No Tige Surf 'System'

[ragboy]

I am pretty sure parker lists the boat a bit, I have asked them. Good family, and that kid can surf. ;-)

[sandm]

I will say that the wave does not look that big, and the guy looks like he weighs a good 120 when he is wet. Not sure how that wave would feel for me at 220 pounds.

this. I have watched Bri C. surf and watching anyone like that spin 360's one after the other really looks like any old evinrude outboard on a trihull would be sufficient for them.. not displacing enough water to really care how the wave is.

[Timmy!]

I am pretty sure parker lists the boat a bit, I have asked them. Good family, and that kid can surf. ;-)

Do you think it was listed in his video though since he did the transition?

[Timmy!]

You guys all know how pictures and videos of waves go, sometimes they can look huge, sometimes it doesn't do it any justice at all. My point was that the systems do work and here is a kid that trains behind one and he is making his way into the pro's this year. I personally would like a system like this but won't be buying anything but Tige due to having the best dealer in the country.

[loudelectronics]

I was bored on Saturday so I filled my boat up with stock ballast. Took it out on the lake and then jammed an oar into the crack of the VX to simulate the NSS. The concept works for sure but the wake it very flat. Much prefer the listed wake. I would just be nice to have the ability when teaching newbs to switch quickly.

[mnpracing]

I was bored on Saturday so I filled my boat up with stock ballast. Took it out on the lake and then jammed an oar into the crack of the VX to simulate the NSS. The concept works for sure but the wake it very flat. Much prefer the listed wake. I would just be nice to have the ability when teaching newbs to switch quickly.

yikes, I would be afraid of ripping the VX off the brackets, or worse the brackets off the transom. I agree with your opinion on preference for listed wake though.

[ragboy]

Do you think it was listed in his video though since he did the transition?

I think they setup for transitions that way, but when he is practicing and training, the boat is at least a bit listed.

[turbonine]

this. I have watched Bri C. surf and watching anyone like that spin 360's one after the other really looks like any old evinrude outboard on a trihull would be sufficient for them.. not displacing enough water to really care how the wave is.

If you have ever rode a Victoria skim board you will know that those things are FAST! I ride one of her old boards and I have at least 60lbs on her and I ride an average sized wave and I have no problem staying in the pocket. Plus you think of spinning on that board and it happens. Tried my first 720 last week and almost rode away from it, just got a little to outside of the pocket.

[Duncan]

I spent all day Friday (in the rain) surfing and driving a stock G23. I really, really wanted NOT to like it. But I failed.

The G23 had at least 85% of the wave of our RZ2. The lip was softer and the wall does not get as steep. Just moving the three adult passengers to the surf side steepened the wall and sharpened the lip (but not enough) so I can see how some sacks to give it some list would help. Bottom line is the wave was more than enough but we are far from pros.

My wife said "I love how this drives with no list". And I could tell she was much less stressed during driving. I am the only goofy rider in our crew and I often do not surf because of it. With the G23, several times I jumped in between regular riders. That flexibility really made a difference.

The dark side wave was as good as regular. I switched sides back and forth several times to practice back side. My wife did too and had fun with it. The auto-suggested surf settings were too slow (10.9 mph) and only filled the "belly" ballast half way (located just forward of midship). Speeding up to mid 11s and maxing that belly sack really lengthened pocket. Two different electronic settings -- one changed how far NSS plate slid out (useless). The other controlled a trim tab (max for wall, a few clicks down for a more mellow skim or newbie wave). Interior was nice and I really liked the rear bench conversion for rear view.

Why am I posting here? Because I am a huge Tige fanboy and have been for since 2008 when I first researched wake boats. And it makes me very sad to say that if I bought a boat today ... it would be a G23. I hope Tige comes up with something similar in the next two years so I can stick with the brand.

[ragboy]

@duncan, I am curious. How fast does it have to switch for you to feel like you could surf at any time? We switch in 2 minutes and switch every time we go out, and many times 2x or more. Its nothing. I am the only regular rider in our family and I surf every time we go out. When switching took about 6 minutes, it was not quite as easy, but it was still not a problem. I am curious, knowing that with a G23, the best wake is still slightly listed, what is the amount of time and ease it takes to make you feel like you can surf at any time?

[Dandy]

I spent all day Friday (in the rain) surfing and driving a stock G23. I really, really wanted NOT to like it. But I failed.

The G23 had at least 85% of the wave of our RZ2. The lip was softer and the wall does not get as steep. Just moving the three adult passengers to the surf side steepened the wall and sharpened the lip (but not enough) so I can see how some sacks to give it some list would help. Bottom line is the wave was more than enough but we are far from pros.

My wife said "I love how this drives with no list". And I could tell she was much less stressed during driving. I am the only goofy rider in our crew and I often do not surf because of it. With the G23, several times I jumped in between regular riders. That flexibility really made a difference.

The dark side wave was as good as regular. I switched sides back and forth several times to practice back side. My wife did too and had fun with it. The auto-suggested surf settings were too slow (10.9 mph) and only filled the "belly" ballast half way (located just forward of midship). Speeding up to mid 11s and maxing that belly sack really lengthened pocket. Two different electronic settings -- one changed how far NSS plate slid out (useless). The other controlled a trim tab (max for wall, a few clicks down for a more mellow skim or newbie wave). Interior was nice and I really liked the rear bench conversion for rear view.

Why am I posting here? Because I am a huge Tige fanboy and have been for since 2008 when I first researched wake boats. And it makes me very sad to say that if I bought a boat today ... it would be a G23. I hope Tige comes up with something similar in the next two years so I can stick with the brand.

For pretty much all of these reasons, we now have this parked at our place (sorry about the crappy phone pic):
IMG_20140812_100851884_HDR.jpg

[duffymahoney]

I have spent like a few days dialing in a g23 now, we have tried stock, slightly listed, 750's and 1100s. The wave is flatter but with similar push to mine. Also you have to surf slower, I surf at 12.2-12.7. We surfed at like 10.8-11. Which on my wave makes it shoulder height and only 2 feet long I think it's neat idea and a neat system, but no where near my wave. I think for 98% of people it would be enough. I think for pro skim riders it might be perfect. Mellow with push is right up there alley.

[ragboy]

@duffy Have you calibrated or checked your speed to GPS? RJ surfs at 12, calibrated, just curious.

[Duncan]

@duncan, I am curious. How fast does it have to switch for you to feel like you could surf at any time? We switch in 2 minutes and switch every time we go out, and many times 2x or more. Its nothing. I am the only regular rider in our family and I surf every time we go out. When switching took about 6 minutes, it was not quite as easy, but it was still not a problem. I am curious, knowing that with a G23, the best wake is still slightly listed, what is the amount of time and ease it takes to make you feel like you can surf at any time?

It is not so easy to reduce everything to time. As I alluded to above, the major thing that keeps me out of the water is I know my wife stresses while driving our RZ2 listed. So if there are lots of boats out or choppy or windy conditions, I do not bother setting up for dark side -- otherwise, I am stressed out in the water knowing my wife is stressed out. She is a good driver (better than she thinks) but she does not like listed handling. I could tell she actually _enjoyed_ driving the G23 and, as a result, I enjoyed surfing exponentially more. Added to that, our son is 2.5 years old and more frequently we have other young-child families out with us. I explain the list and safety precautions and most pretend they are not nervous.

The switch time on our RZ2 is currently an issue. I know the transfer pumps as on your Z3 would take away most of that problem. But my wife would still be driving a listed wave (see above). I do acknowledge that the Z3 is probably not listed nearly as much as our rub rail RZ2 setup.

Re best G23 wave being slightly listed, I guess my point is I would like to be able to hop in and surf more often even if on an 85% wave. And I admit, both my wife and I really enjoyed switching sides during a run to practice back side. I know, you could do so in a second set but we rarely do. As an analogy, I ride my snowboard about 60% goofy and 40% switch/regular -- but I never take an all switch run down the mountain. And the vast, vast majority of people that ride with us would have PLENTY of wave with the G23, no list required.

Gimme a Z3 with VX and NSS-like plates and I would have the best of both worlds. Right now, and for the next several years until my son is old enough to drive, if I had to choose between a perfect, listed wave and an 85% system wave (which could be listed for 5-10% bump), I would go with a system wave.

EDIT: One difference is fuel -- our RZ2 burns 3-4 gph surfing. The G23 burned 8-10 gph surfing. Sure, that is a factor, but gas is not really the major expense of having a boat.

[Duncan]

I have spent like a few days dialing in a g23 now ... Also you have to surf slower, I surf at 12.2-12.7. We surfed at like 10.8-11.

Hmmm, might want to check speed with a GPS. Speeding up from 10.9 to 1.4 or 11.6 made a big difference in the G23 wave pocket with not much loss in height. Anything above 11.6 and the wave went flat (at least with full belly sack, might be better to go to 50% belly and higher speed).