My design for a TAPS3-VX

[skier man]

Very cool, great read! Looking forward to all the progress!

[Z3CO23]

Sorry for the hijack but...

If you do go with testing something without the VX, here's what the Z3 and Taps 3 will do, in case you were looking at some sort of plate system.

Setup is pretty much the same as Rayboy's when he helped out the family with the white and purple Z3:

1000 lbs each rear locker (w004 and 250 hard tank each)
800 lbs full up front
450 lb bag full on floor
130 lb driver
300 lb spotter sitting port in corner
250 lb passenger sitting port mid cabin

My big arse goes about 270 so needing push is an understatement. As you can see I'm a human plow on a surfboard and someday ill upgrade to a performance big boy board. Board is LF fiver.... didn't care for it, bubbled after first use, like my ronix boards more.

Speed 11.4
taps 2 @ 4
taps 3 @ 1

[duffymahoney]

[QUOTE=JohnnieMo;765558]The more I ride behind my boat and observe the wave, the more I am thinking about doing some trials without the Vx all together. The downside of the Vx is that you increase the running surface of your boat. This means you need more weight to make the wave. Last week we went out surfing with 3 adults. The wave, even with my loaded Wake9 bags, was too small for me to go wireless comfortably. (I was leaning forward the whole time) As a result I needed to add a 700lb bag to the seat. Typically when I surf I have two 300lb guys sitting on the back of the boat, and that makes it incredible (without that 700lb bag).

So my point is, the Vx may be hurting me with a small crew. I will do some testing without the Vx and report back. I haven't done it since I had the Rev 1 brackets. Even though the Vx adds some smoothing, I'm not convinced it negates its impact on weight. For big guys like me, that is a big deal.

I am 100% convinced the vx hurts the wave. Tige took my wave flap idea and made a prettier version of it, but took away the real point, which is prop wash calming without raising the rear of the boat out of the water at all. The adjustable avx was a much better design.

[JohnnieMo]

The more I ride behind my boat and observe the wave, the more I am thinking about doing some trials without the Vx all together. The downside of the Vx is that you increase the running surface of your boat. This means you need more weight to make the wave. Last week we went out surfing with 3 adults. The wave, even with my loaded Wake9 bags, was too small for me to go wireless comfortably. (I was leaning forward the whole time) As a result I needed to add a 700lb bag to the seat. Typically when I surf I have two 300lb guys sitting on the back of the boat, and that makes it incredible (without that 700lb bag).

So my point is, the Vx may be hurting me with a small crew. I will do some testing without the Vx and report back. I haven't done it since I had the Rev 1 brackets. Even though the Vx adds some smoothing, I'm not convinced it negates its impact on weight. For big guys like me, that is a big deal.

Lamest - I wish you DID live next door. I need an accomplice.

Travism - get those brackets installed! I'll bring my belt sander to buzz down your Vx.

[jmoore15]

I know a few members on here have removed their vx all together, got a surf flap and were much happier with the wave. Just a thought.

Any pics of the difference in the wave? Anybody, ridden both setups? Sorry for the hijack.

[duffymahoney]

I know a few members on here have removed their vx all together, got a surf flap and were much happier with the wave. Just a thought.

[Lamest]

I so wish we were neighbors. I'd be looking over the fence every day, asking how the science projects are going. (I'd offer beers!)
I'm a satisfied owner of a Taps 3 setup, but I applaud your inovation and will be following this thread.

[Travism]

Cutting the VX will result in tremendous lift reducing wake size. Its been done. Not that it could not be perfected just more efficient ways of getting a better wake. Listing still makes the best wake. The vX in the steepest angle makes a short wake. The first rendition made long but small but the second rendition was the money. Weighted correctly it made the longest with the best size. Taps 3 is a good surf system and does what all the surf systems does. Makes an easy push button wake on either side. If you want to get the best wake out of your boat you still have to list and by pass the surf systems. My Z3 with the Taps 3 i feel it makes a better wake than I ever got out of the VX. The TAPS 3 gives many options for adjusting the wake. You can list and use the TAPS 3 to tune which is really neat. Or use it as it is designed and have an easy wake side to side.

If it were me I would ditch the VX and just buy a couple trim tabs and bolt them on and wire them up. You will come much further ahead with less effort. Next will be deciding how big to go on each side. Asymetrical tabs work best as prop torque and wash makes a huge difference. Then finding the correct amount of list and slip based on tab size and angle to get the wake shape you want.

Keep us updated on your progress. SOunds like a fun project.

Are you saying the third set of brackets is not the ticket ? As I mentioned I haven't installed mine yet and am still pretty happy with the 2nd set.

[Travism]

I still need to get them latest brackets on and report back the changes !

[loudelectronics]

Cutting the VX will result in tremendous lift reducing wake size. Its been done. Not that it could not be perfected just more efficient ways of getting a better wake. Listing still makes the best wake. The vX in the steepest angle makes a short wake. The first rendition made long but small but the second rendition was the money. Weighted correctly it made the longest with the best size. Taps 3 is a good surf system and does what all the surf systems does. Makes an easy push button wake on either side. If you want to get the best wake out of your boat you still have to list and by pass the surf systems. My Z3 with the Taps 3 i feel it makes a better wake than I ever got out of the VX. The TAPS 3 gives many options for adjusting the wake. You can list and use the TAPS 3 to tune which is really neat. Or use it as it is designed and have an easy wake side to side.

If it were me I would ditch the VX and just buy a couple trim tabs and bolt them on and wire them up. You will come much further ahead with less effort. Next will be deciding how big to go on each side. Asymetrical tabs work best as prop torque and wash makes a huge difference. Then finding the correct amount of list and slip based on tab size and angle to get the wake shape you want.

Keep us updated on your progress. SOunds like a fun project.

[dukesofhazzard]

come on johnnie go for it!!
I would like to see if one could retrofit for a 22ve, since they put it on rz2 should be close I would think. I look forward to seeing where this goes

[JohnnieMo]

someone needs to cut a vx right down the middle, put actuators on each half, rubber mat or something similar around the hump to keep the water from coming up in between and voila a listing vx!! I would love to see this work. I just made a suc gate and tried it. first one was too big, fell off, cut it down to 8x10 stayed on whole time, but the wave is not as good as listing. I still listed but not as much, but wave was noticeable longer but not as big and less lip. Cant wait to see how this goes.

If anyone HAS cut into a Vx I would love to know what the guts look like. Mine will need some modification so I would love to know what's on the inside.

Your idea is a good one. Someone should do it. Just not me

Sent from my BlackBerry Priv

[dukesofhazzard]

someone needs to cut a vx right down the middle, put actuators on each half, rubber mat or something similar around the hump to keep the water from coming up in between and voila a listing vx!! I would love to see this work. I just made a suc gate and tried it. first one was too big, fell off, cut it down to 8x10 stayed on whole time, but the wave is not as good as listing. I still listed but not as much, but wave was noticeable longer but not as big and less lip. Cant wait to see how this goes.

[JohnnieMo]

I'm excited as well to see how this turns out, I moded my vx and the wake is awesome but I may also be a player on this if it works

What did you do to mod it? Are you on Rev 3 of the brackets?

For reference here they are:

Revision 1 (came on early 2013 boats and had not enough angle to make a surfable wave)

(Rev 2 attached to Vx, Rev 1 sitting beside. Note the holes. This is how you know you are stuck on Rev 1)




Revision 2 (the fix to Rev 1. What I'm running now. Still needs upgraded ballast)


Revision 3 (mimics AVx setting of 8)

(courtesy of Travism)

As I've been surfing lately I am watching how the wave comes out under the Vx. I really think I want to upgrade (or at least cut my brackets) to Rev 3 specs.

[PaceWithGrace]

Ok, I'm subscribed to this thread.