Who got lucky?

[lee]

That is a sweet looking platform!

Is it Iroko

(bad dog, bad dog...ok, I'm going to the doghouse now)

Look at post 21.

[ragboy]

Yep, there was still a tiny line from the sharp corner of the platform and I don't think you are not going to have that to be honest. It doesn't seem to intrude on the wave as much but the wave really didn't look any better to me sans ballast. We had 11 people on my boat on Sat with 400 in each locker and the wave looked just like what ragboy has with his 24ve.

I think that is because of the depth of the step. If it is deep, it will effect less.

I am working on designing a better platform for me Ve, for my "Badass Surfboat" Project. A few things I have learned on my own, and some from the master Dennis Horton.

1. deeper the platform the better. If it is deeper, you usually don't see the lines. Also, its safer, no chance of getting below it.

2. Round is better, those jagged corners aren't the best.

3. Look at Enzo platform, narrower than Ve.

4. The bottom. The bottom of the Ve platform, and the other tige fiberglass platforms have a VERY harsh lip that causes turbulents in the wake.

I am thinking of having a narrower, tapered, nicely rounded platform fabricated out of something like aluminum. The bottom would be perfectly smooth. Throw some nice gator grip on it.

Just in the thought stage at the moment.

[phirates]

I think that is because of the depth of the step. If it is deep, it will effect less.

I am working on designing a better platform for me Ve, for my "Badass Surfboat" Project. A few things I have learned on my own, and some from the master Dennis Horton.

1. deeper the platform the better. If it is deeper, you usually don't see the lines. Also, its safer, no chance of getting below it.

2. Round is better, those jagged corners aren't the best.

3. Look at Enzo platform, narrower than Ve.

4. The bottom. The bottom of the Ve platform, and the other tige fiberglass platforms have a VERY harsh lip that causes turbulents in the wake.

I am thinking of having a narrower, tapered, nicely rounded platform fabricated out of something like aluminum. The bottom would be perfectly smooth. Throw some nice gator grip on it.

Just in the thought stage at the moment.

I debated on going with rounded platform on my RZ, but wanted to keep some of the RZish look. Of course if my new platform does not help the wake at all, I will second guess that decision.

I also didn't want to mount new brackets and fill the stock brackets mounting holes, so we really went as narrow as possible - but still using the stock brackets.

I have also wondered about some really wild platform that was much thicker and had a contour to match the boat's hull and then moulded to really shape a surf wake...Or even better, how about boat designed primarily for surfing and how the hull might look and how the wake might be improved. Ah yes, a Surf Tige....hmmm...

Anyway, once I get my teak platform mounted and a chance to try it out - I will post a update and some pics.

[talltigeguy]

Yep, there was still a tiny line from the sharp corner of the platform and I don't think you are not going to have that to be honest. It doesn't seem to intrude on the wave as much but the wave really didn't look any better to me sans ballast. We had 11 people on my boat on Sat with 400 in each locker and the wave looked just like what ragboy has with his 24ve.

Timmy,

I think I am a little confused now. The problem with the swim platform is on the RZ's only, right? But now you say that your wake looks just like Ragboy's 24Ve? Fix my thinking please. I hear far more complaints that the RZ surf wake has the platform issue, but don't hear much about it on the Ve.

[da.bell]

tall, you are spot on with the idea that the swim platform on the RZ is not creating a wake like the Ve's do. The RZ's platform is cutting into the wake.

[ragboy]

On the Ve, it still does effect. The lip on the bottom, and its size, but its MUCH less then the RZ, which is also pointing straight into the wake. The Ve is great, makes a great wake as is. I just want to go all out. I like tinkering. And its cheaper than buying another boat. I have had the opportunity to see comp weighted enzos at worlds and the sangers at Tulloch. My Ve holds its own, I love surfing enough, if those boats were THAT much better, I would seriously consider trading. Which is why I took a demo on the sanger at tulloch.

[Timmy!]

Timmy,

I think I am a little confused now. The problem with the swim platform is on the RZ's only, right? But now you say that your wake looks just like Ragboy's 24Ve? Fix my thinking please. I hear far more complaints that the RZ surf wake has the platform issue, but don't hear much about it on the Ve.

Yep, we have experimented a lot with ballast placement, people placement, etc but never had a lot of people on board before and always had a sharp line from the platform present. Once we had 11 people on the boat, all of which were in the main cabin, the wake looked just it does in Ragboy's pictures. I have NO IDEA how to explain it but the swim platform was not dragging a line into the wave. The platform was literally hovering about 1/2" above the water, it's like the people being in the center of the boat sunk the main hull down in the water just right and let the platform be out.

To answer your next question, no I was not drunk and I had not been drinking nor was I under the influence of anything else other than pure surfing bliss!

[da.bell]

I'm wondering it the RZ wakesurf needs to have 70% upfront and 30% in back...

[dogbert]

On the Ve, it still does effect. The lip on the bottom, and its size, but its MUCH less then the RZ, which is also pointing straight into the wake. The Ve is great, makes a great wake as is. I just want to go all out. I like tinkering. And its cheaper than buying another boat. I have had the opportunity to see comp weighted enzos at worlds and the sangers at Tulloch. My Ve holds its own, I love surfing enough, if those boats were THAT much better, I would seriously consider trading. Which is why I took a demo on the sanger at tulloch.

I've always wondered if you couldn't attach something to the underside of the platform that would be flush with the bottom of the hull immediately adjacent to the hull and gradually tapered off towards the end of the swim platform. Even better if you could fill this with water for extra ballast. That way you get a nice smooth surface for the water to run across. If it were rounded, it could possibly also shape your wake.

[ragboy]

Yep, we have experimented a lot with ballast placement, people placement, etc but never had a lot of people on board before and always had a sharp line from the platform present. Once we had 11 people on the boat, all of which were in the main cabin, the wake looked just it does in Ragboy's pictures. I have NO IDEA how to explain it but the swim platform was not dragging a line into the wave. The platform was literally hovering about 1/2" above the water, it's like the people being in the center of the boat sunk the main hull down in the water just right and let the platform be out.

To answer your next question, no I was not drunk and I had not been drinking nor was I under the influence of anything else other than pure surfing bliss!

Was that the goofy side? On my Ve, its easier to make a wake on goofy side, on reg, you have to list over more, which makes the platform more of an issue.

[zad0030]

I've always wondered if you couldn't attach something to the underside of the platform that would be flush with the bottom of the hull immediately adjacent to the hull and gradually tapered off towards the end of the swim platform. Even better if you could fill this with water for extra ballast. That way you get a nice smooth surface for the water to run across. If it were rounded, it could possibly also shape your wake.

What about your taps and exhaust?

[ragboy]

I've always wondered if you couldn't attach something to the underside of the platform that would be flush with the bottom of the hull immediately adjacent to the hull and gradually tapered off towards the end of the swim platform. Even better if you could fill this with water for extra ballast. That way you get a nice smooth surface for the water to run across. If it were rounded, it could possibly also shape your wake.

I am thinking, just perfectly smooth on the bottom, and rounded corners, would be a big improvement. Obviously, the aluminum would weigh more than glass, but who cares? ;-)

[Timmy!]

I'm wondering it the RZ wakesurf needs to have 70% upfront and 30% in back...

I had NOTHING up front, there may have been a 7 year old little girl up there for a short period of time but everyone was in the back for most of the time. I've had no luck at all with weight in the nose.

This was on the regular side...

[skyski_tige]

I had 1100# in front and 1000# in the back. It flattened the wake. I moved 600# in the back and the wake was huge again.

[ragboy]

There is a sweet spot, I have found. If you put too much weight up front as opposed to the back, you negate the effect of taps, the bow just stays down. You def want weight up front, or you get just a tall wake, with no length, and a large curl. With the right ratio, you still have taps adjustment, and can go taller or longer to taste with taps. Its very nice.