I have a 2014 Z3 with pro ballast, and added wake 9 bags. I have the base indmar 350 and a 1235 prop. Ballast full 9 people on the boat, 1 kid and a baby. boat pulled all the weight like it was nothing. I absolutely love my tige and the surf wake, it just flat out performs
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After reading about Squid's "activity" I have visions of Bill Murray in Caddie Shack with the Baby Ruth Bar. Clearly, TMI but a GREAT incentive not fall off the board!
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I love seeing all the positive comments on the Z3. i should be picking up my 2014 Z3 Monday or Tuesday!! We are super excited to be boat owners again. I am getting the Indmar 6.0. I probably wouldn't have ordered the 6.0 but i think this boat is a good deal and that's what it had. I'll post pics as soon as i have them!Comment
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We have over 260 hrs on our 2012 RZR and tige touch has never had any issues at all. In fact the only thing we have had to do beside routine maintenace (oil changes etc) is replace the throttle cable. We run in brackish water half the time so steering cables tend to go quick.Comment
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how did you fix the front balist loosing prime issue ? I still have that problem not a big deal but would like to fix itOriginally posted by ragboy View PostOur 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.
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It is a very easy fix, once we figured it out, and I believe Tige has resolved this since 2014 boats. The issue is where the check valve is on the front hose. We tried so many things to fix this on our boat and no matter what we did, we would have to manually prime at least one of the front pumps on each outing. It wasn't until we redid our ballast system completely that we saw what was going on.
The check valves were basically on the floor just before the front bags, but then from the check valve the hose goes up to the top of the bag to fill. So the last 2 feet of hose from the check valve to the top of the bag to fill is the issue. When you empty the bag there is still some water in it and water is in that hose down to the check valve. This puts added pressure on the flap making the check valve needing more pressure to open and allow water through, and manual priming is necessary. Now just take that check valve and raise it above the fill, not below, and it works fine since there is now never any back pressure on that check valve. That is all it was, and now we NEVER have to manually prime and it is a beautiful thing. Just remember to make sure the boat is STOPPED, no motion, when you start filling your fronts, and you should be good.http://wake9.com/Comment
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Perfect thanks!!Comment
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rbsileighty I sent you a PM contact me if you would like to check out my 2014? It's the blue one that was at the novi boat show last spring.
Tom 734-776-1902Comment
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OMG
Boat is still not fixed, I am stranded again for about the sixth time and in need of a tow!!!!
On the lake anchored hoping it will re start in awhile .
Yes new boat with 30 hours and the most unreliable thing I've ever had, $80,000 nightmare!!!!Comment
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Wow! Were you able to get it started? I'll write you back w/ PMOriginally posted by Tomp View PostComment
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