Visit to the Tige Factory

[airjorgy]

Just wanted to say thanks to Tony Fussell at the Tige Plant. Tony
hooked the Colorado Hydrofoiling Crew (about 5 of us) with a tour
of the plant last Thursday. Got to see everything (A-Z) on how
Tige's are made. Very impressive. He also hooked us up with
Tige T-shirts and stickers. VERY COOL!

Got to the the new RZ1 (they had 2 completed on the back lot)
and all I can say is that they have another winner! Very nice
styling, very functional, nice size, and well thought out. I
video the tour (Tige's website shows it better so I will not
post the video) but was not allowed to film the boat. It
has a unique transom that I did not like initial but after
I looked at it for a while I think the styling is great. Very
solid feeling and looking boat (typical tige). But just
like the VE & RZ lines have been successful, this will
another huge success in my opinion. Tony said
that Tige needs a 50K and under V-drive to compete
with a couple of other boat lines. They will sell
of bunch of these!


Anyway, Way Cool stuff going on down at Tige!
Thanks Tony for taking the time to show us the
digs.

Air Jorgy

[Domsz06]

awesome!! glad you had a good time! I want to do this sometime!!

[spenchey2]

I'd love to do that. Is the RZ1 or what ever its going to be called something simillar to the old switch?

[airjorgy]

Not to knock the switch models but this boat is a
higher quality boat. Better grade of interior
and accessories.

[Domsz06]

sweet! I never thought much of the switch. Although I think the next boat I'll get will be a 24ve or RZ4 just can't deicde if I want the 24footers or the 22.

[chpthril]

On my list of Things To Do. Hopefully next year sometime.

[airjorgy]

This boat is supposed to be at a price point between
the Switch line (entry) and the Ve/RZ line (high end).

My dealer said something about under $50K fairly
optioned. I guess the feedback from the dealers
is that they did not have something that could
compete with the Centurions/Supras in terms
of price.

[Domsz06]

I'm thinking the same thing Chpthril, maybe even this winter when I get a trip to Houston for work, just drive up there. Do they do weekend tours?

[Domsz06]

This boat is supposed to be at a price point between
the Switch line (entry) and the Ve/RZ line (high end).

My dealer said something about under $50K fairly
optioned. I guess the feedback from the dealers
is that they did not have something that could
compete with the Centurions/Supras in terms
of price.

that makes sense!! good call. Hope it works out for everyone!

[Hammer]

resurected

Had to bring back this thread long enough to let y'all know that the factory tour is still alive and well and very impressive. Here's the trip report:

At the tail end of a business visit to Dallas I jumped up at 0530 and drove to Abilene to hook up with Lanny Owens at Tige' for a factory tour and water trial of a 2008 20i. My local dealer had been there for some product training the week before and arranged the whole thing for me. I plan to demonstrate the 20i and advocate for the brand in this area so I needed to evaluate it's skiing qualities. The Tige' folks were very receptive and cordial. They treated me like I was fresh off a pro tour win or something. I'm not that good so it was pretty strange.

I took the entire tour of the factory from the mold storage all the way to final detailing. I even found my new boat coming down the line. Impressed doesn't even come close to the feeling you get when it's done. Take comfort in the fact that these are arguably the toughest towboats on earth.

After the tour we dragged a PP equipped 2008 20i out to the private lake that's owned by the Insta-slalom guy. It was cold and the wind was howling! We drove it at all speeds from 30 to 36 while we played with the plate and then I suited up. The water was so cold that it took your breath away. About 55 and the air was maybe 60 so the spring shorty really wasn't doin' it for me.

Bottom line: The boat is amazing. Anyone who has drawn a 197 knows that bump that all the Mastercrafts have at 22-off? The 20i has that same thing at 15-off. Thinking it was going to be worse at -22 I braced myself coming into the gates and nearly threw myself out the front when it wasn't there. Completely clean from -22 through -38. The boat is tall and heavy and drives heavy around the dock, but it's very easy to get used to. The extra weight doesn't seem to bother it on hole shot; not as strong as the Malibu, stronger than the MC, about the same as the CC. The extra hull weight actually helps it coming through the course because it's inertia keeps you from being able to pull much speed off it. That means you can get a great pull behind the boat, get free of it (critical for me) and count on a nice firm pick-up off the ball. Personally as long as the boat is up to speed before the pre-gates I don't care if it weighs 5 tons. Overall it skied great! I ran the easiest -28 and -32 of my short skiing career. So easy I was certain it wasn't making it's times, but PP said it was.

Word from the company is that Charlie is fully behind the 20i and there will always be one. That's good news for those of us who aspire to the most ridiculous of short-line lengths. I can't wait for my boat to show up now.
It's going to be a long winter......

Thanks Lanny and the entire Tige' Team.

[Griff]

2008 20i and Perfect Pass

Hammer,
I did the Tige' factory tour just after it just opened. It was something to see. I also skied at the same lake you spoke of, and even in the heat of summer, that lake is chilly. It is fed by a deep well.

I am a little supprised that the speed control is Perfect Pass on the 2008 20i. I thought Charlie and Marine Power decided against Perfect Pass. Last year the Perfect Pass website stated that it worked on many boats "except the 2007 Tige". Now there is no mention of 2007 or 2008 Tiges on their website. They do mention the 2006 hrottle by wire, which is my boat.

Charlie or Eddie at Marine power must have worked out the ECM or something. Which engine did it have in the one you were in? Was it the GM Vortec 5.7L?

Griff

[five o'clock]

I didn't think the new Tige's had pp any more?

[Hammer]

Hammer,
I did the Tige' factory tour just after it just opened. It was something to see. I also skied at the same lake you spoke of, and even in the heat of summer, that lake is chilly. It is fed by a deep well.

I am a little supprised that the speed control is Perfect Pass on the 2008 20i. I thought Charlie and Marine Power decided against Perfect Pass. Last year the Perfect Pass website stated that it worked on many boats "except the 2007 Tige". Now there is no mention of 2007 or 2008 Tiges on their website. They do mention the 2006 hrottle by wire, which is my boat.

Charlie or Eddie at Marine power must have worked out the ECM or something. Which engine did it have in the one you were in? Was it the GM Vortec 5.7L?

Griff

This was a 2008 with the 340hp Marine Power, throttle by wire and the PP with the new display. It worked great.

[anhaney]

Last November I did the Factory tour with Andrew Reyes. It was as you guys say very impressive and I know that when it comes to tow boats they are building a great boat. I would really like to see them start to use PCM as there engine choice.

My PCM in my boat just seems to run a little stronger and smoother than the MP but I think that is my personal opinion. I am sure there are guys that think the MP is stronger and smoother.

Maybe they can go back to giving the choice of engines again.