1998 Flightcraft 20 XLT review

The latest Flightcraft 20 XLT is one of the products of the 'joint venture' with California-based boat builder, Malibu. The 'Flightcraft by Malibu' livery on the hull of the Flightcraft range is the most obvious indication of this venture, whereby Flightcraft USA builds Australian-designed boats from its west coast and Loudon, Tennessee factories. With expanded availability, distribution, and competitive pricing afforded by the 'merger', Flightcraft has now become a player on the US tournament circuit with its best-selling XLT. In the southern hemisphere, this licensing arrangement also sees Flightcraft Australia build the Malibu range at its new purpose-built factory on the NSW-Victorian border.

Although Flightcraft founder David Telling launched his boatbuilding career in 1969, the Flightcraft success story stepped up a peg in the late 1980s with the birth of the XLT. By the time the company started exporting Flightcraft to the USA and Canada in the mid-'80s, it was producing the world-class tournament 18 XLT skiboat and setting new standards on the Australian competition circuit.

In fact, the XLT was the first Australian-built boat to receive AWSA certification, Melbourne distributor Peter Kent from Regal Marine says. It was also a regular official Moomba Masters and AWSA barefoot towboat and has a string of slalom, jump, trick and barefoot titles with both outboard and inboard versions of the craft.

On location

On the date of our scheduled audition with the Flightcraft 20 XLT, Melbourne delivered a typical spring day with only one season recorded -- the wet one! As such, we limited our appraisal to a morning on location at Carrum's National Watersports Centre south of Melbourne.

The star was an optioned-up social version of the racy centre-mount 20 XLT. This is a thoroughly fettled craft that was significantly upgraded from the hull up in 1992 and made its debut in Australia the following year to rave reviews. Think of it as a combination of US and Aussie ingenuity. Rather than implementing wholesale changes, Malibu's design team subtly 'tuned' the hull for the latest version. It's still recognisable as an XLT, though its overall performance has been raised a cog.

The product of Flightcraft's new Albury factory (which is modelled on Malibu's facilities in the USA), our Flightcraft 20 XLT test boat was fitted with a number of tournament-spec options. These included an upgraded mechanical package - a 5.7lt Malibu Vortec V-eight delivering a whopping 310hp.

Most ski boat enthusiasts will pick an XLT out in a crowd. Its low freeboard, long nose and sleek lines exude the same sportscar appeal that would attract a revhead to an RX-7.

The bow is capped by a low-profile tinted windscreen which provided excellent wind protection. A higher version is available for taller pilots.

A unique ducted air intake unit sits flush on the bow, directing cool air to the big Chev-based V8. Theoretically, this should deliver some performance gains, but the chief advantage is a better-insulated engine box for lower noise levels.

Traditionally, the interior finish of the early model XLT was perceived as a bit primitive -- particularly in the US. This has been remedied in the US-fettled model which is one of the benefits of the Malibu factory's extensive R&D expertise. Another is the availability of fitout items such as the dash -- an ergonomic ABS tournament-style unit.

The gauges on our Flightcraft 20 XLT test boat included twin Airguide speedos (though a single is standard), temperature and water gauge, oil pressure, hour metre and tachometer.

The adjustable sports-style steering wheel is connected to tilt-rack centre-pull steering underfloor in the 1998 model.

The conventional layout features an adjustable and sliding bucket-style driver's seat, observer seat (which seats two) and rear lounge. The pilot sits quite low in a sliding chair, and a deep footwell and footrest make the position more comfortable. Despite this, the seat lacked lateral support in hard turns. The rear-facing observer seat suffered the same shortcoming and could have offered additional support.

The Flightcraft 20 XLT test boat also lacked passenger grab rails, an option the company tells us is available on the 1998 model. But then again, not many drivers work as hard as Editor Sinclair to get passengers wet behind the ears! Mind you, even he found this hard to achieve with the 20 XLT, as very little spray was produced over the side in nearly all situations.

Stowage pockets run either side of the 2.08m-wide cockpit and a large open storage area is located behind the observer's seat backrest, with room for a couple of sets of skis and the odd towable or wakeboard as well. Additional storage is provided in a rear storage locker and a built-in esky is standard fare.

The cockpit features mocha-coloured marine carpet which coordinated well with the cream-coloured marine vinyl upholstery with green and mocha accents. The Flightcraft/Malibu computer also makes an impressive match between the three-colour gelcoat exterior with the interior graphics.

A single padded vinyl cover cocoons the inboard, opening on rear hinges to offer excellent access to the powerplant.

The transom is finished with an integrated swim platform with stainless grabrails aiding access on and off the vessel.

The new version of the Flightcraft 20 XLT is built on a bi-directional fibreglass-encapsulated double-stringer hull. This set-up is designed to provide extra strength and most of all, rigidity amidships where the engine is mounted, Flightcraft says.

Another of Flightcraft's features is its Unibody construction technique that sees the hull and deck bonded via a double-weave reinforced woven roving butt join.

This technique and particular attention to the hull lamination design means that Flightcraft offers a 10-year limited hull warranty.

The hull itself is a semi-vee variable configuration with 18° deadrise at the transom rising from a substantial flat-bottom delta.

Forward of the 'plank' there's a relatively deep 25° entry vee that helps deliver a softer ride than most tournament-grade skiboats.

The hull design also features two full-length lifting strakes and a hard flat chine that reverses towards the bow.

All the underwater gear -- including the triple skegs fitted as standard on the tournament-certified version - are engineered specifically for the XLT. There's also an impressive list of credentials including the timber-free transom, all stainless steel hardware, automatic bilge pump and rear-mounted 120lt polyethylene fuel tank that is US Coast Guard-approved.

Flightcraft has a proud reputation in Australia for producing one of the quickest-handling production inboards on the market.

The Flightcraft 20 XLT doesn't disappoint. As tested, the triple-skeg boat turned hard and flat at full throttle, with minimal wash-off in the turns and no cavitation at all.

Its steering also remained commendably light, with no appreciable loading up of the wheel.

In very tight, fast turns steering response remained predictable, and again cavitation was non-existent. Praise here should perhaps go to the 13 x 13-inch Mad Dog stainless prop that is standard equipment when the Vortec powerplant is specified.

Transition to plane is flat and rapid thanks to the muscular US-sourced mill.

At low speed, the Flightcraft 20 XLT produces a wake ideal for trick skiing, with high hard lips and good flat ramp. In fact, the maker says the tournament version is a seven-event boat capable of slalom, trick, jump, kneeboard, slalom kneeboard, barefoot and slalom wakeboard! With these credentials, it didn't take much convincing for our inhouse ski junkie Mark to test its mettle in the chilly Melbourne water.

The high-performance Malibu-built V8 310hp Vortec comes with a 24-month warranty. Top speed was an indicated 78kmh at 4800rpm.

In standard configuration, the Flightcraft 20 XLT is fitted with a 260hp MerCruiser Comp Ski inboard, while the outboard model has a choice of 135-200hp Mercury V6s as standard running gear.

The standard package, rolling on an Easytow trailer is priced at $26,900. With its high-quality finish, good resale value and user-friendly attributes, Flightcraft delivers a versatile rig for the sporting family.

Overall, it's a gutsy package that leaves a lasting impact and is deserving of its star-studded reputation.