It’s little wonder why this boat is so popular. With a bowrider layout, wakeboat performance, and classic skiboat lines with a modern flair, what’s not to like?

Capt. Steve Says...

In a word... wow! Once you get past the striking good looks of this boat and get into the handling and performance, her attraction really becomes self evident. But there’s more to the story, and that has to do with one of the most exciting innovations to hit the wakeboat industry. It’s called Tigé Touch, and it’s a big reason why existing customers are already trading in their old 24Vé’s and buying the same model again, just to get the upgrade. But first, let’s talk about the boat.



Notice the helm seat’s mesh back. The bottom is the same and it aids cooling, prevents sticking, and dries quickly from a wet swimsuit. (Why didn’t someone think of this before?) The upholstery is protected with Prefixx that thankfully will keep wet suits from staining. (Otherwise she’d have to take that red bikini off before sitting on those white seats.)

Popular Layout

By converting their pickle forked hull design to a more generic bow rider hull, Tigé seems to have captured the family demographic, and that has a lot to do with the popularity of the 24Vé. It doesn’t make for the roomy bow that the other boats in the line have, but the fun is still there, and the bow can also be accessorized with the usual filler cushion and sunpad that we all know and love.



Tigé decided to stray away from their pickle forked bow and go with a more traditional V-hull.

A Suggestion

One option that could use some change is the Lexan Windscreen that inserts below the walkthrough windshield. On virtually every other boat, this is a hinged feature that blocks the wind in the chilly days. On the 24Vé, it’s another item needing to be stored, and even when it’s being deployed, there’s a protective cover that still has to find a home. Tigé needs to revert to the tried-and-true hinged door.



The cockpit is a study in “don’t fix it if it isn’t broke”. A basic layout of seating that curves around the entire cockpit with storage underneath the seats for toys. Below the deck is the centerline mounted fuel tank, and the deck is actually hinged for easy access, should the tank ever need servicing. The PCM engine is connected to a V-drive transmission, so there’s no massive engine box in the center of the cockpit as typically found in other wakeboats.



Innovations

Clever little tricks abound in this boat. Starting with the tower. No, bending aluminum tubing and bolting on a tower that looks horrifically after-market. This is a work of art that blends in with the boat’s lines as if it was custom-made, because... well, it is! By looking at it from the side, you can easily see how efficiently it transfers the load down to the cap rail.



Handholds are formed right into the top to ease getting in and out of the boat, and the tower lights are integrated into the leading edge. Custom mounts for the Wetsounds speakers are included, and my personal favorite... the tow pylon that rotates to reveal the all white, all around navigation light. Very clever. Lastly, the whole tower folds down easily. Simply undo two locking pins and it folds back and out of the way. Yes it’s heavy, but the load is taken up by internal wires and pulleys so you are lifting about half the weight, and it’s supported in the down position rather than lying all its weight on the upholstery.

Tigé Touch

This is where Tigé deserves an innovation award, and if they’re smart, they’ll license the proprietary software to other manufacturers. Tigé Touch is a 6.5” (16.5 cm) touch screen that lets you control everything you’d want on the boat. It’s main purpose is to control up to 20 user profiles that include operating parameters such as speed, ballast tank levels, and TAPS² (which I’ll get into in a moment) settings.

But like a kid in a candy store, Tigé tossed in controls for all electrical components, all operational gauges, a depth profile, and even total stereo integration. There are overriding backup switches under the dash, but it will be a rare opportunity to have to crouch under to use them. The result is a fully programmable wakeboat with a uniquely uncluttered panel.



The rider profile screen of the Tigé Touch display.

Playing TAPS²

The real meat and potato’s of the 24Vé lies in her hull design. While virtually all other wakeboats are designed with a slight hook down in the bottom near the transom, Tigé designed a slight rise. This seems counter-intuitive, because by curving the hull down, the boat is pressing onto the water more, and thus creating a larger wake at slow speed.

So what is Tigé thinking by curving their hulls up? This is a wakeboat isn’t it? At the aft end of the 24Vé hull, and indeed all Tigé hulls, centered at the bottom is the TAPS² plate that allows you to trim the boat as you see fit for the perfect wake. My experience with it shows it to be marginally effective with the ballast bags empty, but with them filled, the change is significant. I was able to create both smooth wakes a slalom skier would kill for and a mountainous wake a wakeboarder would die for -- all by adjusting the speed, weight, and TAPS² trim.





With the convex V hull that curves upward as it reaches the stern, and the TAPS² trim plate, you can have a fully adjustable wake to suit any rider on the end of the towline.

So, if it’s such a great a system, why doesn’t every builder make their wakeboats this way? Because they can’t. Tigé came up with it, and they hold two patents on it.

Handling

Without all the fussing about getting the perfect wake so easily, the boat handles very straightforwardly and predictably. Turns were aggressive, but never to the point of being beyond a comfort level. High speed turns were met with a slight slide that stays in check due to the triple tracking fins mounted on the keel. As speed bleeds off, the boat doesn’t so much spin out, as it does turn on a dime. Straighten the wheel out and she launches off in her new direction like a puppy after a stick.

With her relatively flat bottom, there is a bit of pounding when you hit the wakes, but this is a fair tradeoff to the towing performance and capabilities that she is targeting.

Single-Inboard Maneuvering

The only difficulty a typical bowrider operator will be met with is the transition from stern drive maneuverability characteristics, to inboard maneuvering, which takes some getting used to. This of course, is the same for all single-engine inboard boats. The 24Vé backs to starboard, regardless of which way you have the wheel turned, and once you come to terms with this detail, it’s an easy to handle tradeoff.



Simply approach to dock on your starboard side, and back down to stop the boat. It will swing towards the dock, and to ensure that you come up against it flush, be turned to starboard, and give a shot of forward to push the stern off, but not so much to stop the boat from continuing its slide over to starboard. Just a few back and forth shifts will have you laying against like a pro in no time. But seeing as this boat will be living life, for the most part, between the trailer and the water and rarely seeing a dock, this is a non-issue for most owners.

All in all, the Tigé 24Vé does appear to be all that she’s cracked up to be. Little wonder that it’s such a popular boat in a very attractive lineup. Tigé not only designs good looking boats, but the performance, for such a finicky target audience, is right in the sweet spot. And that’s not only good news for Tigé, but for their customers as well.

Speeds measured with Stalker ProSports radar gun. Fuel consumption (gallons per hour) measured with Floscan digital fuel-flow meter on gas inboards, sterndrives, and outboards, TechMate electronic scan tool on gas EFI inboards, Caterpillar digital fuel-flow meter on diesel engines, or permanently installed fuel-monitoring equipment. Range is based on 90% of published fuel capacity. Sound levels determined using Radio Shack digital decibel meter on A scale. 68 dBA is the level of normal conversation.

Performance Chart

Test Conditions