X45 vs Tige RZ4

Looking for a good surf wake on both sides using stock balast. Don't want to have to deal with too much set up. Have three kids just getting into wakesurfing, as well as myself. Goofy and regular. Looking at X45 and Tige RZ4.

The main issue I have seen with the X45 is that the wake in pictures I have seen, doesn't look too clean to me. The RZ4 can throw a clean wake on both sides, but you have to make sure you have the new swim deck that doesn't cut into the wake. Even the new one can cut, but not as much.

Someone may prove me wrong on the x45 wake, but I haven't seen a good wake picture yet.

I have the Tige 24Ve which is same hull as the RZ4, just no pickle fork.

One option is this Svfara SV3 lots of storage ,stock ballast 1400 lbs great fit & finish good wave on both sides there are many other boats out there this was 1 of the boats that has a lot of promise

Can you use just the stock balast to get good clean wakes on both sides? How would I make sure to get the new swim deck, how would I know the difference?

Any 09 RZ has the new deck. Or you can ask the dealer, some 08s do also, maybe even most 08s, I don
't remember.

No, in my opinion, you can't get a good surf wake with stock ballast. Tige stock ballast favors the front. For surfing, after months of experimentation, keep weight out of the front of the Tige. You can get a nice clean wake with about 1000 - 1500 lbs of ballast. You want to get as much of that weight in the rear corner locker of the side you are surfing, and the rest on the same side but maybe on or under the seat, either in the form of more sacs or people.

You can get a clean wake to surf, without ANY ballast, we started that way. But its small, you will not be happy with it when you continue to surf until you at least get the ballast I mention above.

Another reason to keep weight out of the front on the RZ, is that the pickle fork design makes it more prone to plow water if you are not careful. Keeping weight out of the front also makes it safer.

How much stock ballast is in the rear? Are you saying you have to add 1000 - 1500 extra lbs of ballast, all in the rear. Where do you put it, and what are you using?

I don't have stock ballast on mine. I believe the RZ comes with a hard tank with like 350 in each corner. So you would need to add to that 350.

You put the ballast in the rear locker on the side you are surfing. You can also add more under the side seat on the side you are suring, and you put people sitting on the same side.

Here are some pictures of our wake with about 1500 lbs of ballast, this is only goofy side, but reg side is same or better.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy#100261

Thanks! I am with you, I've never seen a picture of a wake coming from an X45.

Is there anyone out there with an X45? Any pics, opinions??

In this thread on the X-45, there is a link to a youtube video here
showing the regular side wake - note the guy on the back and the sac on the bench seat.

(Message edited by surfdad on October 16, 2008)

I've heard that the platform cuts into the wake on the 45. Is the 230 Super Air Nautique to small? It has a better surf than both of the boats you posted?

My wife really likes the room in the front of the Tige and X45. Gotta keep the wife happy or no wakeboard boat for me!

I second that Moe....go with the Super Air Nautique 230!

09 RZ4, 55 HOURS OF SURFING ON BOAT MAINLY GOOFY SIDE.. BUT VERY BIG WITH STOCK BALLAST AND 500 EXTRA IN SIDE LOCKER,AND ONLY 1 GUY DRIVING BOAT... , AND I WIEGHT 210 ADD 5 PEOPLE AND IT IS HUGE. NO PROBS WITH PLATFORM AT ALL....

08 RZ4, 400hp, balllast, tower & speakers, 141 hrs, repo forr $42500.00

Shawn, do you have any pics of your wave?

they both have great wakes for surfing, they are huge boats. When you compare everything else about the boats the X45 takes the cake hands down!

I'm going to have to agree with Robert about the wake on the RZ4. Robert your pics are fantastic!

John - I disagree with you about the X45. Tige holds it's own!

Nikko, wouldn't it be great if you could demo them side-by-side?

Here are some better pics, with about 2k of ballast, and I was testing a new swimstep that doesn't cut into the wake.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy#100397

Nikko,
Lets do a head to head demo. I will have a RZ4 meet you at the lake for a demo. All I need to know is when and where. Call me anytime 325-829-8676

Tony @ Tige

Nikko - you should take Tony up on his offer. What lake are you close by, this could be an interesting show.

Bring it to Cali! We'll do a head-to-head test, if I can find an X45 somewhere.

Check out the Tige web cinema on www.tige.com home page - pro rider Nick Weinacker talks about Tige's surf wake!

that wake looks pretty weak to me my pet mouse would be stoked,this is a real wave

im taiking about the video on tige web

mulcoy

real back door behind a boat

A tige can make a great wave, on both sides. The video on the tige site is oranges to your apples. They say in the video its stock ballast (900 lbs) with a few people. And the stock ballast is only like 250 lbs in each corner in the back, the rest up front.

Here are a few pics of my tige, same hull as the RZ4, the only difference is I have hacked my swim deck to get out of the way. Here are some pictures, with only about 1400 lbs of ballast, but ALL in the correct location in the rear corner, and about 600 lbs of people, still much less than you are ballasting.













I truly think you have an awesome wake, and love to see your pics, but I think to compare, we have to compare apples to apples. If we really want to compare boats, lets compare with similar weighting. I think we have a great wake, on both sides, but I still am not close to what you weight your boat.

you would probably sick your boat if you tried to put in the weight i have .I have custom pumps that pump out water when it comes in My whole boat is customized for wake surfing,you know the million dollar man ,well this is the million dollar boat

that wave looks pretty good,rob

lol, thanks. Maybe one day when I have the lake to myself, and my new system I am working on, I will weight the SNOT out of it to see what it will do. But I am afraid if I do, I will ALWAYS want it that big.

thats what happens,then everytime someone sees you they ask if your sinking

When people come by, you should grab a couple of cups and start pouring water out like you are bailing. LOL

I thought I was the crazy over the top ballast guy. James has certainly out done me. Be careful. Do you have extra bilge pumps, might be a good idea in an emergency.

I was going to get a bumper sticker ,saying im not sinking.

Have you ever had police cars, police boats, fire trucks and a police helicopter come out because some one saw you from shore and called 911 to report a sinking boat?

Someone made the call for me once. We had no idea that’s why all the equipment was zooming up and down the park.

(Message edited by Bigshow on November 01, 2008)

LOL, thats funny. I have had fisherman make all kinds of obscene gestures at me.

Lake Oroville is a big bass fishing lake, lots of tournaments and stuff. One time we went passed a fishing boat, and they almost got rocked off of their boat. They started yelling and cussing at us, but they were just far enough away to not understand them. My daughter is up front and thinks they are waving to her, so she is waving back. They were giving the old "kiss my a$$" gesture, which she had never seen before. She thought they were waving. I was cracking up. Alot of grumpy old fisherman.

yeah at whiskey town someone called from the road and the rangers came out on a boat and started telling me you not aloud to wakesurf in california and i had to pull a rules books out I bswear the guy was ernest goes to whiskey town,he started telling me that someone called in and said we were sinking then he told me I had ten tickets coming to me for wakesurfing,I said no way ,then he made me drive to the dock to talk to the boss and they counldnt do anything to me ,they said theyd never seen that sport before I told them it wasnt against the law and they looked it up.it ended up being about hour and a half of a hassel then they left

Nikko - just wondering if you ever called Tony for that head to head demo?