Tigé RZ2 (2010-)

Brief Summary

In the highly competitive realm of wakeboard boats, there are the can do’s and the wanna do’s. Tigé has come up with a mix of hull configuration, and customizable parameters that let you dial in the wake of your choice with just a few easy to use controls. It all comes together in the RZ2, a 22’ (6.7 m), easy on the eyes thrill ride that’s changing the way we’ll define wakeboats, and more to the point, define the wakes.

Key Features

• Patented ConvexV Hull & TAPS2 Technology
• Hand-laid multi-directional fiberglass hull
• Heavy-duty all-brass underwater gear
• Stainless steel capped curved glass windshield
• Stainless steel hardware and fasteners
• E Controls electronic technology
• Tigé SpeedSet cruise control
• TigéTouch Medallion can-bus digital instrumentation
• Air/water temperature gauge
• Deutsch electrical connectors
• Premium grade 36 oz. marine upholstery
• Snap-in carpet
• Insulated coolers, self-draining
• Oversized, removable swimstep
• Shark–eye LED navigation lights

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	22' 0'' / 6.70 m
Beam	102'' 2.59 m
Dry Weight	4,150 lbs. 1,882 kg
Draft	N/A
Deadrise/Transom	N/A
Max Headroom	open
Bridge Clearance	N/A
Fuel Capacity	48 gal. 181.7 L
Water Capacity	none

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	3.7 sec.
0 to 30	6.7 sec.
Ratio	N/A
Props	13.5 x 16 x 4
Load	2 persons, Fuel 1/2, water N/A, gear 25 lbs
Climate	Temp 49, Humidity 45, Winds 0-5 mph, Seas 0-1

Engine Options

Tested Engine	1 x 343-hp PCM EX343 5.7l MPI
Std. Power	1 x 343-hp PCM EX343 5.7L MPI
Opt. Power	1 x 409 PCM 6.0L ZR MPI

Warranty

Deck Warranty Extended	LifePlus Limited Replacement Warranty
Hull Warranty Extended	LifePlus Limited Replacement Warranty

Captain's Report

Capt. Steve Says...

In the last year or so Tigé has came up with a patented system for controlling wake. Usually you just get the option of adding weight in the form of pumping water into ballast bags, or there's some sort of plate that drops into the water. At Tigé, they’ve reconfigured the hull, added a trim plate at the stern and ballast bags all over the boat so you can dial in the parameters you’re looking for in ways that were previously unavailable. The hull design is called Convex V and the variable control is called TAPS2.

The Convex V/TAPS Marriage...

It starts with the hull design. Where other wakeboats have hull bottoms that run in a straight line until they get to the stern and then hook down, Tigé’s actually curves slightly upward. The more transom in the water, the more wake you will have. That’s why Tigé designs its buttocks curving up. That drops the transom down, creating a bigger wake.
Tigé then adds an adjustable plane on the centerline at the aft end of the hull that you can adjust, much like a trim tab. Want a bigger wake? Adjust the TAPS2 plane up and you have your hook down and a fatter wake. Want a flat wake? Bring the TAPS2 plane down and you get a more laminar flow to the hull.

Getting it On

Does it work? Oh yeah it does, but better with the ballast bags filled. Without any added ballast, activating the TAPS2 did make a difference in the boat’s on-the-water profile - that is to say, the bow came up and down with the control. But the difference in wake was negligible, at least from the driver’s seat. At the end of the towline, maybe it would be more pronounced. But the fact that it did anything at all is a step past other boats that have a fixed, hooked-down hull that changes nothing.

However, add ballast and things change dramatically. Now when you bring the TAPS2 up, the stern sinks way down, and the wake… well, if you want higher, then perhaps Olympic ski jumping is more for you. I was able to easily go from a moderately flat wake to a monster wake-surfing wake, all with the touch of a throttle-mounted button, a much more significant change than with the ballast bags empty.
Now of course, from an operational standpoint, it wasn’t pretty. No one would say that operating a boat with so much extra weight, and having the bow so high, is efficient or cost effective, but in the world of wakeboarding, it’s not about the driver's comfort. It’s all about the wake and speed, and in this boat, you can have it your way.

Tigé Touch...

But all of this is of little consequence if you can’t get back to a favorite position the next day. With Tigé Touch, you can do that and more. With its 6.5” (16.5 cm) touch screen, you can create up to 25 different profiles that contain information on boat speed, ballast bag levels, and TAPS adjustments, AND you can name those profiles after the friends that they are dialed in for. Tigé Touch also allows you to have full control of all switches and tunes (regardless of what source they come from) and even gives you a readout of all gauges. We get into a full review of Tigé Touch elsewhere on our site and you should check it out.

Comfort Level...

Aside from giving you such definite control of your wake, the Tigé RZ2 is also a very comfortable boat. The helm bucket seat is wraparound and both the seat bottom and lumbar areas are firm mesh. This makes for a cooler seat on hot days, relieves sticking to the seat when you’re in a swimsuit, and keeps the seat dry when you’re sitting in a wet swimsuit.

The helm is totally uncluttered, mostly due to the fact that the bulk of the gauges are relegated to the Tigé Touch. You still have a speedo, tach, and TAPS2 gauge with fuel and engine temp embedded in each of the outside gauges. The fuel gauge could use a little tweaking: It’s a bar graph that gives fuel quantity in percent. I’d like to see a readout of the gallons remaining as well. The throttle is right at the fingertips when your arm is resting on the armrest, allowing you to make incremental changes to the boat's speed.

The walkthrough to the bow has the usual flip-open window, and for blocking the wind when closed, there’s a Lexan insert that slides in below. While effective for blocking wind, it’s yet another item needing to be stored. I’d rather see a hinged door instead. My last gripe is the small cubby just below the Tigé Touch control. It needs to be a bit deeper and angled down to keep stuff from dumping out in your lap.

And Now For A Touch of Genius...

While browsing the features of the Tigé Touch, I noticed that the switch for the blowers is integrated into the menu. So, to start the blowers, you turn on the ignition, which activates the Tigé Touch; after it boots, hit switches/blowers to activate. To me, that’s a sure recipe to never activate the blowers before starting and my faith in Tigé plummeted for that reason alone.
There are manual override switches for the lights and blowers, but they’re tucked way under the dash and you have to get on your knees to see them. But then... (wait for it...), I turned the key to the off position and noticed that things got noticeably quiet. What’s up with that??? I turned the key back on and noticed a hummmmm... So I went back to the engine hatch and opened it up and the blower was running. Turn the key off and it stops… turn the key on and it starts. Brilliant! Just turn the key on for four minutes and then start. Why every boat isn’t made with this automatic blower feature is beyond me and Tigé not only deserves an award for coming up with it.

Specifications and Performance

The Tigé RZ2 has a LOA of 22’ (6.7 m), and a beam of 8'6" (2.6 m). Her empty weight is 4,150 lbs (1,882.4 kgs) and she carries 48 gallons (181.7 L) of fuel. We tested the RZ2 on a chilly Texas day with light winds and mild waves. Her test power was a 5.7L MPI PCM EX343. I have to give high marks to PCM for calling a spade a spade... the EX343 is 343-hp, no marketing hype.
The Tigé RZ2 had a top speed of 43.1 mph and a best cruise of 23.9 mph reached at 3000 rpm. At that speed, her fuel consumption was only 7.6 gph. which translates to a range of 136 miles.
Given the fact that the Tigé RZ2 makes controlling the wake so easy, coupled with her striking good looks and easy handling, it’s hard not to look at this boat and feel that she’s a winner.