Other benefits to Surf Gate?
 

I noticed last weekend that our new MXZ 22 with SG tracks perfectly straight like a properly aligned car. Also, my boat backs up straight, and I can even steer while in reverse. I'm assuming this is a result of the SurfGate tabs. Anyone else notice this?

How would the tab help you steer while in reverse? I was told that after a certain speed(15?) that they completely retract for safety so how do they help with straight line tracking? Or are you talking at surf speed? I really doubt the do anything retracted in reverse. This has been beat to death with the VX. Unless you are cranking in reverse there isn't enough speed for the tabs to have an effect. There is no trim effect from a tab at really slow speeds as in reverse. I would think it has more to do with the design of the boat. Have you tried a MXZ without to see if there is a difference?

Between 7-15mph.

I don't think I understand. I have a MXZ22 and it handles the same as always--backs to the right.

This does not make any logical sense to me, but interested in hearing

Lets just say your boat backs up or hooks to the left when u reverse. If you had the surf gate flap open on the opasate side it could or would create drag on that side and YES I could see that countering the effect of the hook.

Don't know how it helps the boat track.

Rudder tab is adjusted so the boat tracks straight at speed. That's what the little tab is used for, load adjustment to the steering. The reverse thing is bit off? Can't see how the surf gates would effect steering in reverse at all. The are in the stowed position when backing.

I have an MXZ22, and I don't notice any additional benefits of the SG tabs (other than surfing). Still backs up to the right. The tabs do not even deploy until after 7mph, so they shouldn't have any effect. The SG tabs are sweet, just not as magical as yours.

You guys just need to back up faster...

I have not noticed any affect on driving my '13 lsv when the surfgates are not deployed.

I'm aware of the purpose of the tab on the rudder. Perhaps after having 9 different wake boats, I finally got one that is aligned? Maybe.

But it doesn't explain why the boat behaves differently in reverse. I wasn't the only driver that noticed it.

This is our second MXZ. The 2012 did not have SG.

My vlx with surfgate drives in reverse just as crappy as my 2011 did. Surfgate has made no noticeable difference in how the boat drives in forward or reverse. Maybe the MXZ is different but I would think both boats would be similar.

it would be a cool ldea to use it in reverse though, if you could have a rudder position sensor and it could stick one gate or the other out automatically. That's probably hella complicated tho.

I have had a few also, and they are pretty sensitive to adjustment and the load changes with speed. So what tracks straight at 20 mph, may not be straight at 35. Just sharing what I have learned over the years, not being a smarty.