Opinions of Surfgate On The Axis

[Z3CO23]

So, I know that it usually creates chaos when stuff is posted about the other brands on forums but i was interested in your guys opinions. Alittle back story about my post is..... when I bought my boat I was actively shopping between Tige and Malibu/Axis. Clearly my wife and I ended up in a Tige, but this was because we decided on a used boat at a good price that WWS had. Tommy's here in Denver had a few used boats in great shape but could not compare to the price we got on our boat. I'll be honest, I flat out had my heart set on a Malibu or Axis with surfgate. The wife ok'd the purchase of a super clean used boat at Tige and was going to make me wait a couple years if I wanted a new Malibu or Axis. The wife said yes.... I salivated an jumped on the deal right away. I don't want it to sound like I settled for my boat. Our boat is awesome, the surf wave for a 20 footer dominates every other 20 footer i demoed (mondo wasn't out yet) and couldn't be happier with the Tige product.

When we bought, we had our heart set on a pick fork designed boat so that is why i've paid particularly close attention to the surfgate stuff associated with them. I wanted to get everyone's opinion about this Malibu/Axis surf wave. I follow the Malibu and Axis forums as closely as I do this one and their guys go to blows over sufgate opinions. I came across this video I thought I would throw it up here to get opinions. Every mxz or pickel forked boat i've seen a surfgate on has this "spray gate" problem. Some guys say all the boats that do this are just mis-weighted but I have yet to see a video proving this. It clearly messes up the face of the wave but do you think it actually messes up the dynamics of the wave it self? I sure looks like S$%^&. What do you guys think?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPD6FP9_XCc

Sorry, I couldn't get the video to post here for whatever reason.

[Timmy!]

Looks to me like it's probably just cosmetic.

[WakerideN]

probably not the dynamics of the wave messed up, but my logic always comes back to this.... how much more $$ in gas does it cost when dragging something like that around the lake all day? lets face it more drag, more money burned in gas to offset it and move forward? same with the wedge. does it work, yes but with a cost is my take.

[Bruizza]

we owned a 2010 Axis A22 and the surf wave was AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL and we had the 1100lb surf sacs in the back. Now this was before they redesigned the platform and way before surfgate. Having said that I have surfed a VLX and an LSV with the surfgate and the wave was AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING!!!!!!!!! Now clearly I haven't surfed one of the pickleforks with the surfgate however my buddy who has a 14 LSV on order from Tommy's surfed the 22 MXZ with the gate and said it was terrible. Said no matter what weight combo they tried they couldn't get a good wave. This is second hand but he is a Bu guy through and through. Since you are in Arvada and he and I both live in Westminster I can put you in touch with him if you like.

Here is another thing to consider and this is just from my family's perspective (my brother and myself) You will not get near the level of service from Tommy's as you will get from WWS. My brother bought 2 brand new boats from Tommy's (A22 and 23 TWB) and he takes his boat to WWS for everything that isn't warranty related. Now Tommy's has gone through some changes since then mainly Tommy left and they have a new head of the service department. Brian Roth has always been a solid guy and did his best to remedy situations we had over the years. Hell Tommy still owes my brother some free lessons for trying to remedy a situation he had with his Axis. Don't think he will ever get those lessons.......

[Bruizza]

Let me throw this out there as well. I wouldn't hesitate to give Tommy's another chance if they had the boat I wanted for the price I wanted.

[Z3CO23]

Let me throw this out there as well. I wouldn't hesitate to give Tommy's another chance if they had the boat I wanted for the price I wanted.

I completely agree. I actually haven't been able to bring my self to set foot in there since I didn't buy a boat from them. I eventually will shop there again but I'm going to feel horrible about telling Brian and Dan I bought somewhere else. I was in Tommy's and WWS multiple times with questions and trying to figure out what I wanted. Brian and Dan let me take anything and everything out for test, no questions asked. I was up front with them in telling them my boat purchase could be right away or maybe as much as a year and a half down the road and they never minded. Dan even sent me emails giving me congrats on my wedding etc. Stand up dudes, no question. I absolutely love my Tige and WWS has been great. I couldn't pass up the deal on a clean used boat, but eventually I will buy and new 22 or 23 footer and Tommys will certainly be considered.

I was strongly considering an 2013 A22 but i couldn't get my self to look past the sub-par surf wave. I knew they were going to put Surfgate on the axis in 2014 but was reserved about them having the same issues with spray they were having on the mxz's when weighted. I have also seen a wave from a 23 LSV and it was AMAZING! I know the spray is just cosmetic but after seeing a VLX of LSV wave, i would expect the same quality out of a MXZ or an Axis.

I can't say anything about the service as I haven't had any experience with them.

[robert theisen]

The wave doesn't look near as long,clean or tall as my RZ2. That said i have surfed behind several Malibu's that were listed and they made a great waves.I think you have to give a lot on wave quality to get the surf gate versatility. Not saying the surf gate isn't a surf able wave. Just not the same quality as a listed wave.

[Wickedcummins]

I've yet to surfa Malibu with a decent wave all have sucked compared to my tige rz2 wave

[Ruger761]

One other thing on the surf gates I really dont care for is the fact they act like a huge rudder. You can turn great one direction but the other way is almost impossible to turn against. So if something is coming up you need to turn really quickly for good luck. I have seen some nice waves with them on older hulls that have been retrofited. But I dont think it beats their listed waves. Most still end up listing some with the gate just not as much as ususal.

[g-man]

Off topic...I'm surprised by the WWS fans out there. Wouldn't give me the time of day cuz I got my boat out of state. Even told me I would be at the end of the line for service.

[Timmy!]

Off topic...I'm surprised by the WWS fans out there. Wouldn't give me the time of day cuz I got my boat out of state. Even told me I would be at the end of the line for service.

Really? I have been treated like family/friend/best customer ever since the day I set foot in the shop back in 2006! Bill and Nick know every single person that they have ever sold a boat to and I can go in there and describe a boat to them and where I saw it and they can tell you who's boat it is and when they bought it. They have sold a LOT of boats over the years and it just blows my mind that they could be on that kind of level with that many customers. I truly believe it's because they take the time to get to know their customers and adopt them as part of their Tige family rather than just selling you a boat. I'm not sure when the last time you were in the shop was but I encourage you to give them a second chance.

[gwhite94]

X2 Timmy