MASTERCRAFT
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X
Star
The most
proven towboat in all the business has set about reproving itself with the
redesigned X-Star. What they’ve done is gone back to the design lab
and virtually created an additional 18 inches of bow space out of thin air,
creating a larger social arena in front of the windshield. From there on
back it’s the attention to detail throughout the boat the Mastercraft
has become recognized for. It has a cool new dragster style gauge set-up
that is a nice deviation from the flat panel norm. Great seating configuration
lend to the roomy feel behind the windshield as well. Though this new version
of the X-Star is significantly wider in the bow, the handling was outstanding
throughout our radius testing. This is the Towboat for the 2003 Pro Wakeboard
Tour and the 2003 X Games.
X-2
For the
fans of the original rendition of the X-Star, you need not despair. The
King is not dead, he’s just undergone a dramatic name shift. Now dubbed
the X-2, this boat has retained the same overall hull design and interior
configuration that has rocked the market for years. With a heaping wake
when fully loaded, the signature Mastercraft wake form was readily visible
with our standardized test weight in the boat, almost begging us to add
another half ton for good measure. As was expected, the test drivers all
felt quite comfortable piloting the X-2 through its paces during the radius
turning tests. Long live the King!
X-7
Talk about
your handling prowess, the Mastercraft X-7 scored a perfect set of scores
throughout our radius tests, the highest marks awarded throughout our testing
procedure. “Holds perfect speed and handling through the tightest of
double ups’” was how WWA Director Shannon Starling decribed his
time behind the wheel. At just under 20 feet in length, this multi-use direct
drive entry has something for everyone. At the flip of a switch the KGB
ballast system began filling up for our days work on the water. The X-7
also showed a lot of hustle in our to-speed testing. X-9
You first glance at the engine box and your eyes immediately fix on the
massive air intake hood. Reminiscent of a hood on a 60’s muscle car,
you quickly conjure visions of high speed thrills on the water, but soon
you remember it’s not about the speed but about the ride. The beam
is larger than you’d expect from a direct drive boat, making for a
comfortable cabin atmosphere while still retaining quality handling characteristics.
This was exemplified during our radius turning tests where the X-9 had showed
good handling attributes. It also has one of the highest seating capacities
for a direct drive entry.
X-10
The X-10
is Mastercraft’s shortest entry in the V-Drive market but it delivers
just what you’d expect in terms of comfort and performance. This boat
is designed for someone who wants a V Drive boat with the Mastercraft history
of soid performance at a good value. Shannon Starling, Director of the WWA,
was pleasantly surprised during his time behind the wheel. “ For a
V Drive boat this one handles quite surprisingly well,” commented the
veteran Tour judge who’s logged thousands of hours in boats. The X-10
comes standard with the KGB ballast system, which by itself generanted an
adequate wake shape and size. It also shoed good acceleration coming out
of the hole.
X-30
The X-30
is the Mac Daddy of the X Series line. This is definitely geared towards
the user who wants a lot of storage space and plentiful cabin room for the
family and friends. The interior also exhibits an emphasis on luxury and
comfort. Expecting a somewhat more sluggish boat due to the overall large
size, we were astonished at its ability to respond to the hefty demands
we made on the steering during our radius turns test. Another area of exceptional
performance was in the to-speed tests where it was able to beat some of
its smaller counterparts. A beefy wake is a sure thing with the KGB ballast
system giving you a solid head start. The 60 gallon gas tank, the largest
we tested, allows you to leave the dock and a full days fun.
