Finally pulled the trigger on a V-drive.

HHI Dave

Back at the beginning of the summer i posted this thread as we were seriously considering dropping some coin on a wakeboard boat. This would have involved financing etc. but we were on the verge. Summer hit with a vengeance and we (my business partner and I) were working 7 days a week 10-12 hours a day on the water.

Fast forward to September. We came to the conclusion that we would settle for a little less boat if it meant paying cash and owning the boat outright. After having spent the last several weeks poring over online ads we drove down to Jacksonville to check out a 2001 Tige 21V. We met with the owner, took it out for a test drive, wakeboarded and wake surfed behind it, then loaded it on the trailer and took it to a local boat mechanic. They put it on the ECM laptop and determined it had no history of codes, overheating or issues etc. The boat ran well, fluids looked good, gel coat was above average for a 10 year old vessel, interior was excellent (I'd rate it 95%) with just a few small blemishes starting to show. The boat sat on an EXCELLENT like-new Shorelander galvanized trailer with all LED lights. After a bit of back and forth, we pulled the trigger. $17,500 later and this is what we ended up with.

This is how it sat yesterday...

"Before" pics of the tower with ancient speakers and faded foam padding

Spent the better part of the day today going through the entire boat with a fine toothed comb. We tightened every nut and bolt we could find, removed the tower speakers and padding, and scrubbed and polished it inside and out. Here's how she sits now...

Hoping to get out over the next few days and really put it through its paces on the water...stay tuned for wake pics.

FlyZone CR · Posted: Sep 28, 2011 5:25 pm Post subject:

Congrats man, looks nice! Wise decision (imo) to own the boat, not finance.
Wondering how the wake is; I rode behind a 2001 Tige 22i a few times and the wake was disastrous. Didn't have too much weight in it but the wake was nearly non-existent. But of course that was not a V-drive, and a 22 instead of 21 so it might be a totally different thing.
Enjoy it!

HHI Dave · Posted: Sep 28, 2011 8:55 pm Post subject:

Thanks. Its hard to believe we finally have a real wakeboat! Coming from a 19' stern drive, the wake on the new boat is fantastic. Mr. Green

Realistically, the wake isn't bad but isn't great. The boat is equipped with the Tige TAPS system, basically a trimtab or wake plate. There is no internal ballast, though she does weigh a shade under 3500 lbs with a 100" beam. From what I've read on this and other forums, the key to a clean ramp on the 21V is locating a sac towards the bow of the boat and then adjusting with the TAPS. This is basically what we've done with the I/O all along; weight in the bow and trim up the motor till it shapes up. Hoping to get some time to experiment with it over the next few days.

b33nine · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 311 City: Salem-ish

I rode behind one of these guys for a summer when I lived in Oklahoma. When weighted correctly the wake was definitely decent, not massive but a nice shape. It did have problems with washing on one side, but I think it had/has something to do with the trim tabs?

We ran (guessing) 400s in each of the back compartments, one of the nose bags that goes all the way under all the bow seats and more often than not another 400 in the walkway. You had to tweak the trim around some while you were getting it up on plane.

I think 2k is probably the upper limits of what it can do comfortably ballast-wise.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

Very cool...congrats.

STANG KILLA SS · Posted: Sep 29, 2011 10:27 am Post subject:

nice!

pat8839 · Outlaw Joined: 18 Mar 2010 Posts: 106

Sweet man!
I swear I saw the ad for that boat here in Jacksonville!
Enjoy!!

jjaszkow · Posted: Sep 30, 2011 1:18 pm Post subject:

HHI Dave, that's awesome! Congratulations on the new boat! Are you guys keeping the Tahoe too?

HHI Dave · Posted: Sep 30, 2011 5:05 pm Post subject:

pat8839, it was on Craigslist and Ebay. Guy lived in the Arlington area right on the river.

jjaszkow, Thanks. This will be the primary towboat for HH Wake Sports. The Tahoe will be the backup/tubing boat.

We finally got out and rode today. Water conditions weren't great but that's ok because NOW WE CAN SURF!! Mr. Green

Matt looking smoove, pic from the dock

My gf surfing for the first time. She liked it, wants to keep practicing.

Matt's wife Becca giving it a whirl

Matt making it look easy

Me trying to drop in

My new FB profile pic Laughing

And one HS w2w shot

HHI Dave · Posted: Oct 04, 2011 3:38 pm Post subject:

Another project day with the Tige. That swim platform looked like it was 10 years old. Oh wait, it is.

Sanded with 150 grit, 3 coats of Cabot's varnish, sanded with 220 grit in between coats...

Before

Sanded

After 1st coat

After 3rd coat

chawk610 · Addict Joined: 06 Jul 2010 Posts: 668 City: Fort Worth

So nice and CHINEY! I never varnished mine... just kept it oiled. Is the salt water the reason?

FlyZone CR · Posted: Oct 05, 2011 7:59 am Post subject:

Nice job!

LaynDoor · Outlaw Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 152 City: Meriden CT

Looks like it would be hella slipery.... no?

PimpinD2 · Posted: Oct 07, 2011 8:47 am Post subject:

My friend has 21v riders edition.

We had about 8 people in the boat and no weight... i was able to pull off all of my tricks... which include backrolls hs 3 ts 3 hs 1 ts 1 etc....

enjoy the boat, i bet the wake can get decent with some fat sacs

HHI Dave · Posted: Oct 08, 2011 10:47 am Post subject:

chawk610, yeah, salt eats everything eventually, hoping to prolong it a bit.

LaynDoor, probably. Haven't had a chance to find out yet. May have to add some sort of non skid or something. Or just be careful. We'll see.

PimpinD2, thanks. We're planning to experiment with weighting it down. Unfortunately the wind's been blowing 25-30 kts for last couple of days. Plus we're fixing a minor fuel leak from the sending unit. Stay tuned.

Rhawn · Posted: Oct 08, 2011 3:32 pm Post subject:

Grats Dave, great looking ride.