RZX - one place for all rumors

[smithjd11]

If it's any comfort the RZX still comes in at 30 to 40K cheaper than a G23 or G25 Kudos for the guy's that can afford these boats

[dakota4ce]

If it's any comfort the RZX still comes in at 30 to 40K cheaper than a G23 or G25 Kudos for the guy's that can afford these boats

Man, I think they must be pretty close? I think around here you can snag G23s all day long for 130. Not sure about a G25. Either way---I will just say it---THATS INSANE!
But, like you say, kudos to those who can play. They are incredible machines. I would definitely have one if it was not a matter.

[007]

GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY!

You've been reading up on how to curse in front of children!

[mrnate450r]

Anybody know if they are running the 2:1 transmission ratio? The G series has the capability to run a 17" prop, does the RZX have the capability to turn a prop larger than 15"? Last question, what is the height on the trailer with the tower down?

[ragboy]

I believe the gear ratio is 1.72 on all the boats, including the RZX. I recently asked the same question.

[talltigeguy]

I am going to be riding in an RZX today. If anyone has anything specific they want me to observe, then let me know.

[mrnate450r]

It would be nice to hear your review coming from a G23!

[Dandy]

Anybody know if they are running the 2:1 transmission ratio? The G series has the capability to run a 17" prop, does the RZX have the capability to turn a prop larger than 15"? Last question, what is the height on the trailer with the tower down?

Other than performance, I would not get too excited about a 17" prop. After dinging our stock prop on our Z1, we have kept a stock prop for other boats. Having a spare 17" prop set us back +/- $1200. If you can get the performance with a smaller prop it is good for your wallet.

[talltigeguy]

The test drive went pretty well. Overall a very impressive boat. I am sure to forget some things, I am just going to ramble here.

I love the interior layout. It feels bigger than a G23 on the inside. The bow is obviously bigger.
The rear surf board storage is genius.
The vinyl feels very strong and is super nice looking. But there are so many separate pieces all sewn together that it almost felt too busy. It was also a very comfortable boat to sit in.
The metal flake blue is nothing but gorgeous. I forgot to take any pictures of the outside.
The storage hatches are nice and deep, but because of the rear surf board storage, there is no way you are going to get a surfboard in the rear hatches. They are relatively short, but plenty accessible for all the gear you could need. But that's hardly an issue since you can easily fit 2 boards in the rear.
Alpha Z tower is quiet and strong as usual. It is also plenty tall enough with the deep hull. I still would dread being in the rear of the boat with those 2 pair of Rev speakers turned up. They would blast your ears until they bleed. G23 tower is more arched backward and people often sit on the rear seat when I have the speakers on.
I did not get a good chance to play with the controls/Tige touch. My friend that drove it thought it was reasonably intuitive and the display was solid.

This was the first time the dealer was out with this exact boat, but has had several RZX boats in the past. They added 400 pound sacks to the rear lockers as Ragboy found to be effective and we had 7 adults in the boat. I had the chance to ride the regular side. The wave was long and had plenty of push. TAPS 3 worked as advertised and the boat was pretty close to level when at rest. I think the dealer was tweaking the ballast a little, but it was not noticeable as far as any list when we were at rest, so it could not have been much. I would say it is a little taller than the G23, and about the same length. But I never have felt the need to put sacks in the rear compartments of my G23. I have gone with 10+ people in the G, and felt that this wave with 7 people, 400 in each locker plus stock ballast was very similar.

Another test rider did the goofy side. For reasons we are not sure of, it was not great. It was washing over the top and would not clean up. The dealer did not have that trouble with his other boats without the extra weight, so we emptied it and with stock ballast alone the goofy wave was surfable, but not really anything to write home about. I almost wondered if the TAPS3 was not working properly for that side. The dealer is wondering if it might have been a ballast calibration issue. Whatever it was, the regular side was a top notch wave and the goofy just wasn't forming.

I tried several wave transfers and botched them all. I am sure with a little practice, I could get it done, but the spine is different than on the G23 and more difficult to come down the other side.

One downside to TAPS 3 is that all 3 tabs have continuous settings. Nautique Surf System, Surfgate, and I think all other systems are pretty much just on and off. I had a small panic attack when I thought about explaining this to my wife so she would get it right. Is there really a need to have the outside tabs more adjustable than either up or down?

Then it came time to wakeboard. I have a friend who is a very high level wakeboarder. He has landed 900's behind my boat. He was excited to get out there and try it out. We ran with just stock ballast at 2600 feet elevation. 575 HP engine. Now I know why Ragboy was able to go 40 MPH+ in his boat. They have the wrong prop on there. We could not get up to plane for wakeboarding. After 90 seconds of not being on plane, I ran up to the front of the boat and after a good long time, we finally made it to wakeboard speed. This was with stock ballast only. The 400's in the rear lockers were empty at this point. I am confident that it just came with the wrong prop from the factory. It probably works fine at sea level and it worked great for surfing.

The wakeboard wake looked terrific and my buddy made lots of great tricks, so he seemed to like it too. He asked for it to be a little steeper and putting TAPS as high as it would go would not make it any steeper. So there is a limit to how steep it can get. But overall the wake was big and he described it as firm.

The G23 sometimes gets grief because water will come through the back walkway if you come off plane too fast when wakeboarding. It is easily avoidable with slowing down more slowly, and making a slight turn. This boat actually took water onto the rear storage hatch. I am sure that with a little more gentle slowing down, this is avoidable too. This doesn't happen at all on either boat while surfing.

Sorry I don't have better pics, but there were several people filming. The wake is very hard to see on the wakeboard pics, but you can tell he had no problem getting a solid boost. You can appreciate the problems with the goofy wave from these pics.

[mrnate450r]

No regular surf wave pics?

[007]

We rode an early taps 3 Z1 that would only engage the Goofy side plate if you engaged Standard 1st and then switched. Took us a couple of minutes to figure out and the rep said there was a software update to fix it. That said, if you were doing transitions, it seems like you would have conquered that issue. I love the RZX, I was just crawling over one yesterday at my local dealer, but it sounds like this one was not quite set up right. @Ragboy, where are you???

[talltigeguy]

If it's any comfort the RZX still comes in at 30 to 40K cheaper than a G23 or G25 Kudos for the guy's that can afford these boats

I am pretty sure this is inaccurate. Not all Nautique dealers stick with MSRP that tightly. If it comes in at 35K less than what I bought my G23 for, it would be very difficult for me to not have one next summer.

No regular surf wave pics?

No, unfortunately I was the only one that surfed the regular side. I think maybe someone got a pic or two, but I have always felt that pics never do a wave full justice. Ragboy just posted a terrific video, and I think it almost looked that good. I have especially not been a fan however of how long the fisheye lens of a goPro makes a wave look.

We rode an early taps 3 Z1 that would only engage the Goofy side plate if you engaged Standard 1st and then switched. Took us a couple of minutes to figure out and the rep said there was a software update to fix it. That said, if you were doing transitions, it seems like you would have conquered that issue. I love the RZX, I was just crawling over one yesterday at my local dealer, but it sounds like this one was not quite set up right. @Ragboy, where are you???

I tried to transfer over to the washy goofy side, and I am not sure if I was failing or the wave was failing me. It was surfable, so I think it was me. It just wasn't the long clean wave that we expect from a 6 figure boat. It seems like from what Ragboy said, it is pretty well straightforward. Load up stock ballast, put some 500 pounders in the lockers and surf to your heart's content. If it is not that straightforward, then it is a step down from other boats in this class.

[mrnate450r]

Are you saying you think it will come in significantly cheaper than your G, or just hoping so? I'm currently in a 2014 23 LSV, but thinking about going to the RZX in a year or two. I'd really like a G23, but I can't justify the cost. We almost always surf, but have a few wakeboarding friends. I'm tired of having to fill bow sacks. So, I hope it is $35k cheaper than a G!

[chpthril]

The Raptor engine use the torque figures as their designation, so Im gathering the 575 was the Roush SC engine?

If you guys had the 900 lb surf XL sacs full, I think you had too much aft weight more so than the wrong prop. I think that boat is already running a 17" prop and even more gear reduction than the previous 1.48:1?

[UNSTUCK]

The rzx I looked at last week was $135k and some change. Add in the cost of the triple axle trailer ( I think he said $10k) and fees. It's a beautiful boat and all that, but at that point it needs to earn its keep. I don't see anyone in my boat going pro any time soon.
Bottom line is no owner of these boats will ever convince one of my kids they would have had more fun on their boat than my cheep, old boat.