Tige new no wood composite dealer info chk it out

Looks like Tige ups the ante!!

VTigé LifePlus Core System
Hyper-Composite vs. Industry- standard Composite
Why Tigé Made the Switch


In an industry full of "me - too" composite boat builders using variations of fiberglass/foam and fiberglass/hollow construction methods, Tigé’s arrival into the composite engineering and manufacturing arena for model year 2004 has certainly turned some heads and begged the question why…and why now?

From our beginning in 1991, the Tigé design philosophy and mantra has always been focused on producing an overbuilt boat using the finest materials and most proven construction techniques. Tigé has a well-earned reputation among owners and dealers for building the toughest and softest riding towboat on the water.

At a Tigé dealer summit meeting three years ago, the question was raised whether Tigé should continue to build the best riding and toughest built boats on the market using XL panel as our coring material. The overwhelming consensus was that Tigé should only make the change only if we could do what no other ski boat company has achieved…design, engineer, test and produce a composite boat that outperformed the Xl cored boats. Design and produce
a composite boat that rode better in rough conditions, had a quieter, smoother feel and
would out-last any other inboard on the water. Until this was possible, the consensus at the dealer summit was that Tigé stay the course and not submit to marketing pressures and the “no-wood”, rot-obsessed naysayers and create a lighter, flimsier and less expensive composite boat.

Now…three years later…Tigé has achieved what all other towboat companies have only dreamed of. Tigé has designed, engineered, tested and produced a composite boat that not only outperforms our former Xl core construction, but is far stronger and technically superior to any other inboard or I/O on the water.

A direct result of Tigé LifePlus Precision Engineering, the 2004 LifePlus Core stringer grid and floor system is hyper - composite technology that has been thoroughly researched, tested, designed, engineered…and is now an important part of the entire 2004 Tigé line. The 2004 Tigé models are the quietest, softest riding and most refined boats we have ever built. They are the strongest, heaviest and most solid towboats in the industry, bar none.

This new construction was thoroughly researched. Our design and engineering team tested industry-standard high-density foam stringers and fiberglass /aluminum floors and found inferior results in test boats including hull failures, higher decibel levels and louder running, significantly harsher ride, disturbing windshield flex and, ultimately, increased vibration and component rattle. These test boats were less expensive to build and significantly lighter in overall weight. This light weight is a feature that many manufacturers tout as an advantage to the detriment of ride quality, hull flex, overall hull life and longevity.

In developing the LifePlus Core system, Tigé engineers finally settled on a winning combination that focuses on three major differences between this breakthrough Tigé process and the industry norm.



1. Grid matrix core versus two stringers. Tigé uses a grid - matrix high density foam coring structure (patent pending) that is individually molded to each Tigé model hull form and shape. This grid actually fills every internal hull void left by hull strake and chine indentations mating in perfect register with the entire hull bottom. The grid has a massive bow molded section that is the first defense against rough water hitting the entry vee and ties the two sides of the grid together for far greater strength, stiffness and density. The LifePlus core also boasts 6 chine "spines" that emanate from the core’s mass to ensure zero flex in the boat’s torsional stresses. The LifePlus Core also employs a two-layer "saddle" of aircraft grade aluminum in the engine mount system versus the other guy's one layer, or worse, no aluminum reinforcement at all. The LifePlus core delivers the ride, torsional stability and toughness due to the 300% additional surface match area it has with the hull and floor.

2. We use more fiberglass…not less. Tigé has increased the fiberglass content in our 2004 boats by up to 25% with the new LifePlus core. Why? Other composite manufacturers rely heavily on marine adhesives to piece together the flooring and stringer process…a construction that creates a flimsy "secondary bond". Tigé instead has taken the overbuild approach. We increased the amount of multi directional woven roving and hand laid tri-directional fiberglass to increase strength, total weight, structural density and overall durability. Heavier construction means a longer lasting boat and quieter more solid ride in rough water. Instead of relying on marine adhesives and secondary bonding, Tigé laminates our hull-core-floor components while the resins are still wet, creating an ultra-strong primary bond. The increased fiberglass and our primary bonding technique is the exception, not the rule in composite manufacturing today. However, it’s an extra step that gives the 2004 Tigé product a distinct advantage over boats from average composite manufacturers. The proof is at the scales, Tigé’s 2004 boats are 100 to 200 pounds heavier than our previous XL-core boats. But that extra weight hasn’t slowed us down, either. Tigé acceleration scores are our best ever. Check out a 6.5 second 0 to 36 MPH for the 2004 switch I. The Tigé Convex V hull shape and hydrodynamic efficiency is the determining factor in our superior acceleration…not weight. Weight and performance spells a happy owner.

3. Penske Xtreme hyper-composite panels. In our three year search for a better built Tigé we tried foam and fiberglass construction, hardened three part fiberglass floors and
spray in "chop" floors. None bettered our existing process. Tigé then discovered Penske Xtreme composite panel, an advanced, high-density composite panel reinforced with two horizontal layers of uni-directional woven fiberglass and completely impregnated throughout the panel with strand fiberglass. Tigé uses this cutting-edge composite to reinforce the three piece engine mounts, as a solid core for the entire floor and to create all seat backs and bulkheads in the above floor areas. Penske Xtreme panels are stronger, quieter and more dense than any panel used in the industry today. It’s also expensive…too expensive for all other production builders to use in their boats. Penske Xtreme makes the Tigé hyper-composite LifePlus Core system more expensive…and far better…than any of our competitors hands down.

These three major differences add up to a far superior Tigé product, one that we stand behind with our unprecedented LifePlus Lifetime Replacement Warranty, the strongest warranty in the marine industry. The other guys will fix a failed boat and give it back to the customer. If there is ever a problem with a Tigé, we will give the original owner a new boat, even if it's 20 years down the road. That’s a bold statement of confidence in our design, engineering and advanced LifePlus Core boat-building process.






(Message edited by kitriathlon on August 13, 2003)

That's funny cause a Nautique is built using a combination of hand laid glass and chopper sprayed glass and it feels much more solid than any Tige' I have ever been in.

I think Tige' has made great strides in improving their quality but to claim that they built the toughest boats all along is, IMO, a pretty far-fetched statment.

Nice boats, but the best built I have to say no.

Gotta love those sales and marketing people.

Go ahead and bash me but I will say this anyways.
This is a new process and I applaud them for being innovative but how can they claim that this is the best way to go and that it is stronger than anything else out there? In my mind, you better not make that claim until it is out there for 10-15 years getting beat on by owners. If it survives then, we can say that they did there homework. I hate when marketers jump to conclusions when they have no long term data. I do wish them the best of luck though because innovations and competition is what drives the industry.

DJL,
Couldn't agree more.

Unbelievable, guys. Let the bashing begin!

You know, if Ski Nautique, MasterCraft or Malibu had released this information, they would be celebrated as setting standards, pushing the industry, being innovators, making the best even better. But NOOOOOOO, it's Tige'. Don't ever except anything they do as a positive.

DJL, I don't seem to remember you bashing MC for saying the new X-Star would revolutionize the industry, or Malibu for saying that "...the 2004 Wakesetter 23 LSV the best wake-making capability of any stock tow boat on the market." Neither of them had hit the market before making those claims. Ski Nautique says about their new TSC2 Hull "Correct Craft's state-of-the-art hull designs handle beautifully and respond superbly to ballast and speed in order to create a wake customized to each individual’s lifestyle." It's what, a year old? I guess we can't believe them either, until they've used it 10 or 15 years. Oh, that's right, only Tige gets that kind of criticism. Btw, have you taken Matt up on his offer of a ride in a Tige?

Greg, it's been a while since I've seen or talked to you. How's thing going? If you get a chance, go see the guys at The Ski Dock, I'm sure they'd be happy to give you a ride in an '04 just for pure educational purposes, no pressure, no commitment. Btw, aren't YOU one of "those sales people", too?

Easy Nick
I was not bashing them. Did you not read where I said that it was great that they are being innovative and driving the competition. I also said that I wish them the best of luck. Sure I think MC has spoke too soon as well. From the majority of what I hear, that boat doesn't live up to its promises. I haven't paid attention to any of the hype about Malibu. They have so many boats that I get confused. I will say this to back up CC though. Yes they changed their hull design but o the way that they lay the boat up. The stringers in that boat have been laid up that way for quite some time now and they have many things to show for it. IE , Numerous world records and the JD Power award for BOTH ski and wakeboard boats.
Sorry to get you all ticked off

No worries, DJL. You didn't get me all ticked off; before I even scrolled down, I could imagine what was coming.

I don't have any problems with people having negative opinions about different boats and expressing them, that's what opinions are for. I definately don't want to live in an overly politically correct world! What I have a problem with is people posting incorrect information or negative marketing hype and it being stated as fact. I think that happens too much. You know, I'm not saying that Tige's new process is everything it's claiming to be, I don't know, maybe it is, maybe it's not. But I also don't think it can be condemned after only reading a press release on the topic.

I did notice your comments of "support", I just took issue with you criticizing them for stating claims of quality and that it couldn't be trusted until it was 10 - 15 years old. What other markets does that apply to?

And I hate to say it, but my knowledge of your past anti-tige posts probably didn't help me much when I replied to your post either.

Nick, not anymore I'm not.

Besides, I was never a boat salesman and I was never convinced that a Ford was the best built vehicle out there either. A good value yes, best built no way. Too bad Tige' can't figure that little issue out.

Read my post again, I did not bash Tige'. I said I thought they were nice boats, just not the best built. Every manufacturer has to have marketers to sell their products. It just amazes me that some manufacturers in explaining how they do things use backhanded ways to discount their competition. Like it or not the way that ad reads they are discounting all the other builders' processes.

I think it's response to the marketing style of Tige' that gets people riled up. Not saying other makers don't talk up their product or even discount other makers, it just seems that Tige' marketing has a flair for the dramatic that turns people off.

BTW, The TSC2 hull is an evolution of the TSC hull which is now 6+ years old and has proven itself quite well.

Nick, hope everything is going well in AZ for you. I will look at Tige' if I ever get the chance to look at a new boat. Problem is I'm a laid off high tech worker that can barely make my existing boat payment.

Guess I'll have to live with my inferior built dinosaur for a while.

Hey Greg, you'll notice in the section I wrote to you, I said nothing about you bashing Tige'. I simply said to go drive one when you get a chance. "Besides, I was never a boat salesman ...", huh? I didn't realize that boat salesman were known more for sales pitches than car salesman!

"BTW, The TSC2 hull is an evolution of the TSC hull which is now 6+ years old and has proven itself quite well." Ahhh, but it's not 10 - 15 years old, so it's not proven yet! J/K. I know that the TSC/TSC2 hull is a great hull, my comment was inresponse to DLJ's 10-15 yr comment. I think the TSC hull was the best slalom hull Nautique had ever built (even the first year it came out) and I would imagine the TSC2 hull is even better, but I haven't been behind it yet, so I don't have an opinion on it.

Every boat company has their own marketing style, while some may have a flair for the dramatic, some are preparing for lift-off with all of the "space-age" material they use, some take a compenent that every other manufacturer uses, give it fancy name with an acronym and call it an industry exclusive, and some say "we're brand X, that should be enough to buy us." Everybody has their own style I guess.

And you don't have to be buying a new boat to go for a ride, just catch the guys when they are already doing something and just catch a ride.

Sorry to hear about you being laid off and about Leif. Good luck with it all....and enjoy your dinosaur.

No problem Nick.

The boat salesman reply was because it sounded to me like you expected me to be biased because I was in Sales. Just shows how easy it is to misinterpret the spoken word.

I may just have to go bug those guys for a ride on Mondays when they go out. Since I have lots of free time these days.

Leif was a joke. It's a revolving door at that dealership for reps because of their management style and commission schedule. You can't make a living right now there because you only get paid on the front end and nobody pays over invoice for domestic cars right now.

Later

Can't wait to get my 7th Tige'!!! Just talked to Matt from his Tige' Switch 20V & 20I demos at the dealer meeting in Dallas. He said the boat was awesome! Top speed of 49 & 51 mph respectively! Handling was terrific. Great looks. He's sending me many pics soon.