HELP Needed: 2007-2009 RZ2 OR 2010 24VE

[Ewok]

The AVX question is subjective. I haven't surfed one yet but the concept is sound and it shows great adjustability in the wake. If I ride one someday I might change my mind but so far my boat is the best I've surfed next to WABoatings. Because of this I'm not looking to replace my boat which suits my needs well. If you really want to answer that question you're going to have to get out on a boat and demo the AVX and then ride a boat without and see if you notice the difference and also keep I mind ease of use and adjustability. It looks to me like the AVX makes the wave very adjustable.

As for the older used boats it's probably better to try to find something without ballast and add a new system. There are now bigger pumps with more options to get better fill times and faster cross fill times as well. Trying to upgrade an older factory system or an older custom system might be difficult depending on who did the install and where the thru hulls are located.

[AspiringTigeOwner]

Clarify - a RZR WITH AVX. Otherwise I wouldn't really consider.
I guess that begs the question, does the AVX make the newer boats surf as well as an older listed/ballasted boat?

[AspiringTigeOwner]

Hey, I'm an Engineer. The line forms behind ME for wondering about details!

I'm an engineer as well...I find a ton of guys on the boating forums are either engineers or work in technical fields!

My take away thus far:
From everyone's feedback thus far it really seems like either a 22VE', RZ2, or a Z1 (2013+) would be the best choice. The 22VE and RZ2 would be best in 2009/2010 in order to get the Alpha tower and keep it within price range. For the RZ2 a model in 2008 + would resolve some swim platform concerns (or was that 2009?).

My lingering questions are:
- Does the newer Z1 have a stand out wake relative to either 22' boat?
- How much time/effort am I going to have to dedicate to updating swim lockers on an 22VE' in order to get ballast equal to the RZ2 will accommodate with little effort?
- On any of the aforementioned: Are there any "must" options? Specifically, what stock ballast package should I be targeting to ensure that I have max capability?
- Does the Convex VX add significant length/height to any of these?

Final Thought: Can I get a good enough deal on a RZR at a boat show in 2016 to make it comparable in price?

Again - thanks to everyone on the forum for the help. My apologies if any of this is completely redundant and annoying.

[sandm]

dealer told me the wetted surface on the 22ve and rz2 were identical. the difference is in the added width in the front from the pickle fork. chp might know exactly, but I believe that the ballast difference in the front are from the 22ve having the 1piece bag that runs from side to side and the rz having separate bags on each side totalling a few hundred more lbs but side to side and can be isolated. my 22ve came factory with dual drain/fill pumps on the single bag.

[Ewok]

I don't think it takes more list. Every boat is different and the owners have different gear stowed around them. From what I've gathered the 22Ve and RZ2 hulls are very similar, the major difference being the extra fiberglass for the wider bow in the RZ. Because of that difference the bow weighting of the two boats seems different but the waves behind them seem very similar especially when weighted with more than 1,000 lbs in the rear locker.

[IDBoating]

What doesn't make sense to me is that everything I've seen for the VE hull is that you have to list it (roll it over) ~10° more in order to get the optimal wave.

It is true that on my 24Ve we often take it to 9+ degrees. At that point the rub rail is getting close to the waterline.

If the running surface of the RZ2 is identical (meaning the part in the water), I wouldn't get why a ballasted VE and RZ2 would be different.

I don't have an RZ4 to compare to my 24Ve (same lengths) so I don't know what longitudinal/roll axis angles are required/common for the pickle fork version. I wonder if the angles really ARE different, or if people are just comparing amounts of ballast?

Sorry for the analytics...It's a personality quirk.

Hey, I'm an Engineer. The line forms behind ME for wondering about details!

[IDBoating]

Awesome! Thanks EWOK! WABoating, you are right - it does look better than factory! To the others, sorry for hi-jacking the thread for a moment.

I like that, with the flag removed, the step there is essentially unchanged. It's still a flat surface, safe for bare feet, nothing to catch clothing or flesh. And it looks awesome.

[D&P Powell]

Awesome! Thanks EWOK! WABoating, you are right - it does look better than factory! To the others, sorry for hi-jacking the thread for a moment.

[dilpickle]

Regarding newer models - Z1:
- I like the idea of the newer Z1 because they'll seat 14, making them competitive with the RZ2, but at a foot shorter it's a more manageable size. Has anyone surfed or have video/pictures of a Z1 with Convex VX? If no, any idea of how much it improved the surf wave on the 2013/2014 boats? My impression is that it would get you to approximately the size of the Z3 but with a shorter length. Obviously the Z3 is the benchmark. I think I could stomach a bit more money if I could get a newer boat, even it if had quite a few hours for something in only 2 seasons.


Thanks to everyone for the support!

Regarding the Z1 & differences compared to RZ2, the Z1 is only 6 inches shorter in length (Z1 is 21' 6" long) but is heavier due to the higher freeboard. The prime difference in respect to space is that RZ has more room in bow from the picklefork design & RZ walkthrough is on starboard side, Z1 is in the middle.

Compared to the Z3 that is 18" longer, the extra space is split pretty evenly between the bow & main cabin. I'm 6'3" & in my Z1, I can sit in the bow with my legs flat & that is about the length of the bow area-2 adults can sit up there or 3-4 kids depending on how big they are, on the Z3 we demo'ed there is room for 4 full grown adults (my size) to sit comfortably. Behind the windshield, you can get 2 more people than the Z1 & pickup the trash can behind the driver's seat.

Hope this helps

[AspiringTigeOwner]

The 24Ve is a bigger hull, so it takes more ballast - but once that bigger hull is ballasted, you get a correspondingly bigger wave too!

Thanks for the help, that part makes sense. What doesn't make sense to me is that everything I've seen for the VE hull is that you have to list it (roll it over) ~10° more in order to get the optimal wave. If the running surface of the RZ2 is identical (meaning the part in the water), I wouldn't get why a ballasted VE and RZ2 would be different.

Sorry for the analytics...It's a personality quirk.

[Ewok]

EWOK - How did you mount the flag on the back of the boat? Is there a slot for it, or did you rig something? Not sure where to put mine on the new boat.

I installed this in the center of my "transom activity center" seat:

http://www.iboats.com/S-S-Flag-Pole-...iew_id.1084889

Then I ordered one of these to fit in the hole, I think I used the 24" flagpole but I'm considering ordering the next size up. At rest the flag is about 1/2" above the water on the transom.

http://www.iboats.com/Taylor-Made-Te...view_id.886247

Here are a few pics of the install:









After the first time out I thought the flagpole was too loose so I hollowed out the bottom end of the flagpole and glues a very powerful magnet there, and I used epoxy to put the other half of the powerful magnet in the holder so there is a good bit of tension to pull the flagpole out of the holder.

[IDBoating]

If the running surface is the same, does anybody know why the 22VE hull takes more list than the RZ2 hull? Is that only the case with the 24VE?

The 24Ve is a bigger hull, so it takes more ballast - but once that bigger hull is ballasted, you get a correspondingly bigger wave too!

[IDBoating]

EWOK - How did you mount the flag on the back of the boat? Is there a slot for it, or did you rig something?

He installed it himself. Did such a great job that it looks better than factory. It's a little ring with a closed-end tube that accepts the flag pole.

[Ewok]

Sorry - Looks like a few of my questions were answered already!

@Ewok - did you ever consider adding the Convex VX?

I considered it when it first came out but I don't see the value in adding it to my boat. I don't have FAE yet and when I add that to my boat I'm probably going to add a surf flap (rubber horse stall mat) below the swim platform to smooth out potential turbulence. As you can see my wave does not have any noticeable turbulence from the platform that a recreational rider would notice. Plus the convex VX would limit my ability to store snow tires under the swim platform in my garage.

[BCRider]

Regarding ConvexVX in General:
- Should I be targeting a boat that had this as a factory option or a retrofit?
There is no retrofit available. It either came with it or it didn't and they only started adding them in 2012 I believe....someone else can confirm.

I also have a ve and although I have never been on an RZ2 or 4 I am vary happy with my wave.