New models

[sandm]

mb messed around with the 2speed gearbox in the late '00's. sure there's a reason they are not using them anymore. and something else to break or repair.

glad to see they learned from the z3 launch in '12 and waiting until the boat is completed and dialed in. don't need to be first to market, rather be best to market for '18.

[bsreid]

Wasn't the rzx2 supposed to be the crossover? I see your point about the rz2, there isn't much of a market.

[JohnnieMo]

mb messed around with the 2speed gearbox in the late '00's. sure there's a reason they are not using them anymore. and something else to break or repair.

glad to see they learned from the z3 launch in '12 and waiting until the boat is completed and dialed in. don't need to be first to market, rather be best to market for '18.

Let's not forget the ASR debacle in 2014. I'm not so sure they've learned yet.

[CarFanatic]

tige always rushes stuff to market

[Dandy]

tige always rushes stuff to market

Truth be told, I believe all manufacturers do. Not just in the marine industry. This is most likely there are so many bugs worked out with the consumers during 1st model release products. We have a very small OEM business in a very niche market. On our last product release, we put more time and effort into R&D and cycle testing along with more detailed instructions than we ever have. Guess what, 2 months in the hands of the consumer and they have managed to do things with and to it that we could not. So, long story short, I think most companies are trying to get product out to be the 1st and grab the largest segment of the market. I think that Tige's downfall is their lack of stable dealers in several markets which if clients are dissatisfied will waiver to a different brand, whereas a strong dealer network may create more brand loyalty and get people to wait around for their brand to have the latest and greatest.

[Bakes5]

Back in 2009, listing was in and 4000-5000lbs of ballast was not the norm. So a two speed gearbox was more trouble than it's worth. Nowadays, unless you have a 575 in a 22 foot boat, it's hard to get the surf torque and the slalom speed some people want. I can tell you, I absolutely love the 15x14.25 prop on the Z3 unweighted. But that prop will struggle with a full boat, max ballast and 800 lbs lead. Having a 2 speed box would make the boat that much more versatile. Really, pretty much just a gear splitter that a lot of the off road jeeper types use.

In any case, it would be something that nobody else has. That and clean low speed wakes and you'd have a boat that's hard to beat...esp if under 4000 lbs.

[CarFanatic]

nautique has 2:1 trannys

[Wakeman22]

nautique has 2:1 trannys

That is a 2 to 1 ratio not 2 speed.

[CarFanatic]

ah, yes you are correct.

[bsreid]

Dandy said it right. Tige needs a bigger dealer network, the sales guy at seca said exactly that. People are coming to certain dealers out of there region to buy boats from the big guys. That's good until problems occur and the small local guys don't know how to deal with them. There is probably 5 big tige dealers that are dong extremely well, and all the others can't seem to keep tige. I wish my local dealer was bigger and better, but I also would drive a little further to buy from seca.

[Thegerman618]

Let's not forget the ASR debacle in 2014. I'm not so sure they've learned yet.

The ASR was/Is an AWESOME Boat. When wakeboarding was starting to make a comeback in big way Tige Released the ASR and was marketed as a Wakeboarding Machine and Tige was also very clear on the fact that it was not designed or meant for surfing.

That being said, I do find it interesting that ASR and RZX3 are essentially the same boat with the RZX having some modified hull designs.

This is not to say that Tige has not stumbled with some releases in the past. But lets consider the last 3 Major Tige Releases:

RZX3- Great Boat I don't think any of us dispute that.
TAPS3- We were all waiting for Tige to come out with a factory surf system and they nailed it.
RZX2- Culmination of Everything and then stepped up and came out with "CLEAR VIEW" and "SMART WHEEL" more leaps forward.

I think Tige is batting 1000 after their last 3 major releases. IF...Tige is truly working on new boat or a new design of something we are already familiar with GREAT. If the past 2 years have been any indication of what Tige is capable of I eagerly await the 2018 Model Releases.

I have to agree with others about the RZ models. I always liked them personally because they looked like newer upgraded models of my old VE. But with Tige having basically 4 series of boats it could be confusing for some.

[JohnnieMo]

The ASR was/Is an AWESOME Boat. When wakeboarding was starting to make a comeback in big way Tige Released the ASR and was marketed as a Wakeboarding Machine and Tige was also very clear on the fact that it was not designed or meant for surfing.

That being said, I do find it interesting that ASR and RZX3 are essentially the same boat with the RZX having some modified hull designs.

This is not to say that Tige has not stumbled with some releases in the past. But lets consider the last 3 Major Tige Releases:

RZX3- Great Boat I don't think any of us dispute that.
TAPS3- We were all waiting for Tige to come out with a factory surf system and they nailed it.
RZX2- Culmination of Everything and then stepped up and came out with "CLEAR VIEW" and "SMART WHEEL" more leaps forward.

I think Tige is batting 1000 after their last 3 major releases. IF...Tige is truly working on new boat or a new design of something we are already familiar with GREAT. If the past 2 years have been any indication of what Tige is capable of I eagerly await the 2018 Model Releases.

I have to agree with others about the RZ models. I always liked them personally because they looked like newer upgraded models of my old VE. But with Tige having basically 4 series of boats it could be confusing for some.

I should clarify. My comment wasn't as to whether or not the ASR itself was any good. It was the fact that they duct taped a boat together for the reveal far before it was ready to be launched to the general public. It took quite a while to get the real ASRs out the door. The fact that they had a lot of mixed reviews and hull modifications after the fact was really just a testament to their design choices.

You are correct about the last three releases.... pretty solid.

[Wakeman22]

Tige I believe did learn from the past. They sure wanted to get the new model out at the same time the other companies were releasing their 18's but have held off to do more R&D to get the best boat out there. It is going to be released later this year or right around the start of 18.

[Bakes5]

I like Tige as a company a lot. They are the anti-mastercraft, if you will, over the past few years. That is to say, they innovate, have not rested on their laurels and improve their boats with real advancements instead of billet bling. While Malibu gets attacked relentlessly for their decline in quality since going public, Tige continues to improve. I think Malibu moving to their own engine line is a clear sign that they are doing something big/drastic in order to try and separate themselves from Tige and Supra....Just like Nautique and MC have their own engines. Interior wise, I'll take my Tige interior over Malibu but that is just taste. Sure the Nautique guys like to talk about "fit and finish" but at the same time, their boards are rife with "lack of QC" control threads....and there are plenty of ratty looking 10 year old Nautiques, Malibus, etc. out there.

That said, I am not a fan of the entire industry's switch over to the single screen electronic helm. That is going to suck in 5-10 years sorting those gremlins out. We shall see....until then, I will enjoy it though. I guess the new steering wheel is OK but really, it's just a bunch of buttons on the wheel that used to be buttons on the dash. Frankly, I'd rather they stay on the dash....especially with the reports of a plastic gear or something that has to be just so. I find it a little complex/another point of failure and the effort to move my right arm/wrist vs just my left wrist+fingers does not bother me or ruin my day at all.

I agree that Tige has nailed the RZX and TAPS3, they have top notch drivetrains and interiors....and the Z3 is one of the best looking boats on the lake by far IMHO.

I'm curious as to their new boat release this fall. Maybe a low freeboard RZX2 style hull that is about 4000 pounds. Flatten the deadrise to ensure not weight sensitive and to improve low speed wake. Maybe decrease the beam a couple of inches for weight reduction as well as to reduce the amount of ballast needed. Make sure it handles like a Ferrari. Market as a true crossover. Should compete well head to head vs the GS22...esp if $25K less.

[Germaine Marine]

I like Tige as a company a lot. They are the anti-mastercraft, if you will, over the past few years. That is to say, they innovate, have not rested on their laurels and improve their boats with real advancements instead of billet bling. While Malibu gets attacked relentlessly for their decline in quality since going public, Tige continues to improve. I think Malibu moving to their own engine line is a clear sign that they are doing something big/drastic in order to try and separate themselves from Tige and Supra....Just like Nautique and MC have their own engines. Interior wise, I'll take my Tige interior over Malibu but that is just taste. Sure the Nautique guys like to talk about "fit and finish" but at the same time, their boards are rife with "lack of QC" control threads....and there are plenty of ratty looking 10 year old Nautiques, Malibus, etc. out there.

That said, I am not a fan of the entire industry's switch over to the single screen electronic helm. That is going to suck in 5-10 years sorting those gremlins out. We shall see....until then, I will enjoy it though. I guess the new steering wheel is OK but really, it's just a bunch of buttons on the wheel that used to be buttons on the dash. Frankly, I'd rather they stay on the dash....especially with the reports of a plastic gear or something that has to be just so. I find it a little complex/another point of failure and the effort to move my right arm/wrist vs just my left wrist+fingers does not bother me or ruin my day at all.

I agree that Tige has nailed the RZX and TAPS3, they have top notch drivetrains and interiors....and the Z3 is one of the best looking boats on the lake by far IMHO.

I'm curious as to their new boat release this fall. Maybe a low freeboard RZX2 style hull that is about 4000 pounds. Flatten the deadrise to ensure not weight sensitive and to improve low speed wake. Maybe decrease the beam a couple of inches for weight reduction as well as to reduce the amount of ballast needed. Make sure it handles like a Ferrari. Market as a true crossover. Should compete well head to head vs the GS22...esp if $25K less.

Ill weight in on what I know about the line, what I see coming and how I think the line will push to be the best boat on the market..

-The Rzx3 was launched as a flat dead rise, surf and wakeboard machine.... It was anti everything that comes with most Tige pickles up to that point. Monster freeboard, comfortable and just a flat out performer even in stock form in the surf and wake board arena.

-The Rzx2 was a redesign of everything they feel the Rzx3 wasnt. They ditched some of the trim that added money to the overall cost. They ditched the surf locker that most people with high end glass boards refused to use. Couple those things with a hull redesign that made the running surface a monster and more efficient as well as the bonus payoff after the hull tweak that made it able to ski better then any boat in the Z line...... plain and simple it was a home run. The boat is the hot rod of the Rzx line both in style and performance.

-Tige goes to the 2:1. This was as much about being able to run the smaller motors in the big machines as it was about the industry realizing that the 2:1 regardless of sport is the answer. The torque at the prop shaft out of that transmission is astounding. What that translates too is being able to run a much bigger wheel. It was more about bridging the gap between sports then going solely to a surf only machine. With that trans, comes the ability now to run prop options that lesson the gap of top end loss usually associated with running surf pitched props. Its not dialed yet because its so new, but we are awfully close. the Rzx2 and 3 with a big 17 wheel is awesome for everything. As they dial in shaft angles etc, and make 18-20 inch props a reality its going to change the sport... drastically.

-Tige goes to the clear. Yes for us mechanical folk, gauges are awesome. Do i think its necessary? prob not. Tige is banking on the fact that tablet and screen tech has taken monumental leaps forward. Heck, some first gen Ipads are still kickin fine after every day abuse. I know what they are thinking.... lets hope it all works out. As far as function, 18 software is incredible. From quick bring up displays to the overall functionality, Tige is the new the Tesla of Boats.

-Steering wheel controls. Lots of misinformation out there about this, with me being equally guilty. I think the alignment/plastic gear issue has taken too much flack here. There was a subsequent rudder issue during the initial release. Most issues that we thought were steering wheel related can now be attributed to a rudder issue so I think we will see that notion be put to bed here soon. As for function, holy cow. I was a skeptic. Until I realized how much I use the main fuctions that are now placed on the wheel. Everything now being one touch from there without using the interface is fantastic. It puts safety and usability at the for front. You have to use it for a day to really grasp its function and importance. Did I mention it looks awesome?

The one thing about Tige has always and will continue to be about looks and style. Charlie and the Design guys especially JTS have a clear vision. Tige has a cult like following with traditional bows, they have the best traditional bow on the market in many's opinion. That side of the line wont go stagnant and will continue to develop in the future.