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WATERSKI Magazine
MasterCraft X-Star
Recommendation: Hard-core Wakeboard
www.waterskimag.com/boats/mastercraftxstar
The X-Star has become a legitimate phenomenon in the wakeboarding world. Introduced last year with an all-new hull sporting revolutionary engineering to sculpt wakes, this model has exploded onto the scene.
The reasons are obvious. Like the hull, the interior was designed specifically with riders and their friends in mind. A two-pointed bow enhances seating and storage room there and lets several people face the rear to watch the show. Rather than the usual ballast tanks eating up storage space, the X-Star has the ballast system built into the liner system — three tanks nestled beneath the floor. That makes storage abundant for boards, gear and refreshments. Six stereo speakers, built-in draining cooler and tons of drink holders ensure the party continues in every part of the 100-inch-wide boat.
The sleek one-bar tower, the triple-pod dash gauges and the splashy hull graphics complete the futuristic look of what is truly an evolutionary boat.
Wakeboarding
Our thanks to the engineers who came up with the hull's wide, tapered V bottom, four terraced chines and touch of magic that make these wakes one of the sweetest we've ever seen. They're huge yet clean. Transitions are smooth, ramps are ideally engineered, and the double-ups are not only mountainous but extremely smooth. The pro riders themselves have been raving about these wakes for the past year now, as they've been able to hit bigger and better maneuvers at contests across the country. The X-Star has become the boat to get from MasterCraft if you want to take your riding to the pro level and beyond.
Lowdown
-The hull was engineered from the water level down with wakeboarding as its prime objective, and it shows in perfectly calibrated wakes.
-The liner ballast system opens up more storage space, especially in the rear compartments under the wide three-piece sun deck.
-With wakes this great, you won't mind the slight sacrifice in turning response when weighted.
-With a two-pointed bow, there's more room for seating and an extra access point.
-The one-bar tower tops off the modern style.
