Tigé RZR
Posted: January 1, 2011
2011 Boat Buyers Guide
So all that the designers at Tigé tried to do with the new RZR was create a watersports boat that combines edgy styling with the versatility to be good at everything from slaloming to wakesurfing and provide a high level of comfort - all in a compact 20-foot package. Featuring Tigé's famous "banana-shaped" ConvexV hull that doesn't have a hook at the transom like many other ski boats, it naturally has a bow-high, stern-low attitude before adding up to 2,000 pounds of ballast (900 pounds standard). To alter the boat's running attitude and shape the wake, the RZR relies on the standard Taps2 wake plate, which is a large, single Bennett trim tab.
The helm station is unique in that the Tigé Touch LCD screen is placed off to the side, instead of right in the middle like most. It seems weird at first, but you see the advantage with a dash that's far lower than in most ski boats, which gives greater visibility. When I advanced the standard electronic throttle, the 5.7L PCM 343 hp V-8 pushed us on plane in 2.6 seconds with minimal bowrise thanks to the tab assist. Our time to 30 mph was a brisk 5.6 seconds, and we quickly reached a top speed of 41.6 mph. Not enough? Get the supercharged PCM 6.0L with 575 hp. Cornering is flatter than with most wakeboard boats, so you don't feel like the gunwale is going to dip when you go for maximum curvature. With twin tracking fins, you can turn in an impossibly tight radius.
Reclining in the three-abreast bow section, thanks to the flip-up walkthrough backrest, you'll never imagine you're in a 20-foot boat; it's actually roomier than some 24-footers. The cockpit is circled with the maximum amount of seating and has 18 cupholders for its 12 passengers. With 36-ounce, four-way-stretch backing and PreFixx top coating, your upholstery has a fighting chance of keeping the shredders from doing any onboard shredding with their skeg-festooned boards. The Alpha Z collapsible tower comes powder-coated this year in several colors for a custom look. The riders gird for battle on the Transom Activity Center, which has a wide seat, places to store all the skiing paraphernalia and a cooler for aprés ski. – AJ
