ballast setup

[NICKYPOO]

7-5.5 ft.? Yeah that aint really fair is it? It definately looks like it has some real character to it's shape. However, in less than 8 ft. of water it's pretty tough to tell.

That Epic, from what I've seen has some real good design in it, except for that god awful nose. sure would like to go for a ride in one.

My little old Tige has the best wake I've been on.

[Surfdad]

That nose is sort of an "only a mother could love" feature isn't it? The Epic has some really interesting features. I'm just not sure that all of the ballast it has available is a benefit. We loaded the thing up such that the 3,000 pound boat weighed in excess of 7,000 pounds and the wake increased but...it wasn't GIGANTIC, plus the rooster tail up close to the boat and the spray off the sides made you feel like you were in a room with water walls!

The gunnels on that boat are vertical, such that the rear corner that is being drug in the water while wakesurfing is the outside of a tetrahedrayl. It makes this UGLY secondary lip in the middle of the wake. I think, possibly, that unweighting some of the ballast and running pretty fast will clear it up, but that set of 90 degree angles, I think, will always create a secondary lip in the surface while wakesurfing.

[dogbert]

Well, I do know that a couple of the Tige product managers surf quite a bit. I talked to them a bit when they showed up in Austin with the new Ve last year. They actually took us out surfing (you might have seen my posts from last summer with one of my boys behind the boat).

Sounds like they ought to be talking to Surfdad on wake shapes for surfing.

[Surfdad]

I think they need to give me a new Tige to make sure the surf wakes are good! You know, the shape of the Tige hull is pretty good. Oddly, what is important with the hull for wakesurfing is the angle of the gunnels, the greater the angle from 90 degrees, the greater will be the transition...that wider transition makes for better surfing AND the rear corners need to be rounded OR void (spray pocket), it allows for better water release...those two components are present on every boat that toses a good wakesurfing wake. BUT, I will GLADLY accept a new Ve to test each and every year!

[NICKYPOO]

Originally posted by Surfdad
I think they need to give me a new Tige to make sure the surf wakes are good! You know, the shape of the Tige hull is pretty good. Oddly, what is important with the hull for wakesurfing is the angle of the gunnels, the greater the angle from 90 degrees, the greater will be the transition...that wider transition makes for better surfing AND the rear corners need to be rounded OR void (spray pocket), it allows for better water release...those two components are present on every boat that toses a good wakesurfing wake. BUT, I will GLADLY accept a new Ve to test each and every year!

They sould send me one for high altitude testing.

[dogbert]

Originally posted by Surfdad
Oddly, what is important with the hull for wakesurfing is the angle of the gunnels, the greater the angle from 90 degrees, the greater will be the transition...that wider transition makes for better surfing AND the rear corners need to be rounded OR void (spray pocket), it allows for better water release...those two components are present on every boat that toses a good wakesurfing wake.

Hmmm, the Ve is missing the spray pockets that is present on the other V Drives. However, the gunwhales are not at 90 degrees (they are sloped out....kinda V shaped).

How much of an angle are you recommending?

[Surfdad]

I don't think it takes much. My '03 23V is probably at 7-10 degrees from 90, the Enzo is propably about the same. The Epic is at 90 degrees everywhere and the water just doesn't release. I'd liken it to the rails on a surfboard. If they were overly boxy (like the Epic) the water sticks.

[NICKYPOO]

That could help explain why my wake is so easy to build. Kinda hard to tell with the trailer but my hull has more or less a notch from the back edge forward about 2 1/2ft. It disappears behind the fender but if you follow the "line of chine" you can see the difference in elevations. The gunnels are also pushing a good 8-10 degrees.

[dogbert]

Originally posted by NICKYPOO
That could help explain why my wake is so easy to build. Kinda hard to tell with the trailer but my hull has more or less a notch from the back edge forward about 2 1/2ft. It disappears behind the fender but if you follow the "line of chine" you can see the difference in elevations. The gunnels are also pushing a good 8-10 degrees.

My 2100v has the same thing. On the Ve, the hull is about as wide as the V drive hull minus the spray pocket, but the gunwhales start on an angle and immediately curve out (look at the back of the new RZ-2 and you'll see what I mean). Pretty slick.

[Tequilasun]

I imagine it is not easy to design these boats to do everything so well! Props to Tige!

Slalom...Check
Wakeboard...Check
Wakesurf...Check

Tube...check (that one's for Nickypoo! )

[NICKYPOO]

Haaaaaaa. You suck.

[tony dunn jr.]

Surfdad next time dennis comes up to surf behind my ve and gives me some more lessons you will have to come along and try it out. Dennis wasn't complaining after we played with the speed he was able to surf om my shred stix wich he said takes a pretty decent wake to help pull his BIG body. His lessons have helped me tremendously.

[xpjim1]

Thanks Tequilasun

Thanks for the check for tubing. We will not give up the fight

[Surfdad]

Hey Tony, thanks for the invite. I'd love to get behind that new boat of yours. Was Dennis able to get you freeriding? I know that we talked about ballast placement before he headed up your way, but I can't remember the outcome. Did he bring "old yellow"? Is that a crazy board or what? I shaped that for him after the local manufacturers were telling him he needed a 7'6" board for behind the boat!!!! Can you imagine?

[tony dunn jr.]

surfdad, yes Dennis did get me free riding for short spurts. I can go a long ways with lots of slack in the rope and as soon as I toss it to him he says it looks like i keep leaning back as i throw the rope in. He has been a huge help. I was lost and basically way off including the rope lenght. Your advice to him about a fat sack in the rear locker was right on. He has brought the yellow board both times. It is helpfull just watching him. But having him in the boat talking to me as I am riding is priceless. We need 100 of him getting guys up and running. I ride goofy also wich is great to watch him. The last time out after playing with the speed a bit he was able to ride my Shredd Stix fishtreme wich he says for him to do that takes a pretty decent wake. We had talked about at least once a week or every other he would come out so the invite is always open. Most week nights our little lake is not very busy at all. After one look at the wake with one fat sack I went the next day and bought one.