MEAD 2018

[D&P Powell]

Thank You!

Thank you all for the kind words. After 6 years of attending, co-coordinating, and coordinating this event, I must say this years reunion ranked right up there at the top for Pam and I. From the weather, to Tige and Germaine Marines support, to the volunteers assisting and the dinner... it was all AWESOME!

A special thanks to; Brad & Meighan White, and Tim & Annette Tooher for helping with EVERYTHING, Jennifer Starr and Cory Weber for helping with the food, Jim Linden for helping transport donations and loaning us his oven on Saturday, Jason for fixing my busted ballast pump, everyone who brought lights, generators, extension cords, and crock pots, and last but not least, Pam for supporting me through this whole event (and being a trooper year in/out when it's on our anniversary).

I can't wait for the videos we have coming!

Lastly - you heard it here first... watch closely over the next few days for the MEAD 2019 thread. COMING SOON!

***FIREBALL***

[Zackdogg]

Zack come see me and lets figure out a way to get you out of your Rzx and into either one with the 2/1 or something else without getting slammed. I have had to climb much worse mountains, we can figure it out.

I do appreciate that Jason, and I will hit you up. Whether it’s to figure out a 2:1 in mine, or to see about something else. You go out of your way to help a lot of people in this community, and you obviously know your ****. If I can’t get this boat to do what it was supposedly designed to do, as a boat that started the season with 27 hours on it, and a price tag that Tige had no problem putting $155k on, when it was new, I will probably go to my grave, shouting from roof tops about what overpriced jokes Tiges are. That isn’t anything against you, or anyone on here that loves their boats. I have talked to, and met some super cool, go out of their way to help people guys, on here, and will stay here, if I’m still welcome while driving another brand boat. There was a point where I talked to them at the manufacturer, and it seemed like they were trying to help me, my dealer tried to help me, but nothing ever happened, and I either got lost in the shuffle or just blown off. I’ve ended up spending my whole summer trying to figure this thing out, and it is improved, but still not 100%, so now I’m at “drop $12k to make it do what the sticker on it claims it will”, or “sell it and buy a new one”. Neither makes me want another Tige. We all know why they switched to a 2:1 on the 2017, because the 1.5:1 won’t move the 2016 without a supercharger. Anyone with a 2016 gets screwed because Tige didn’t bother putting in the R&D, or let Indmar dictate what they should have, or whatever the reason. Either way, if I have to try and dump this boat, I’m most likely done with Tige, and would be really hard pressed to run a boat with a Indmar running gear again.

Sorry for the same old rant from me, and again, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about anyone on this forum, and appreciate every single response I’ve gotten to anything I’ve asked or said. I really do, but I am extremely frustrated with Tiges performance at this time.


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[NAstleford]

Had a great time and can't wait for next year. Was totally worth the long drive and boat wrapping to make the trip.
Thanks again Dave, Pam, Jason and all others who helped put this on. As well as all the sponsors.
Was great meeting new people and discovering a new lake.
And thank you to Tim & Annette for the margaritas Sunday night. Was a nice ending to the weekend to sit around and chat with you two and Dave & Pam.
Figure I should drop a few pictures on here.

GOPR1232.jpg

GOPR1292-1.jpg

GOPR1253-1.jpg

Tried out the Victoria Wake Captain. Yeah, it's a skim for sure and kicked my a$$...
GOPR1269.jpg

IMG_4705.jpg

IMG_4703.JPG

[Germaine Marine]

I do appreciate that Jason, and I will hit you up. Whether it’s to figure out a 2:1 in mine, or to see about something else. You go out of your way to help a lot of people in this community, and you obviously know your ****. If I can’t get this boat to do what it was supposedly designed to do, as a boat that started the season with 27 hours on it, and a price tag that Tige had no problem putting $155k on, when it was new, I will probably go to my grave, shouting from roof tops about what overpriced jokes Tiges are. That isn’t anything against you, or anyone on here that loves their boats. I have talked to, and met some super cool, go out of their way to help people guys, on here, and will stay here, if I’m still welcome while driving another brand boat. There was a point where I talked to them at the manufacturer, and it seemed like they were trying to help me, my dealer tried to help me, but nothing ever happened, and I either got lost in the shuffle or just blown off. I’ve ended up spending my whole summer trying to figure this thing out, and it is improved, but still not 100%, so now I’m at “drop $12k to make it do what the sticker on it claims it will”, or “sell it and buy a new one”. Neither makes me want another Tige. We all know why they switched to a 2:1 on the 2017, because the 1.5:1 won’t move the 2016 without a supercharger. Anyone with a 2016 gets screwed because Tige didn’t bother putting in the R&D, or let Indmar dictate what they should have, or whatever the reason. Either way, if I have to try and dump this boat, I’m most likely done with Tige, and would be really hard pressed to run a boat with a Indmar running gear again.

Sorry for the same old rant from me, and again, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about anyone on this forum, and appreciate every single response I’ve gotten to anything I’ve asked or said. I really do, but I am extremely frustrated with Tiges performance at this time.


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Why are you pissed at Tige again? I think I missed the backstory. Was this boat bought new? Like every mfg. These boats have the 3 different motors for different uses. In 16 it was 2. Tige has always clearly stated that the 575 is the only sure fire suitable power plant for elevation. The 2-1 was really only brought out to help with the price tag for people that couldnt stomach going to the 575. It had nothing to do with the boat lacking performance. The 440 1.5-1 runs absolutely fine for its intended purpose which is sea level or slightly above sea level operation and the 575 1.5-1 runs fine at 5k plus. I dont know of a dealer that stocked non 575 rzx3 that had to fight the elevation battle. This has been common knowledge to most boaters and dealers way before the Rzx.

If you are at significant elevation you have to go to the bigger power plant its why it exists in the first place.

[bsreid]

It isn’t always made clear to everyone that the 440 isn’t enough, sure sucks spending so much on a boat that doesn’t perform as wanted. But you can prop it to perform

[Zackdogg]

Why are you pissed at Tige again? I think I missed the backstory. Was this boat bought new? Like every mfg. These boats have the 3 different motors for different uses. In 16 it was 2. Tige has always clearly stated that the 575 is the only sure fire suitable power plant for elevation. The 2-1 was really only brought out to help with the price tag for people that couldnt stomach going to the 575. It had nothing to do with the boat lacking performance. The 440 1.5-1 runs absolutely fine for its intended purpose which is sea level or slightly above sea level operation and the 575 1.5-1 runs fine at 5k plus. I dont know of a dealer that stocked non 575 rzx3 that had to fight the elevation battle. This has been common knowledge to most boaters and dealers way before the Rzx.

If you are at significant elevation you have to go to the bigger power plant its why it exists in the first place.

Some of it is my bad, for assuming that a boat will do what the manufacturer claims. You know what they say about assuming. I haven’t been on another 1:5:1 drive, RZX, so maybe my boat is an anomaly. That I don’t know. I’m pissed because a $155k boat should perform as advertised, and it should do it easily. I live at altitude, by also run at barely over sea level 400-900 feet, and the thing barely pushes the weight with a 15x12 prop down there. It isn’t all about altitude, although I readily admit that does make it far worse. I 100% agree with you for their reasoning of switching to a 2:1 in 2017, again I obviously didn’t do enough homework because I wouldn’t have gone with this boat if I had known what a dog it is, but I also don’t see that information readily available, either. I do more, now, it’s still few and far between and most of what I see is from people answering questions that I ask. I now know that I should have, and probably will run the biggest motor I can get in any future boat, and some of this, I guess, I just chalk up as a learning experience.

I know a lot more, now, and it’s mostly from people here helping me. I just can’t believe that Tige didn’t know that this boat was an underperformer when they released it. Maybe I’m wrong, and I’ll readily admit that, if that somehow turns out to be the case. Honestly it just sucks to have a $100k boat that won’t even do the basic stuff that it’s designed for. For the price tags on these, it should perform far above and beyond, and it feels more like Tige’s attitude is “it will get by”. That may have flown when they and Nautique were the 2 brands making big surf boats, but I think it is probably going to hurt them eventually.

I have a business, I design things and I’ve done business with Tige, which is a major factor in me wanting to buy one of their boats, and not a G. Tige has hired me, Nautique never has. I can tell you if I told one of my customers my product would do “X” and it didn’t wow them, the least of my worries would be someone bitching about them on a forum.


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[Zackdogg]

It isn’t always made clear to everyone that the 440 isn’t enough, sure sucks spending so much on a boat that doesn’t perform as wanted. But you can prop it to perform

I think that’s my biggest issue, my 440 wouldn’t perform. I propped it to barely get by, and that’s the best I can hope for. I can’t add PnP, because I may as well just have a pontoon boat at that point. Maybe me wanting that is expecting too much, but I’d settle for the boat doing what it’s advertised to do, at minimum.

At one point Tige told me they were trying to help me find a 2:1 drive for my boat. They disappeared on me, and haven’t returned voicemails that I left. It just sucks they way it’s all gone down. Hopefully people can see where my frustration stems from, even if I am the only guy that’s ever been in this position. Maybe every other Tige is great, and mine just isn’t quite there. That would be my luck, but it’s also kind of hard to believe that’s the case.


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[D&P Powell]

Would it be possible to start another thread on this topic? We were really trying to keep this for the Mead 2018 Reunion.

[Zackdogg]

My apologies. It wasn’t my intention to hijack your thread, and I really hope to be at the reunion next year. Looks like you guys had a blast!


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[freeheel4life]

Great pics Nic. Skim bail is perfectly timed shot. I am curious whos boat is third from the right in your drone pic. Their bimini isnt messing around. Good coverage for those sunnier locales.

[xpjim1]

That is my boat. That was the condition my wife had to allow me to get a bigger boat. Shade at back seats. Happy wife, Happy life. Comes in handy in Lake Havasu when it is 115 plus.

[sandm]

just noticed that those 2 boats next to each other do have monster biminis. that sure would be nice here in the hot sun.

[freeheel4life]

That is my boat. That was the condition my wife had to allow me to get a bigger boat. Shade at back seats. Happy wife, Happy life. Comes in handy in Lake Havasu when it is 115 plus.

Heard that brother. I always joke that my wife and I compromise. She wanted to get a third dog, I said "No two is enough" So we compromised and now we have 3 dogs
That bimini definitely looks it throws plenty of shade. Does it run a rear leg for support??

[NAstleford]

Great pics Nic. Skim bail is perfectly timed shot. I am curious whos boat is third from the right in your drone pic. Their bimini isnt messing around. Good coverage for those sunnier locales.

Yeah I just happened to stop the video at the right point for that shot. There's a few more of me eating it right into the wake that would probably get a few good laughs out of it.

On the note of who's who, wondering who is 3rd from the left with the RAD & can't remember who was next to us in the Z1 with the Maui pad. That things was a hit with the kids but been thinking about the RAD for some time now and think it's time the kids get one or the other. I mean they did like the pig and dragon but man they take forever to inflate/deflate.

[xpjim1]

Heard that brother. I always joke that my wife and I compromise. She wanted to get a third dog, I said "No two is enough" So we compromised and now we have 3 dogs
That bimini definitely looks it throws plenty of shade. Does it run a rear leg for support??

Yes it has rear legs. You can see the slanted poles if you expand the picture