Talk me out of the new Centurion '44 and into a Z3 (ragboy are you out there?)

[Greeko]

I agree with you Timmy... The centurion is a Surf Machine...function over form!...lol..

In its defense...it has gotten way better in the last 3 years...WAYYY better!

I was on the fence to buy one...The wife was like..you're spending How much on THAT?!?!?! The Tige is WAYYYYYYY nicer

We know how this ends lol

[Timmy!]

Do you honestly think that one boat over the other in this case is going to make you a better surfer? I haven't seen a case where a rider can only do a certain trick behind one of the boats because the other is lacking.

[mnpracing]

I actually like the steering wheel better, and the push-button start.

[Dandy]

A couple points:
1: I don't think you are going to find a FX/S44 or FS33 with the QuickSurf for $80K anytime soon. IIR the QuickSurf is only available on the 2015 models. If you could live without the QuickSurf you may find a used/demo FX44 with CATS and RamFill
2: As pointed out already, RamFill will eliminate almost all of the storage. The tanks fill up under the side seats and about 1/2 way up the height of the rear lockers. Basically you are left with 1/2 of a rear locker (if you have the PNP bags), under the observers seat and the bow for storage. If that is important to you, RamFill may not be what you want. I also believe that you will get more weight with a full bag system vs. RamFill.

Aside from that, the rest really becomes personal preference. I have not take the time to crawl around a 2015 Tige with TT2. When we were shopping we looked hard and compared the FX44 and G23. I will provide you with a few things that I took away. I feel that Centurion does a much better job with consistency in their build vs. Tige, mainly because their wiring and plumbing is routed much nicer/more consistant and like auto manufactures, they use a spec harness in their builds...Tiges wiring seems to be somewhat random - our boat even had 10/12 AWG connections on 14/16 wires doubled over to work with the larger connector. Minor yes, but it does make me question things some (maybe this has changed).

I personally did not like the dash layout on the Centurion boats. There is just too much stuff spread out. Touch screen to the right, CATS on one side of the column, TAB adjustment on the other side, switches and stereo control to the left. To me is seemed overwhelming, however the nice thing is that almost everything is available where as TT and the Nautique Linc2 you sometime have to switch to a different screen to access functions.

I also really did not like the way the observers seat is set up. Instead of just lining up with the walkthrough wall (like Tige does), it angles into the walkway and narrows down the space greatly between the observers and drivers seat. I am not a big guy (5'11/195) and felt that I had to adjust to walk through - it didn't feel open. Honestly, this really turned us off to the boat.

At the end of the day it is all about personal preference and as mentioned dealer/factory support. For us, storage was a big issue, was turned off by touch screens. We made our purchasing decision as a family. Demoed a few boats which both my wife and I drove. We both liked the G23 and she actually is more comfortable and confident driving the G23 than any of the other boats. This alone makes for a more enjoyable day on the water. Get out with your family and demo some boats.

To be honest, if it was me at this time, I would seriously consider finding a good deal on a good used boat for a few years. With the recent "mergers" in the industry I believe there will be some significant changes coming with the 2017/2018 models. I have no inside information on this, it is just my gut instinct.

Good luck and have a lot of fun shopping for that new boat.

[MooseX]

lol that is one ugly *** dash my lord baby jezus have mercy..

You can't beat ram fill. Not sure what quickie surf is. I guess I gotta get deeper in my search knowledge.

AND I cant' wait to try out that Cat sh*t'

One thing I can't get away from is the deeper V of the Centurion. Tahoe is like a mile deep and BIG. The wind comes up and you might think your out crabbin' on the Bering Sea. Deep V's in Tahoe are 'king'.

Cheap you meant boat storage doh...My 24 had close to none all sacked up and we were fine with it. We don't need no stinking storage It's a day boat not a camper.

Typical day on my boat starts early 8ish... (before the wind). All we bring is some light snacks, lotsa' water, your own towels (no booze) and boards. Maybe 4 hours max on the lake and it goes back on the bouy. You could trailer it somewhere else but then you have to pay for another Mussel Inspection...70 bux and they have to take the boat to 'cleaning station' where they rinse out your bilge and all your ballast


I'll be buying used (cause I don't have a spare 120 grand....). Don't want to go into debt..cash deal. There's gonna be used ones with low hours in my price range. I've seen em' already in last winters' pre search'

OK that might be the best Wake9 video I've seen. Question: Ballast is listed but are those per side or TOTAL? My 24V has 5900 lbs. 2950 per side. Seems like the Z3 in the video could have handled a sh*tload more ballast. The wave is LONG but not so tall for a boat that everyone seems to drool over.

Axis wave actually looked pretty damn good. G21 wave seemed short..but decent for sure. All have good waves.

That Lake Berryessa is like 90 minutes from my house..and 15 from my mom's place. I should get off my *** and go to one of those events...The water level this year is L O W though. REALLY FKN' LOW. So low schools of fish have been spotted hitchhiking on i80 in search of a new lake..

[Stingreye]

lol that is one ugly *** dash my lord baby jezus have mercy..

You can't beat ram fill. Not sure what quickie surf is. I guess I gotta get deeper in my search knowledge.

AND I cant' wait to try out that Cat sh*t'

Cheap you meant boat storage doh...My 24 had close to none all sacked up and we were fine with it. We don't need no stinking storage It's a day boat not a camper


I'll be buying used (cause I don't have a spare 120 grand....). Don't want to go into debt..cash deal. There's gonna be used ones with low hours in my price range. I've seen em' already in last winters' pre search'

Being at Tahoe, you are going to need a monster of a an engine. I am still shocked you could get your 350 to pull all your Oprah weight up there. I took my boat up there once and that elevation is NO JOKE! If I were you and spending that much money, I would want to demo ON TAHOE with the amount of Duffy/Moose size weight you will run.

IF the CATs system creates drag like surf gate, you are going to need a monster motor. The guys running heavy with surf gate at altitude are running LS3 motors.

MooseX, you may want to take a look at a MB 23WB. They don't have ram fill but it does have quick fill tanks and then you still have to fill sacs above the quick fill. The one I surfer at Polar Bear had an elite wave (it also used a surf flap like Duffy). I could be wrong but I thought brand new ones could be had in your price range.

With the need for a big motor, I think the MB might be a good fit because you can put the extra money saved into the motor. I do think you can get away with the raptor motor on the Z3 because it does not have a surf system that creates drag and your 24V survived Tahoe's altitude with a smaller motor. Just my opinion but I have come to respect altitude a lot more. I think it would take a HUGE motor at Tahoe on a drag based surf system boat.

https://www.flickr.com/search/?tags=boatmbb5223wb

http://wake9.com/polar-bear-2013/recap.php

[MooseX]

yup you got that right 'Reye' lol... the air is THIN up here. I think you lose 25 percent of your power!!!! To help that EVERY TIME we pull someone up we put everyone forward. They hate it but I'm the captain and those monkeys scramble up there. I'll ease into the throttle and "gently" pull the surfer up. All in an effort to preserve the 350'.

It works with seasoned riders but if we get a rookie and they need to be yanked up I totally hesitate doing that. That's a HUGE strain on the drive!!!! I made sure to tell the new owner NOT TO DO THAT if possible. After 320 hours of Big A** Ballast the motor still purrrrs and it still has close to factory compression numbers. No valve noise nothing.

Def' a RAPTOR motor..or any bigger engine is on the list. TORQUE is what I crave. Big low end pull. I'd die for a super charged raptor

I have a awhile to decide though. I leave for San Jose Del Cabo July 1..and coming back Sept 30th. Staying on the beach Costa Azul (10 mile sandy stretch of heaven). It's up the Cape on the Sea of Cortez side..25 min from Cabo proper but outta' the tourist crap. Google SURF IN SAN JOSE DEL CABO to check out the scene and I think you might want to go there someday...I'm stoked outta' my mind. Surf trip of a lifetime!! Got a new/used longboard yesterday off Craigs in Bodega Bay.. and also bringing 3 other short boards including 2 fish and 1 thruster.


OK bottom line I'm trying to go all in with the next boat. Super 'Duffy Oprah' sized burying the rub rail' ballast adjustable by 'Cats BIGGEST LONGEST BEST wave possible LOL. No pussyfootin' around. I might toss in another 10 grand to get there but it's gotta be the end all of wakesurf waves.

[tonka8ty]

I have the raptor 440 and it pulls like a beast and our lake Is at 7000 feet. I filled the factory ballist up and put another 1000 pounds in it and was on plane in 5seconds. That is 4500 pounds

[MooseX]

7000 wow! 6250 here. Where are you Colorado? Canada? Nepal?

[Greeko]

I have to agree with Timmy,

I had an MB and the ballast tanks filled in 45-50 seconds... super awesome for switching sides.

The new mbs run like 3600 in their stock tanks. You can run the boat level and its pretty affordable..not a bad idea...

There is a dealer up here in Canada on the border who sells Centurions near cost. Brand new Loaded FS33 for 87K us... Not a bad deal imo.. that's 10-20k less than pretty much everyone else!!!

[MooseX]

that's cheap. Canadian dollar is .82 right? Or is it the other way around?

Never even put a thought into MB. Seems like some of the 'budget' companies are finally stepping up

[loudelectronics]

The Z3 is going to be more refined with better quality interiors. The tige is also going to be much deeper than the centurion. I do prefer the GM blocks of the centurion rather than the Fords.

Both are going to make a great surf wake regardless. Both are going to have the best wakes in the industry realistically. The z3 can be made to have a long and large wake but weighting is critical and likely more so than other boats. That said, once you find that magic weighting then it is pretty tough to beat. They other thing is that the Tige is going to be so so so much more fuel efficient pound for pound. On 48 gallons expect up to 14 hours to a tank (6.0 liter gm block numbers). No other boat can compare in that department. The tige is also less gadgety, better resale, and has the looks covered. The centurions have to be the ugliest boats out there.

Now you did have a 24V. That boat made a kickass wake and is still my favourite wake to date. That boat could take so much weight and all hidden. We ran 4-1100 lb sacs and then additional under he seats where needed and that wake could not be beat. Would put it up against any wake out there.

You should really take both boats out for a rip. I think you will quickly see the differences.

[MooseX]

i'll give it shot.

i'd like to try both at altitude.

in the fantasy world I'd have Centurion build one. I'd keep the color scheme simple. same with the interior. I'm not big on all these 'colors' folks pick. I don't like orange..or purple...or whatever funky multi color combos I see. Blows my mind what some think is cool. That's me..I like boat blue lol

Mine would be all white with a big yellow Centurion logo as the center piece on the hull... with really light blue top deck. seats would white with light blue trim. tower would be grey or white...BIG MOTOR with at least 3200 ballast per side. Revs' everywhere...amps and extra batts'...I'd probably have to take out a second LOL

[tonka8ty]

Located in Wyoming

[Z1Fan]

I still can't figure out, how everyone says the tige interior is better?? Have you actually checked out the 2015's??? But if rough water ride is important... The centurion blows away most every other boat... I could not believe the difference between my z1 and my 210ss, it's like wow... I just never thought it would be pronounced,, the deep v of the centurion will destroy the semi flat bottom of the tige... As for the fuel economy... I am not sure yet.. But my 210 is very close to what my z1 was, but need more hours yet to compare... But if your concerned about that, you should not be buying a boat lol.. To me it still boils down to customer service from the dealer...... You can have the best boat in the world and pay 500k, but if you don't have dealer support, it might as well been an anchor.....