RZX - one place for all rumors

[talltigeguy]

Are you saying you think it will come in significantly cheaper than your G, or just hoping so? I'm currently in a 2014 23 LSV, but thinking about going to the RZX in a year or two. I'd really like a G23, but I can't justify the cost. We almost always surf, but have a few wakeboarding friends. I'm tired of having to fill bow sacks. So, I hope it is $35k cheaper than a G!

I clearly quoted smithjd11 who thought an RZX would come in 30-40K cheaper. Given that Unstuck was quoted 135K, then you are talking pretty well level playing field...or if you have an aggressive Nautique dealer, the Tige costs more. Assuming the 135K was without a trailer.

The Raptor engine use the torque figures as their designation, so Im gathering the 575 was the Roush SC engine?

If you guys had the 900 lb surf XL sacs full, I think you had too much aft weight more so than the wrong prop. I think that boat is already running a 17" prop and even more gear reduction than the previous 1.48:1?

Ragboy said that all Tige models have the 1.72 transmission ratio. The dealer said the prop is 15 inches, and there is not space for a 17 incher. The RZX has all of the ballast hidden under the floor. It is reportedly 3,000 pounds. Then we filled a 400 pound sack in each rear locker. The under floor ballast is sacks from what I am told. But they cannot be seen without unscrewing some access hatches. I never saw the boat out of the water so I could not confirm which prop was on there. I think 6 average sized people, a rider and 800 pounds plus stock ballast is probably not too much to ask of the strongest available motor, regardless of where we sat. I am pretty sure it could be solved with a prop change. I should have checked the RPM's at wakeboard speed to see where it was at, but the fact that I didn't even notice the engine revving much suggests in my mind it was still at a pretty low RPM once it finally got to plane.

This is not a knock on the boat, but to make the factory and dealers think a bit more wisely before they put whatever propeller on there. I hope that Adam Brewer will come and let us know which prop they had on there.

The rzx I looked at last week was $135k and some change. Add in the cost of the triple axle trailer ( I think he said $10k) and fees. It's a beautiful boat and all that, but at that point it needs to earn its keep. I don't see anyone in my boat going pro any time soon.
Bottom line is no owner of these boats will ever convince one of my kids they would have had more fun on their boat than my cheep, old boat.

I agree. Not 10X more fun, that is for sure. I can make some argument a new boat has some things that contribute to a somewhat better experience...Just not multiples of the experience you already have. For instance, I would guarantee you will never have a wave like this. But let's not derail the thread into a 'how much you have to spend to have a good time' thing.

[ragboy]

ok, had a busy weekend doing a fun video for Chaos Surf boards and the RZX. But I am here now. ;-)

I think one thing to remember is that the G has been out for a few years now? This reminds me of the first year of the Z3. At first, it sets up a bit different and it takes a while to figure it out. After a year or so dealers knew exactly how to dial in a Z3 and do a good demo. This boat, is NOTHING like a Z3 or other boats, it doesn't react the same. That is not a negative comment for the dealers, it took me a while. But once you understand it, it takes minutes to dial in and go and the wake is very stable.

So I made a quick video of RAW footage for you, and I included an angle from the tower that really helps you see the length. From all the riders I have had on it, I think its safe to say it is plenty long, and at least as long as the G. On this day, we had almost 700 lbs in the rear lockers and a good number of people and it was BIG. The prop on this boat is:

2249 - 15x14.25 .105 cup

It surfs pretty well, and I have gotten it on plane full stock pretty easily, maybe the boat you road was different? or the altitude had a strong impact? 91 octane fuel? I use 89 but I know 91 would help in that situation.

One thing about the goofy wave that I have found, it is doesn't like it if the weight distribution is too far back. It will be washy on the lip, and I have a couple of bigger people to drive or observer seat. This is one reason I drive all the time. it likes the weight there to balance some of the extra rear. With the regular side, it doesn't seem to mind all of the weight in the rear corner so much.

Also, if you weight the boat PERFECTLY level at rest and you switch regular, it will only list to about 1 degree. But when you switch goofy it will list about 3 degrees. If you want to do transfers there is a very delicate balance so that you can get a pretty clean wake on both sides. However, if you have one 200 lb person move with the transfer, its much easier and you don't need to find that edge as much.

If you are not going to do transfers, adjust the weight so that you have about 6 degrees or so on goofy, and then 3-4 on regular. That is money.

Here is some raw footage from this weekend, both sides, including angle from the top. The wake was pretty massive, and still very long. Chris Kinsey at the end of the video likes the wake a bit slower, steeper, but its still long.

https://youtu.be/N0dgcsLhzHg

...

[ragboy]

Here is a video I just did with Chris Wolter, but its all regular. One thing to notice, is that the tower camera on wolter video is NOT fisheye, it is setup for 1080/60/NARROW.

...

[ragboy]

And then watch the RZX review we did and the Sossy sunset video, you will see several shots from an iPhone 6, I think everything that was not the curl-view was the iPhone 6, so that is not fish-eye AT ALL. Here are those other 2 videos. Feel free to ask me any questions.

@tall, get your butt over here and let me give you a ride. ;-)

Here are those videos to see:

[ragboy]

One more thing, we are probably split with a few more goofy riders than regular in our group. It is the general consensus that if you had to rate the waves, goofy has a slight edge. So if you can't get the goofy wake as good, its just a problem with setup. I can tell you that I struggled a bit with it at first, til I learned its tricks.

Anyway, you all know how much I love our Z3 with AVX, and I would say if that wave at its best is a 9, the RZX def goes to 11, both sides. ;-)

[ragboy]

Looking at that goofy picture, that looks really poor. Here is a picture, 500 lbs on each side and only a few people this day. These 2 pics are only seconds apart if you look at the time, this was before and after transfer. Keep in mind, we moved about 200 lbs of people when we did the transfer.

[UNSTUCK]

Ragboy, I'm curious about the settings you use. I believe the TAPS 3 has like 15 different positions to choose from. On the RZX I looked at I watched the actuator only move a few times as the operator went through them. Then the actuator fully extended well before the screen was set to 1 (maybe it was 15, whichever is all the way down). I'm wondering if you just set it for all the way down, or if you have set up maybe a different position for each surfer? How is it different from surf to skim, or is it different? Thanks.

[ragboy]

I have found that just putting the taps3 at 1, all the way down, and then just using the TAPS2 plate for setting skim to steep is the most effective. The TAPS2 works really well on the RZX, it will go shin high to waste high with no other setting or changes.

One thing to note, is that when weighted flat for transfers taps at 3 works about best, and/or maybe taps4. When weighted perfectly flat for transfers you can't move up and down much on the taps or it gets a bit dirty. however, list it over just 1 or 2 degrees and then taps work work from 2-5ish, and then list maybe over 1 more degree and taps will be clean from 1 to 7. Also, most people seem to just like taps at 3 or 4, its rare to need different. The transition is so smooth, that taps at 3 is fine for a skimmer, and the shape is good so a surfer still likes taps3. Some surfers will want taps 5 or 6 to make a wall to launch off of. It is rare that I go down to taps 2 or 3, usually only for my 10 year old daughter that thinks the wave is TOO big. ;-)

[chpthril]

Ragboy said that all Tige models have the 1.72 transmission ratio. The dealer said the prop is 15 inches, and there is not space for a 17 incher. The RZX has all of the ballast hidden under the floor. It is reportedly 3,000 pounds. Then we filled a 400 pound sack in each rear locker. The under floor ballast is sacks from what I am told. But they cannot be seen without unscrewing some access hatches. I never saw the boat out of the water so I could not confirm which prop was on there. I think 6 average sized people, a rider and 800 pounds plus stock ballast is probably not too much to ask of the strongest available motor, regardless of where we sat. I am pretty sure it could be solved with a prop change. I should have checked the RPM's at wakeboard speed to see where it was at, but the fact that I didn't even notice the engine revving much suggests in my mind it was still at a pretty low RPM once it finally got to plane.

If the RZX is modeled after the ASR, then there are L shaped surf sacs in the rear lockers that are above floor. Found them in the 2 2015 ASR's ive been in.

[ragboy]

There are no L shaped bags in the RZX and there is nothing you can see in any lockers or storage. The lockers and under seat storage are completely empty, just nice sea deck on the bottom. All of the ballast is hidden under the floor and under special panels that you have to unscrew to access. Their are bags under there. The ASR was the same, it is possible that someone added L-Shaped bags on top of the 3000 lbs of hidden ballast.

[UNSTUCK]

I have found that just putting the taps3 at 1, all the way down, and then just using the TAPS2 plate for setting skim to steep is the most effective. The TAPS2 works really well on the RZX, it will go shin high to waste high with no other setting or changes.

One thing to note, is that when weighted flat for transfers taps at 3 works about best, and/or maybe taps4. When weighted perfectly flat for transfers you can't move up and down much on the taps or it gets a bit dirty. however, list it over just 1 or 2 degrees and then taps work work from 2-5ish, and then list maybe over 1 more degree and taps will be clean from 1 to 7. Also, most people seem to just like taps at 3 or 4, its rare to need different. The transition is so smooth, that taps at 3 is fine for a skimmer, and the shape is good so a surfer still likes taps3. Some surfers will want taps 5 or 6 to make a wall to launch off of. It is rare that I go down to taps 2 or 3, usually only for my 10 year old daughter that thinks the wave is TOO big. ;-)

Interesting. Maybe I should focus on just up or down with my TAPS 21, then like you, use the taps 2 for adjustment. The RZX has a huge taps 2 plate. Maybe twice the size of my 21v. That could be an area to play with as well.

[chpthril]

There are no L shaped bags in the RZX and there is nothing you can see in any lockers or storage. The lockers and under seat storage are completely empty, just nice sea deck on the bottom. All of the ballast is hidden under the floor and under special panels that you have to unscrew to access. Their are bags under there. The ASR was the same, it is possible that someone added L-Shaped bags on top of the 3000 lbs of hidden ballast.

I didnt say they are visible, but you did back up what i said, that they are there. Lets play "find the L shaped surf sac" Yes, its hidden, but above the floor no doubt and it was an L shaped sac. Nothing added post factory. These boats were both in dealer inventory. this one so fresh off the truck, the prop was not installed, nor was the mirror. Hadnt even been water tested, as we discovered a leak when we floated it off the loaner trailer to put it on its custom trailer.

[ragboy]

You can see me sitting in the locker, there are 4 ballast bags behind the driver. 2 in the rear corner (under my butt on this side) and then 2 under the side seats. Each of those bags must be about 500 lbs.

[ragboy]

That is not what these lockers look like, or I would have never fit in there. There are no L shaped sacs in the RZX. I have had the panels off and I have inspected them. I can see that without TAPS3 the ASR would need a lot of weight to list, and that may have been the reason for that. The ASRs that we were in earlier, were more like the RZX is now.

[chpthril]

Sounds like another mid-year ballast change then, but that pic is from a Jan 2015 ASR, so thats a mid year build for sure.