Opnions on TAPS

[surfersarah]

People that have riden behind a tige' with TAPS, what is the wake like? Is extra ballast needed? Im looking towards a switch i, but just wondered if I would need to invest in any fat sacks, as tige' claim ballast is unnecissary (sp??). Oh and don't turn into a boat bashing thread

[DRAGON88]

Well, if you really wanted to get opinions on TAPS you'd use the search.

Anyways let me give you the answer that every one else is going to give you:

1. Manufacturers "claim" a lot of things, be sceptical especially when it's on something as subjective as wakes.

2. TAPS AKA Trim tabs really don't change the wake size all that much, however they can change the shape and firmness of the wake. Tige also offers ballast in their models these days. If you are a decent rider looking for a smaller wake ballast might not be necessary, but like any other boat on the market right now (Aside from the B-52, and the Epic 23v) you are going to have to put sacs in the boat to get a really nice wake out of it.

Fatsacs really aren't all that expensive these days, I mean a couple hundred bucks and you're set for many seasons.

Go and ride behind it and make up your mind for yourself.

[surfersarah]

I did use the search and it didn't throw anything useful up. Thanks for the advice .

[Brit Rider]

Hey Sarah,

I always think its really important to assess the dealer, and reputation of the dealer before buying one of their boats... at the end of the day its these guys that will be looking after you and servicing the boat for you!

Tige makes a great boat and I really would urge you to make sure they have the backup in place in the UK to fulfil what is most certainly an awesome product!

For a direct link to the UK dealer - www.midland-marine-uk.com.

Other brands worth looking into are nautique (www.tvski.com), mastercraft (www.shock-wave.co.uk) and malibu (www.malibuboats.co.uk)

[surfersarah]

Edit: Appauling spelling!
Yeah I've spoke to the dealer at Midland Marine, that's where I've seen the switch i, they just wouldn't take our boat in part ex. which is looking to be a bit of a problem selling it in time.

[Brit Rider]

surfersarah, I would think veyr carefully about why a dealer would not take in a boat on part ex.

I don't want to say too much over the internet, but please, please please think very very hard about dealer choice and sustainability of dealers - could there be someone better to work with? and could there be a better boat in your price range?

PM me if this still isn't making sense.

[Shawn Madison]

Taps are basically trim tabs placed on a reducing convex that PUSH the boat into a plow position to increase displacement and reduce gas mileage. Add a set of bennetts and save the money and not get caught into the marketing hype.

[CP3]

For some of these people who chime in when they dont know what they are talking about.
The TAPS and Convex V work together.
The Convex V hull does not have the "hook" in the back of the hull that raises the back of the boat. so when the TAPS is up the back sinks into the water for better displacement which makes a bigger wake.
When not wakeboarding the TAPS moves down to create the "Hook" on the hull of other boats. This makes it handle chop great.

The TAPS system acctually INCREASES gas mileage by reducing and adjusting drag with the TAPS.

[midwesty]

arent Tige' boats like 1k heavier then most boats their size thus reducing the need for internal ballast tanks and what not? i thought i saw that when we were looking around last year.

[Brit Rider]

CP3, could you please show me a picture of one of these hooks at the rear of a modern wakeboard boat?

[Jon]

Yeah, pretty much nobody uses a hooked hull anymore. However, many people still make the back of their boat hulls flat. Tige and Skiers Choice are the few that have a convex hull or rocker hull with a stepped pocket in the back. This is pretty much the opposite of a hook. Instead of the hull getting a little deeper, it slants up creating a pocket that gives suction to the back of the boat that makes the wake bigger. The wakeplate or taps simply adjusts the suction created by that pocket. That being said, I'd never buy a boat without a wakeplate, as long as the hull is made to work with it.

[Talltigeguy]

Shawn,

If you add a set of Bennet tabs to your Malibu, it won't do what it does for the Tige.

Jon is on the money. Don't just throw some trim tabs on your other boat. It won't do the same thing.

Surfsarah, to answer your question directly - TAPS works pretty well to modify the shape of the wake. The Tige wake can be rampy or steep depending on how the TAPS is set. It will also be clean. IMHO, you don't need ballast unless you are intermediate or advanced in your wakeboarding. Sacks are not that pricey relative to the huge price of your boat, so I hardly think needing sacks should be a financial concern.

[CP3]

Brit Rider, Like jon said they are more of a flat end these days but are still the same concept. Tige's hull actually goes up or a reverse hook that lets it sink into the water.

[Brit Rider]

CP3, ypu just went back on what you were saying... whats your point??

I don't quite understand....