2018 MasterCraft XStar makes the biggest waves ever

MasterCraft has announced the newest iteration of its iconic XStar that lays claims to being the highest performing, most technologically advanced wake-specific boat in the industry.

Two decades after changing the sport of wakeboarding with the first performance wakeboard boat, the new 2018 XStar is poised to make big waves on the growing worldwide wakeboarding and wakesurfing stage.

Terry McNew, President and CEO of MasterCraft Boat Company, said the new XStar makes the original wakeboard boat unbeatable again.

"Over 21 years, our engineers’ charter for the XStar has remained the same: do whatever it takes to outperform and progress the sport.

"For 2018, MasterCraft is the only company that has what the XStar can deliver — the biggest wake in existence and our exclusive digitally-enhanced driving and entertainment experience," McNew said.

In the North Carolina high country, six of the world’s best wakeboard athletes got together for a private, closed-water session to ride the huge rampy wake and unlock the perfect line on the 2018 XStar. They were raving. Check out this edgy promo video…

A GIANT WAKE
The new 2018 XStar, said to be the highest performing MasterCraft ever, has been designed to enable the next level of progression in wakeboarding and wakesurfing. With such a big ramp, huge air and trick time is on tap, along with serious surfing sessions.

Whether its Himalaya-sized double-ups or massive or customisable right or left surf waves, the 23-footer dials it up and delivers, the Tennessee-based builder says.

Supersized ballast — the boat weighs almost 4500kg on the water with full ballast tanks before you add gear and crew — and a combination of other features produces the jumbo wave faces out the back.

The XStar debuts a radical new wake-specific hull design that can be equipped with 4100lbs or 1860kg of ballast (1860lt of water), making this the largest ballasted towboat in the industry.

The seriously pumped-up ballast is achieved with a new amidships ballast tank designed to enhance the wake and improve wakesurfing performance.

An optional, award-winning Gen 2 Surf System adds to the wave shape, creating three zones of perfectly sculpted, customisable surf.

Enhancing the wake-friendly operation is a new MasterCraft innovation — the FastFill Ballast System — that speeds time to towing by filling the XStar’s ballast tanks under three minutes.

ENHANCED DRIVING
The driving performance of the XStar has also been enhanced thanks to a new custom rudder design that enables next-level nimble handling.

The XStar can be optioned with the award-winning Dockstar Handling System, a revolutionary flanking rudder system that makes manoeuvring in tight spots and crowded marinas a breeze.

MasterCraft’s Dual-Screen Dash control and a superior Klipsch Audio sound system come standard.

The proprietary Dual-Screen Dash simplifies and enhances the on-board experience with technology that tunes the boat’s operations to three usage modes: drive, tow and chill.

The Dual-Screen Dash improves helm styling and ergonomics, integrates with consumer technology devices (smart phones, tablets and GoPros) and provides important diagnostic information, navigation and even tutorial videos.

PREMIUM SOUND
The operating modes also control the premium audio output and the XStar delivers the best sound on the water via the standard customisable Klipsch Audio systems, exclusive to MasterCraft.

Klipsch Audio’s MasterCraft-proprietary marine speakers and amplification are said to create a heavy-hitting, customisable concert-style entertainment experience paired to each driving mode accessed on the Dual-Screen Dash.

TOWER AND POWER
The XStar come standard with the easy-folding, gas shock assisted ZFT4 tower as new standard equipment. The ZFT7 Power Tower is an upgrade.

The XStar is powered by the latest General Motors engines marinised exclusively for MasterCraft by Ilmor Marine, including an Ilmor 5500 GDI V8 (5.3L) as standard equipment.

Two Ilmor engine options are also available: the direct injection 6000 GDI V8 (6.2L), or the big-block Ilmor 7000 MPI V8 (7.4L).

CROWD PLEASER
With room for 16 passengers, the XStar offers an intelligently designed, more spacious and comfortable interior. The boat also comes with a big warranty — a five-year MasterCare protection plan.

Hand-built by "Master Craftsmen" in the company’s U.S.-based manufacturing facility, MasterCraft boats are said to offer the highest resale values in the industry.

But the XStar has always been something else again, the pinnacle of wakeboats, and buyers are bound to buy them with works for around $245k locally. Orders are being taken now.