Test drove/rode a Z3 last night - impressions and pics

[robert theisen]

That was a excellent write up Timmy.Hopefully it will help out perspective new buyers in their decision.

[robert theisen]

Well I got to ride behind a Z3 on the surfboard today.Road both regular and goofy wakes. Had the ballast full 400 lbs up front and full on surf side and other rear ballast was 25% full. The boat had such a small list you could hardly tell it was listed. We found 11.2 mph and Taps at 4 to be the best wake for the amount of people we had. We had driver and one passenger as well as surfer. The wake had tons of push even 12 ft. Behind the boat. I was riding over 1' to 1.5 foot rollers even at the back of the wave. It still had tons of push. To say the least I was impressed!

[Wickedcummins]

robert Try this on your boat and you will be SHOCKED... Dark side... Front starboard 400lbs rear locker PNP sac full. have your third person sit behind driver.. Then fill the port side hard tank full and go 11.8-12.0 taps 3 =) I bet you will be amazed =).. Hopefully your swim deck dont get in the way witch Im sure it will.. Grr stupid swim decks

[robert theisen]

robert Try this on your boat and you will be SHOCKED... Dark side... Front starboard 400lbs rear locker PNP sac full. have your third person sit behind driver.. Then fill the port side hard tank full and go 11.8-12.0 taps 3 =) I bet you will be amazed =).. Hopefully your swim deck dont get in the way witch Im sure it will.. Grr stupid swim decks

Thanks Wicked! I'll give that a try tomorrow.

[Wickedcummins]

Thanks Wicked! I'll give that a try tomorrow.

you bet let me know.. My wave is so insane and long I love it... Ive yet to see anything compare my dark side wave.. Best wave I had was 4 people behind driver and then filled the port side full.. Witch is still a stock bag.. MIkes pnp sac for the port side will be here tomorrow

If found that full fill on the surfing side is the perfect list then match the other side with whatever weight you add to the surfing side

[Timmy!]

The swim platform on the Z3 barely touches the water! It's truly a thing of beauty!

[Wickedcummins]

Mine dont touch either.. After trimming it didn't. But I also looked at the RZR and z3 and there not 90* to the transom like the rz2.. So I decided to change my angle to the same. Now my platform is at a 80* angle. Working on some billet pieces now to sell to replace the 90* ones

[ragboy]

Be careful when you do that, there is a balance with wash from the stuff that comes from under the deck, if the deck doesn't stop that stuff, you have more wash. Suggestion: Take the deck off and do a test first.

[Wickedcummins]

already did it.. With full weight its pefect barley touchs the water.. Mearly skims it. This winter I am gonna change up my platform and to a more rounded corner more the shape of the wave...

Got alot of things Im gonna build this winter for the wave.. Should be interesting playing with all my ideas!

[ragboy]

Very cool, can't wait to see the results.

[Timmy!]

BTT in case new folks are interested in a Z3.

[Timmy!]

Drove a Z3 again today for a few hours pulling surfers. It was loaded with the surf ballast and 10 people with the 343 PCM engine and a 1433 prop, drove great! I was impressed that the 343 was plenty for surfing even at 5280' of elevation. Don't think I would recommend full ballast, 10 people and wakeboarding but I can say without a doubt that if all you are doing is surfing that the 343hp is plenty!

[ragboy]

We pulled Raequel Hoffman wakeboarding with the 409 and about 2500 lbs of ballast and about 1300 lbs of people and I thought it pulled and got to speed very well. I had taps at 4 (2 stock, 4 with my mod) and I didn't have it lower when pulling her out, yet it got up to speed just fine. She came in the boat and said she couldn't believe how fast my boat got up to speed. She has an Epic 23V with the 8.1 L engine.

I am running the 1235 prop which I am sure helps.

[Timmy!]

I get to drive an Epic 23V with the 8.1L every now and then and with full ballast and the OJ version of the 1235 with full ballast and people weight, it does take a little time to get on plane. They do have 3,500lbs of ballast though.

[labrat]

Awesome review! Still a bit bummed my fiancé wouldn't consider the Z3.

Key word is fiancée. J/k I would want to get either of us in trouble. We need spouse's and fiancee's to give us sanity checks once in a while!!