2007 RZ2. What to look for?

[robert theisen]

We had some stitch stretching on our 2007 22VE. The vinyl didn't have any tears or rips though. I would check the serial # on the rear right side of the transom to make sure of the year.The steering cable is a couple of hours to do your first time.

[retox1]

Already checked the HIN. Its an 07.

[Timmy!]

Sounds like a great deal to me! I wouldn't sell mine for that cheap.

[retox1]

Ya i'm probably going to buy it, its not listed anywhere yet and the owner said to take a week or two to think it over and get back to him. He knows he can get more for the boat but he said he doesnt have time for the hassle of putting it up for sale and dealing with test pilots for part of his spring/summer. Says he'd rather take a little less so it sells faster. Compared to the 06 Avy i was going to buy the RZ2 is a way nicer boat. I did like the full snap out carpet in the Avy but other than that there is no comparison. The engine in the Tige would be far easier to work on for oil changes, raw water impeller changes, and winterizing than the Black Scorpion in the Avy and thats pretty important to me.

Before i buy the Tige i still need to figure out what i need to upgrade the ballast from just the factory tanks, how to change the steering cable, upgrade the stereo and sub and a few other small things. All that is stuff i'll need to pay for and even if this is a great deal on the boat, if it leaves me no cash to do any upgrades i may have to pass on it.
I may still throw out a lowball offer on that Avy though. It would do everything i want at a way lower price, even though its not as nice.

[Timmy!]

Steering cable is a couple of hour job and there is a nice how to article on the site here somewhere. You do have to change the routing of the cable if it still has the factory one as there isn't a way to re-run the cable the same way that the factory did so you buy a longer cable.

Ballast upgrade - chpthril on here can't get you straight on that. I have a custom L shaped sac that I bought from him.

[retox1]

So what is the usual way of upgrading the ballast on a 2007 RZ2? Do most guys just get custom sacs made or is it easier/cheaper to move the batteries and open up that space and just throw a 750 or 1100 in there? I would need to do both sides, i surf regular but my wife and all our friends surf goofy. Not sure if its even possible to move the stuff for TAPS that is on the other side.

[Timmy!]

I think most just order up the custom sacs and leave the factory stuff in place.

[chpthril]

So what is the usual way of upgrading the ballast on a 2007 RZ2? Do most guys just get custom sacs made or is it easier/cheaper to move the batteries and open up that space and just throw a 750 or 1100 in there? I would need to do both sides, i surf regular but my wife and all our friends surf goofy. Not sure if its even possible to move the stuff for TAPS that is on the other side.

Yes and yes. With that factory ballast configuration, the most ideal way to go about adding larger sacs, whether custom or standard, is to relocate the batteries or pull the OEM tank in order to open the locker up.

Theres a few threads around here showing it done.

[JohnnieMo]

I imagine you could yank out that carpet and replace it with DECKadence.

[Obama4President2016]

I imagine you could yank out that carpet and replace it with DECKadence.

I hated carpet until I realized how easy it is to keep a boat clean (at least looking clean) which is all that matters.
I doesn't yank out either. The job is pure hell.

And DECKadence has its share of issue too. If you don't roll it up and let it dry out, it gets slimy underneath. Well here in FL id does.

Instead of carpet, go for bigger sound. You'll never regret it. If you have one sub, put another in (or two).

This is what will make your RZ2 heavenly.

For the record, I have a RZ4, basically the same boat just a tad longer.

Aside from steering cables that I consider a routine issue....my first "real" failure was last summer @ 500+ hours. A wire had frayed and wouldn't give the ignition power.

I can't blame the boat or the MFG, it just something that may or may not happen to any boat.

Approaching 600 hours. Love it!!!!

Go for it and don't forget to install fish rod holders.

[retox1]

I can't see myself pulling perfectly good carpet no matter how nice it would be to have something i can pull out for days when i have a boat full of kids. I did the carpet on my old Mastercraft last winter and it wasnt a very fun job. Not exactly a hard job but getting all the old glue out was messy and time consuming. It sucked.

There isnt much i would plan on doing and i'm still trying to get it all figured out. Steering cable will need to be done, and since it only has the factory Kicker sub i think it really needs atleast a upgrade in that department. I have a set of Exile XM7's sitting in my garage that i would maybe put on the tower instead of the factory speakers but i don't really know yet. I'd like to see how the factory tower speakers sound first. Pretty sure they're just normal speakers in cans so i assume they are more for surfing than wakeboarding. The biggest thing will be the ballast setup. In my old boat i always had to manually fill bags and one of the things i really wanted in a newer boat was a automated ballast setup. So i'll need to plumb new sacs into the existing setup or something like that.

[Timmy!]

That factory Kicker 10 can sound pretty dang good with a box around it. I built a 1.5 cu ft ported enclosure for my factory 10 and it pounded with the 700.5. I have since upgraded to a L7 12 but that 10 has some potential.

[retox1]

The plan would be to make use of the factory sub, probably building a box for it and probably adding another 10" somewhere else. Not sure where yet, gotta get the boat here before i get too far ahead of myself.

A couple other questions. I keep reading that the newer RZ2s surf better than the older version but i was under the impression that the hull is identical? This doesnt make alot of sense to me. Also i noticed that the 07 version weighs less than the 08+ but i havent been able to find a explanation for this. Anyone know the reason?
Last, what am i looking at for a loaded towing weight on this boat? I currently have a 2011 F150 Platinum with the ecoboost that should easily tow it but i'm planning on getting rid of it in the near future (its a lemon) and getting something a little older and more reliable. Will a 08-10 GMC 1/2 ton with a 5.3 pull this thing easily? Thats probably what i'll be looking to buy. Thanks guys.

[Timmy!]

I don't think the newer RZ2's surf any better than the old ones when ballasted the same. The newer ones come with more factory ballast than the older ones and then you have the swim platform issue but other than that, they all rock.

I'm not touching that Ford vs Chevy question...

[Ewok]

My 09 RZ2 weighs 6,400 lbs as it sits on the trailer with full tank of gas, full cooler, 2 surf boards, 2 wakeboards, 10 life jackets, anchor, basically fully loaded heading to the lake.

Your boost should handle it fine and just about any 1/2 ton with a v8 should do fine. I towed my boat from TX to WA with my v8 4Runner.