Tige Go & Taps 3T- Worth Upgrading to a 2020 vs. 2018 or 2019?

[Kraut]

We're looking to upgrade our 2012 R20 and were initially looking at 2018 and 2019 R20s. Wondering if anyone has any experience with Tige Go & Taps 3T on the R20 and has an opinion on whether we should consider upgrading to a 2020 instead? would it be worth the extra $?

The main thing we're looking to get out of the upgrade is better surf wave and less messing around with the boat when we want to surf.

If you have a 2018 or 2019 I'd be interested to know if you spend time messing with ballast and taps settings as your fuel level, number of passengers, etc. change.

[akdoc]

I can't speak for the R20 model, however my brother has a 2018 RZX3 and I have a 2020 25ZX. The taps 3T and go system are much easier to use and require much less messing around with weight, lead, etc... Our wave is longer and cleaner than my brothers RZX3, especially on the starboard side. I would say it is totally worth it to upgrade to the 2020. We have a lot of time behind our 2020, almost 90 hours already.

[UNSTUCK]

While I have not owned or ran an R20 there are a few items/considerations that are the same across the board. Never mind how you feel about your current boat in general, a new boat will always be nicer and more comfortable. Never mind the money aspect as the new boat will always be more expensive. So now it comes down to wave quality. What are you doing right now to make your surf wave? Are you to the point of dialing in the wave so that it's right on basically every time? Sounds like you are still "messing around" with it. The fact remains, that any given boat needs to run at a specific position in the water to make its best wave. The number of people in the boat, and where they sit will always effect that specific position. Fuel level, ballast level, wind, chop and jet skiers (grrrrrrrrrrr) will always have an impact on that position. Fortunately it is becoming easier to get a "good enough" wave with the new technology that most of us will be just fine with the basic settings of the newer surf systems. Some of us can't stand having a less than perfect wave. For example, I'm always messing with my TAPS3 system, ballast, people, tabs, etc. to get a better wave. But my kids are perfectly happy surfing in whitewash, just as long as they are surfing. Having said that, our best wave is FAR better in our newish boat than in any other boat we have owned. Our average wave (windy day, few people in the boat, low on fuel, lots of boat chop, etc.) is probably not much better than it was in our old boats, but does require less effort to get it.

My point is, there is lots of marketing hype in new surf systems that just aren't real world. You can, but probably wont just hit the GO button and have a perfect wave every time. Only the manufactures have glass lakes all the time (in their videos). If you hate messing with a suck gate or listing the boat over, then yes, you need a new boat. If you drag ballast bags around and use a throw over pump and hate it, you need a new boat. A new boat will 100% solve those problems. If your suck gate and ballast is making a wave long enough for 2-3 people to surf at once or giving you the push and speed to get airs, maybe think a little harder about a new boat because you may not get it. At least without "messing around with it".

[jslayde1]

In my opinion, the biggest reason to go for the '20 model over the '19 would be the new plate designs.

[bsreid]

Yup Josh nailed it. The new Go system is great, taking the question of what an adjustment has on the wave and just being able to selected steeper or flatter is money, but even more so the new tabs and actuators is where it's at.

Having said that, I used to have a R20 with taps 3 and a substantial amount of added weight and it put out a decent wave. Will the new Go system be better? Probably. But here's the thing, the r20 is a 20ft 94" beam boat and that's where the main limitation comes from, you are only going to get so much out a relatively small boat with an unchanged hull design.

Personally if it were me I would do one of two things, upgrade your current boat to the GSA system and it will essentially function the same as the new 2020s or upgrade to a larger boat. A r23 or even the smaller r21 would be a huge upgrade and if you were worried about the price of the larger boat I would start to look at a 2015 as you can run GSA tabs off the touch screen.

[Bamer]

Personally if it were me I would do one of two things, upgrade your current boat to the GSA system and it will essentially function the same as the new 2020s or upgrade to a larger boat. A r23 or even the smaller r21 would be a huge upgrade and if you were worried about the price of the larger boat I would start to look at a 2015 as you can run GSA tabs off the touch screen.

I was thinking the same thing!!! Or wait a year or late summer and get a used 2020 with the GSA plates! This way you can save several grand.....the 2019s don not have the GSA plates from the factory!


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[BrentP]

Or go look at an ATX24 which has the GsA in it as well. I’d take a longer more low tech boat I’ve a shorter boat with more bells and whistles

Like all internet idiots, though, that’s just me.


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[BrentP]

Or go look at an ATX24 which has the GsA in it as well. I’d take a longer more low tech boat I’ve a shorter boat with more bells and whistles

Like all internet idiots, though, that’s just me.


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[Kraut]

Thanks for the feedback. I have considered adding GSA to our current boat as it's in great condition. I'd like to go to a 23' or bigger boat but that's not feasible on our lake and I'd have to invest in a different tow vehicle.

I've always had an upgrade to R21 in the back of my mind as that wouldn't be too big for our lake.

Two follow up questions:
1) Is the surf wave going to be a noticeable upgrade from R20 to R21?
2) Has anyone had GSA installed on your boat? Would you mind sharing what you paid for the install?

[Messymech]

Hi,
The hull design is the same regardless of the year there hasn't been any changes. I have driven both the new and old and there is definitely more bow rise with the new system but the wave is definitely better. I have always loved the R-20 as one of the only true cross overs that you can acually surf.

If you are looking I think the best value is a 2 year old RZX2, there isn't a better interior in the market and the wave is excellent. There are bigger waves out there but overall the boat is (in my opinion) one of the best all around boats.