This is more or less a journal entry of an OCD surf enthusiast. It reads like a short story and a confession all mixed together.
It has been a busy year.
I am near the end of year one. A lot has happened. At roughly this time last year, I was asked by my Axis A24 owning neighbor if I "wanted to learn to surf." I shrugged my shoulders and agreed, leaving my 9 month pregnant wife and 3 existing kids with her as I left for an hour. I got up on my second try, on what I believe now to be a board fit for a 130lb female LOL. I just could not go ropeless in about 6-7 tries, but I understood the theory; I "got" it. Game over, I decided immediately we are doing this.
The feverish boat search began. I chased a couple Centurions, liked a 24V, considered a couple 22Ves, but ultimately fell in love with Ragboy's storied 24Ve and its well chronicled history. I found a low hour 2006 within 500 miles and bought it sight unseen. I initially wished I had known 2006 was not the best, but ended up figuring out how to make it better even than I imagined. It arrived a bit dirtier than I thought, and with a few things not working. I test drove it literally for 10 minutes on a local lake, and home I went. I stuffed it into the garage and winter set in. Over the next 6 months I ripped out the factory ballast, rerouted the exhaust, relocated everything to centerline, added FAE, added Hydrophase and reworked the infamous throttle and Accuset, ordered and installed custom sacs-pumps-hoses-drains-intakes etc, replaced the steering cable, yada yada yada yada.....the hours racked up, the internet searches were endless....but the learning curve was huge. I had done my best to copy Ragboy's legendary boat. I waxed, shined, cleaned and waited for spring to come.
From there the lake trips began--tweaking, messing, weighting. Donning a dry suit and trying to surf. Teaching my brother in law to drive. Having a wire fall loose from the low pressure fuel pump and stranding us forcing me to swim the boat to shore in 45 degree water....I look back and laugh. I was so excited the whole time.
The board buying began--LF Fish, IS Red Rocket, Victoria Debut Grom, Lakewakes Flying Saucer Bigboy, Lakewakes Bean Grom, and finally a Walker Project Bazooka. I also bought and sold a Shred Stixx Thresher and Shred Stixx Headband. My wife thinks I am nuts.
I upgraded to HLCD tower speakers and Precision Power amps (holy cow, this beotch sounds great), and added independent volume control for the towers. I changed the interior LEDs to neat little blue ones.
My boat had a bolt back out and jam in between the tranny and v-drive. I thought I was screwed, but I dodged a bullet and everything was OK. The safe mode demon crept up, but the rewire fixed it immediately. I dinged a prop on my hoist because I am too cheap to buy the bow stop for $400. IDIOT I know.
It has been a busy busy summer. My surfing is going great. I love the Saucer and the Bazooka. I just read to add more bow weight and the wave is even better than awesome. I have passed 100 hrs on the boat with a month to go. I have wowed G23 owners, X30 owners, Malibu owners, and have taught 15ish new people to surf.
ALL OF THIS THANKS IN LARGE PART TO A NEAT GROUP OF TIGE LOVERS, SURFING ENTHUSIASTS, AND GENERALLY NICE GUYS WHO ARE WILLING TO LEND ADVICE TO WILLING PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO TRY HARD TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION. THANK YOU GUYS!
Now a rich buddy is demoing boats, and took me on a Supra SE450. My friend's son sells Axis and has been calling me about T23s. A cool salesman in the local area has introduced me to his sweet Z3. My brain begins to churn. Do I need to surf level? Can the wave get that much better? Is the listing dangerous on our rough lake?
I have the money, but the practicality of upgrading is hard to convince myself of. I think another season minimum with my 24ve is warranted. But its hard, it seems like the grass could be greener ever so slightly somewhere else. But, I also think how much I have already, how lucky I truly am--and try to fight off gratuitous spending and discontent.
In the meantime, I think I will keep busy by trimming my swim deck and adding Deckadence flooring to old bessie. My carpet is always wet and stinky a bit. That may stave off the demons tempting me to upgrade for a while. Or also find another hobby to distract me this winter.
It has been indeed a busy year. CHEERS TO TIGEOWNERS.COM AND ALL YOU DO TO HELP EACH OTHER!
It has been a busy year.
I am near the end of year one. A lot has happened. At roughly this time last year, I was asked by my Axis A24 owning neighbor if I "wanted to learn to surf." I shrugged my shoulders and agreed, leaving my 9 month pregnant wife and 3 existing kids with her as I left for an hour. I got up on my second try, on what I believe now to be a board fit for a 130lb female LOL. I just could not go ropeless in about 6-7 tries, but I understood the theory; I "got" it. Game over, I decided immediately we are doing this.
The feverish boat search began. I chased a couple Centurions, liked a 24V, considered a couple 22Ves, but ultimately fell in love with Ragboy's storied 24Ve and its well chronicled history. I found a low hour 2006 within 500 miles and bought it sight unseen. I initially wished I had known 2006 was not the best, but ended up figuring out how to make it better even than I imagined. It arrived a bit dirtier than I thought, and with a few things not working. I test drove it literally for 10 minutes on a local lake, and home I went. I stuffed it into the garage and winter set in. Over the next 6 months I ripped out the factory ballast, rerouted the exhaust, relocated everything to centerline, added FAE, added Hydrophase and reworked the infamous throttle and Accuset, ordered and installed custom sacs-pumps-hoses-drains-intakes etc, replaced the steering cable, yada yada yada yada.....the hours racked up, the internet searches were endless....but the learning curve was huge. I had done my best to copy Ragboy's legendary boat. I waxed, shined, cleaned and waited for spring to come.
From there the lake trips began--tweaking, messing, weighting. Donning a dry suit and trying to surf. Teaching my brother in law to drive. Having a wire fall loose from the low pressure fuel pump and stranding us forcing me to swim the boat to shore in 45 degree water....I look back and laugh. I was so excited the whole time.
The board buying began--LF Fish, IS Red Rocket, Victoria Debut Grom, Lakewakes Flying Saucer Bigboy, Lakewakes Bean Grom, and finally a Walker Project Bazooka. I also bought and sold a Shred Stixx Thresher and Shred Stixx Headband. My wife thinks I am nuts.
I upgraded to HLCD tower speakers and Precision Power amps (holy cow, this beotch sounds great), and added independent volume control for the towers. I changed the interior LEDs to neat little blue ones.
My boat had a bolt back out and jam in between the tranny and v-drive. I thought I was screwed, but I dodged a bullet and everything was OK. The safe mode demon crept up, but the rewire fixed it immediately. I dinged a prop on my hoist because I am too cheap to buy the bow stop for $400. IDIOT I know.
It has been a busy busy summer. My surfing is going great. I love the Saucer and the Bazooka. I just read to add more bow weight and the wave is even better than awesome. I have passed 100 hrs on the boat with a month to go. I have wowed G23 owners, X30 owners, Malibu owners, and have taught 15ish new people to surf.
ALL OF THIS THANKS IN LARGE PART TO A NEAT GROUP OF TIGE LOVERS, SURFING ENTHUSIASTS, AND GENERALLY NICE GUYS WHO ARE WILLING TO LEND ADVICE TO WILLING PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO TRY HARD TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION. THANK YOU GUYS!
Now a rich buddy is demoing boats, and took me on a Supra SE450. My friend's son sells Axis and has been calling me about T23s. A cool salesman in the local area has introduced me to his sweet Z3. My brain begins to churn. Do I need to surf level? Can the wave get that much better? Is the listing dangerous on our rough lake?
I have the money, but the practicality of upgrading is hard to convince myself of. I think another season minimum with my 24ve is warranted. But its hard, it seems like the grass could be greener ever so slightly somewhere else. But, I also think how much I have already, how lucky I truly am--and try to fight off gratuitous spending and discontent.
In the meantime, I think I will keep busy by trimming my swim deck and adding Deckadence flooring to old bessie. My carpet is always wet and stinky a bit. That may stave off the demons tempting me to upgrade for a while. Or also find another hobby to distract me this winter.
It has been indeed a busy year. CHEERS TO TIGEOWNERS.COM AND ALL YOU DO TO HELP EACH OTHER!
Old Tiges Rule!!
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