would be some fine-tuning needed but the shape is perfect and the boat itself it excellent to ride in… even with the 5.7L it took no effort to get moving to 11.4mph at taps 6. I was to cought in the moment to take a picture so I apologize… I assume (and hope) that the wake can get taller but I wonder if the 5.7 would still be a champ with more weight.

So a quick summary for me on the Tige so far-

The Good:
• Great wake shape
• Good fit/finish
• Far more efficient with the 5.7 engine than same engine in other boats
• Tilt floor pump access is super easy compared to other boats (is this the same for 2012-14’s?)
• Very comfortable boat
• Engine is very quite compared to other boats
The Not so Good:
• Stock Proballast is weak for a top level boat/price
• Radio Bluetooth connectivity was quirky and a little bit of a pain
• Radio output for upgraded with 2x Rev 10’s seemed was very loud but not very “full” sounding (didn’t really play with the settings to much but the base was turned up and various music tried)
• Tige Touch seems like an OK interface, however I question how long it will work well… 2012 people chime in here please!

Thank you all for your input and keep it coming! I’ll likely go Tige… just saying, I really loved the boat but I need to do my due diligence and ride the X-30 with the same crew/weight and I’ll let you know what I find.

[ragboy]

All the hours on our boat, the touch has never burped, still feels the same.
When weighted, the wake is second to none, especially with our current setup.

[rbsileighty]

All the hours on our boat, the touch has never burped, still feels the same.
When weighted, the wake is second to none, especially with our current setup.

Would you mind spelling out how much and where the weight is in the boat when you weigh your Z3? Do you think a 5.7 would be ok with your weight or do you need the 6.0L...

Thanks!

[Tomp]

We had the boat full on one side half on the other with the 1400 capacity rears and the stock pro fronts full, with the 350 hp and 1235 prop we took off and got on plane with no problems at all, it would have taken awhile with the original prop.

Big storm with hail forced me to pin it without time to empy the ballasts.

Bottom line is this boat did not need the larger motor upgrade like other boats!!!

Took off great

[ragboy]

I would recommend the 6L, because the economy was still amazing, and it gives it a bit more punch out of the hole. But the 5.7 is fine, you may wait a few extra seconds.

Basically, its the Wake9 ballast bags, they are about 1300-1400 lbs, port side a bit bigger. Fill all the way up on the surf side rear, fill entire front all the way up, then place people, heaviest on surf side but you don't need to compress in the corner, sometimes the heaviest is better at the observer position, experiment. Then fill the opposite to about 7-9 degrees. Here is a tip, do 7 degrees of list or so on the regular side and there will probably be some wash or a cut on the lip. Then take away opposite weight until the cut disappears, this is the best shape, just when that disappears IMHO. Surf around 11.2. 10.5 will make a short steep wall, you need a bit more speed as you add weight.

On the goofy side, its the same but with more list to clean it up, around 12.

The about setup is with the 2013-2014 VX, we are setup with a "later" version that makes the goofy as easy to dial as the regular, and makes a bigger wake with less weight. More details on that after the 2015 stuff is announced. ;-)

[ragboy]

Yes, the 1235 is a must, or something similar.

[rbsileighty]

We had the boat full on one side half on the other with the 1400 capacity rears and the stock pro fronts full, with the 350 hp and 1235 prop we took off and got on plane with no problems at all, it would have taken awhile with the original prop.

Big storm with hail forced me to pin it without time to empy the ballasts.

Bottom line is this boat did not need the larger motor upgrade like other boats!!!

Took off great

Yeah, I completely agree! I take it this was the storm we had last weekend?! (it was nuts... but just the hail missed us barely on Wolverine Lake). You were running a touch more than we were and agreed there was no strain what-so-ever getting up to speed.

Thanks for the input Ragboy, appreciate it!

[ragboy]

Its enough, just need the prop. It blows me away that its enough, but its enough. The EWT backup boat was loaded down with a 350, it did fine. Just need the prop. Even in Colorado at 5000 ft.

If you want to surf with family and friends, the Z3 is going to be in most people's top 3. With the setup we have now, goofy or regular, its at the top. The wake is unreal. I weigh 400 lbs and took a video 2 days ago where I surfed with just our water ballast and no other weight in the boat, RJ driving, and Jesse (9) and Thomas (13) in the boat and it pushed me great. Then all the pros, yada yada.

[rbsileighty]

Its enough, just need the prop. It blows me away that its enough, but its enough. The EWT backup boat was loaded down with a 350, it did fine. Just need the prop. Even in Colorado at 5000 ft.

If you want to surf with family and friends, the Z3 is going to be in most people's top 3. With the setup we have now, goofy or regular, its at the top. The wake is unreal. I weigh 400 lbs and took a video 2 days ago where I surfed with just our water ballast and no other weight in the boat, RJ driving, and Jesse (9) and Thomas (13) in the boat and it pushed me great. Then all the pros, yada yada.

Yeah, the length/beam is a Win-Win for me... tons of space for friends/fam and like displacement is for power, length is for wake height... really appreciate all the input!

With the wake9 system being "plug and play" does that mean the Tige Touch fill percentage is accurate in the screen when it's filling even though the bags are different? (could be a stupid question but wasn't sure how it "knows" how full it is with the new bags)

[ragboy]

Honestly, I don't use the percentages. Here is what we do. While the boat is at a stop start filling the fronts. The boat needs to NOT be moving when starting to fill fronts or sometimes it may not prime. You can be moving WHILE filling just fine. At the same time, start filling rears. Stop filling the opposite rear after about 5 mins or close to half way full. Stop filling all others when they are leaking out and don't stop until they leak out.

Adjust the opposite side based on list angle. You only need a clinometer in the beginning or if you don't go out often. You will feel it after a while.

[rbsileighty]

Honestly, I don't use the percentages. Here is what we do. While the boat is at a stop start filling the fronts. The boat needs to NOT be moving when starting to fill fronts or sometimes it may not prime. You can be moving WHILE filling just fine. At the same time, start filling rears. Stop filling the opposite rear after about 5 mins or close to half way full. Stop filling all others when they are leaking out and don't stop until they leak out.

Adjust the opposite side based on list angle. You only need a clinometer in the beginning or if you don't go out often. You will feel it after a while.

Perfect, thank you!