WaterSki Magazine

Over the years, we’ve come to rely on the Tigé 21i as a multisport boat that’s up for anything, and this year it’s no different. The best advice we can give you about this boat is this: When you step on board the 21i, make sure you pack your boards and your skis, because you’ll probably find occasion to use both every time you hit the water. This 21-foot boat performs impressively as both an advanced recreational ski boat and a wakeboarding powerhouse.

That — along with the roominess of the interior — makes the 21i a good choice for families who want a versatile boat with a touch of luxury. Whether you’re skiing, riding or just chilling on board, chances are you’ll find something to love about this boat.

As always, the Tige 21i gave our testers a strong performance in both ski and wake. We recommend this boat for fun open-water skiing as well as for slalom course newbies. After tweaking and testing the TAPS2 adjustable wake plate at different settings, we found it worked best for us at 1.5, which allowed aggressive wake crossings at 15, 28 and 32 off. However, we did encounter a dense rooster tail at 22 off. We easily crossed over to wakeboard sessions by adjusting the TAPS2 to 7. We tested the 21i in its stock configuration without ballast and rode swells that build up to lippy peaks and produce good kick. Riders can count on long transitions with very little trough. We recommend the four-tank (600 pounds) ballast option for advanced intermediate riders who require more wake volume for advanced moves. Otherwise, beginner to intermediate types will get all they need out of the Tige 21i’s standard configuration.

We can always rely on a solid feel in the 21i thanks to the heavy construction method on which Tigé prides itself. This wide-beamed direct-drive offered impressive tracking, requiring very little effort from the driver to hold an accurate boat path for pulls of any kind. Although quick turnarounds weren’t quite on a par with that sports-car feel, they were good nonetheless. For a 21-foot inboard, this boat navigated through the chop like a champ, and we were able to muster some real get-up-and-go acceleration with the TAPS2 wake plate engaged.

The idea behind the Tige 21i is that there’s a little something for everyone, so there’s nothing blatantly “wakeboarding” or “skiing” about the design of this boat. You can choose from six graphics options — ranging from the discrete to the wild — to make your boat your own, and with traditional lines sweeping through the sleek interior, whatever you choose will suit it well. One of the most impressive features of the 21i is the spacious interior. Thanks to an extra-wide beam (102 inches) and deep freeboard, the 21i offers passengers plenty of room for traffic flow and secure seating.

Base price: $36,354

Length: 21 ft.

Beam: 102 in.

Seating capacity: 10

Fuel capacity: 36 gal.

Test Prop: Acme 13 x 12 3-blade

Test Engine: GM Vortec 5.7L, 340 hp

Top Speed: 44.8 mph 5,050 rpm

Accel. To 30 mph: 5.3 sec. 131.7 ft.

Accel. To 36 mph: 7 sec. 216.4 ft.

Noise Levels (db): Neutral 64 D 64 R, 36 mph 90 D 95 R