MasterCraft 2018 models launch in Australia: News Feature

While you can get afloat for $92k driveaway in the base MasterCraft NXT20 with 320hp 5.7L Ilmor 5000 engine and trailer, the top-of-the-range just-launched 2018 MasterCraft XStar with a 430hp 6.2L 6000 engine will set you back about $225k drive away. Tellingly, boat #1 in build sold to an Aussie. An average MasterCraft rig, not that there is any such thing, has a ticket around $130k.

While the all-new XStar didn’t show up, we had a nice spread of MasterCrafts to drive. The 2018 models included the NXT 20 from the entry-level range and the XT20, XT21 and XT22 from the crossover do-it-all family. There were two 2017s – the X26, which is the biggest Mastercraft ever, and the outboard-powered NXT global. We drove those too

Locally, the smaller 20-21 footers (and the hot new XT22) are the best sellers. The market is strong for these boats right down the Eastern Seaboard, but none more so that Melbourne, where buyers couple a MasterCraft with their houseboat and still like to waterski on Eildon or the Murray.

Globally, it’s a slightly different story. The XT23 is the best seller, although that 2018-model XT22 is proving hot. The buzz is wakesurfing and we hear sales of boards for this purpose outsold those for wakeboarding in the U.S. this summer past

Of course, everyone likes to customise their MasterCraft towboats with plenty of bling. That said, the MasterCraft 2018 launch in Australia gathered dealers to help create some standard local packages across the national network. This way, there is pricing consistency and MasterCraft are getting aggressive on that front.

As for options, alternative seating arrangements, colouring and metallic, upgraded interiors, tower accessories and the new dual screen dash upgrade are the big things. This brings us to the purpose of our visit. To drive the latest 2018 MasterCrafts…

Technology is what stood most on these smart new towboats. From the tank-tested hulls designed by in-house naval architects, to the latest patented Cool Feel vinyl upholstery that doesn’t heat up in summer (even in black), from the all-alloy low-emissions GM engines by Ilmor with vee drives to, well, the push-button dual screen dash that’s the brains of it all… these are very clever and refined boats.

THE PILLARS OF MAKING WAVE
"We take a holistic approach to our boats. There are four key things: the hull bottom, the wake devices [like tabs], ballast, and the software. Together, these foundations create MasterCraft’s Gen2 Surf System," explains Jay Povlin, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, on the marina at Couran Cove, South Stradbroke Island, SE Queensland.

"This allows some flexibility for wake shape, wake height, length, push zones, size and switching… all at the push of a button. There’s a lot of flexibility in our boats for beginners, intermediates and accomplished riders. We have pre-set modes and you can customise the wake as well," he adds.

The pre-set towing modes are optimised on every boat using athletes and drone footage, following hydrodynamic and laminar-flow considerations from prior tank testing. But one thing the MasterCraft also does is offer big integrated ballast tanks and, for 2018, a triple auto adjustable tab system. This way, you can tweak your ride for uneven crew load and different water conditions.

That said, the dual screen dash created in cahoots with Murphy is what blew us away most of all. All of the aforesaid technology has been harnessed into three basic modes: Drive, Tow and Chill. Within these are sub settings, for example, with Tow we tested all three modes including Surf, Wake and Ski.

While you can customise, override and adjust the pre-sets, what we like about the new Dual Screen Dash and Gen2 Surf System is that you can be up and riding from the very first moment you hit the water. The control system also has integrated Navionics charts, embedded media and GoPro integration, a separate rear-view camera, and full control for the exclusive Klipsch audio sound system, plus loads more including engine data on screen of course.

With the technology and integration, the new MasterCrafts offer an automotive-like driving experience, while adding a social media interface and, of course, doing a mighty job of pumping up the wake and shaping it for your chosen discipline.

WAKEBOAT GROWTH
There are some 16 major league players in the crowded wakeboat market in the U.S. Collectively, the market grew by 8 per cent YOY. That amounted to some 800 extra boats built in the growing segment in 2016-17. MasterCraft is laying claim to 27.6 per cent of those new boat sales, itself growing by 14.9 per cent YOY and 122 per cent in Australia in that same time. The numbers look good.

But while 85 per cent of MasterCraft’s sales were in the domestic and Canadian markets, international sales are increasing. Soon, we are told, Australia will be the biggest market outside of the U.S. and Canada. Although the high U.S. dollar doesn’t help, as we hinted above, people are buying regardless.

So who’s buying the boats? Families, young successful tradies, plenty of Gen-Yers who want now. About 20 per cent are financed, with most just paying cash. There is plenty of money saved up and slushing around… lined-up in hot colours, the MasterCrafts do a great job of prising it from the purse at boat shows.

"People are using them not just for watersports, but as dayboats and status symbols. They’re going out for the day and cruising in style. The U.S. market is really declining in sterndrive sales and these [mainly vee-drive inboard] boats are picking up globally," Lee Blake, the dealer from Sydney, told us at Couran Cove.

In total, Tennessee-based MasterCraft built almost 3000 boats last year, selling in 225 locations and 40 countries. Locally, there are now MasterCraft dealers in every State. That’s what lead the U.S. staff from MasterCraft to fly Down Under for a dealer strategy meeting in September 2017. Our media gig piggy-backed on that event, allowing us to meet the U.S. crew and sample what’s new.

OUR 2018 MASTERCRAFT RIDES AND DRIVES
- We drive four MasterCrafts and cover all bases
The XT range comprises four models: the XT20, XT21, XT22 and XT23. As the “X” might suggest, these are all crossover MasterCrafts designed for multisports disciplines. With the press of a button, you can optimise your wake and customise it. This way, everyone in the family including dad and mum can hook into their preferred ride.

MASTERCRAFT XT22: Our personal update began with the new-for-2018 XT22, the highlight of the launch, as our news review of the new generation MasterCraft suggested previously.

The test boat was powered by a 365hp Ilmor 5500, a 5.3L engine with an all-alloy GM block and 5-star emissions rating. This was an upgrade from the base 320hp engine. We were pulling 44mph top speeds, but this boat is more about 11mph wakesurf to mid-20mph wakeboard and higher ski speeds. We tested all three modes, of course.

With 1160kg of ballast in two polyethylene tanks and two soft bags, which fills in about eight minutes, plus a triple tab system, the new XT22 certainly pumps up the wake. Besides the engine upgrade, our boat had some extras that enhanced the on-board entertaining and comfort, too.

Upgrades included the Cool Feel Vinyl upholstery — a black-and-yellow combo that looked edgy — an upgraded ZFT4 power tower with more speaker power for the Klipsch sound system, and the upgraded dual screen dash, plus saltwater package for the Ilmor, and more.

With a pickle-fork bow and deck design, this XT22 is a mighty boat with a 16-person seating capacity. The cockpit is all U-shaped seating with flip-up transom seats for kicking back at rest and, mid-cockpit, observing when towing.

The bow really gains seating thanks to the pickle-fork design, with a full adult-sized aft-facing settee mid-bow and forward-facing seats alongside for cruising. Such are the ergonomics, I almost melted into the boat up here.

With four aboard including Aussie athlete Bryce Grey (16), a Junior Pro spending half his time in the U.S. — did you know 5/8 of the top ranked wakeboarders in the world are Australian? — the XT22 jumped out of the hole using the single centre tab. Too easy.

In Ski mode, the wake was clean. In Wake mode, with full ballast, we dialled up some ramps and Bryce pulled off hot tricks. The hydraulic helm seat with bolster ensures you gain elevation and retain great vision when driving the big wake boat, too. Safety is a big part of the MasterCraft design brief.

In Surf mode, at 11.4mph, and pulling off the third towing point mid-tower, it was an easy take-off. The wake face had plenty of push, a long pocket and room to carve, flick off the top and grab a quasi cover up. The peeling barrel wills you to get wet.

With all three modes on call, plus fast cruising performance and high freeboard for crossing other people’s wake without shipping water, this is a watersports weapon, comfortable family day cruiser and social boat. The flat bow area means it’s not quite as smooth through rough water as a conventional deep-vee bowrider, but the upside is all the space and seating.

The XT22 also looks hot, sounds loud, performs like a pro platform, and has attitude. But it’s the clever design and cutting-edge technology from a very simple dual dash user-interface that’s the big step forward for MasterCraft in 2018.

Towing footage on our Facebook page...

MASTERCRAFT XT21: Released in January 2017, the XT21 is more your watersports bowrider with a bit more fibreglass lining than the fully upholstered latest XT22. But the big upgrade in the test boat, dressed to go in light blue, was the patented Dockstar dual flanking-rudder system.

If you’ve ever struggled with reverse parking or docking a single shaft boat you’ll understand the relevance of Dockstar.

The big challenge for the engineers, with whom we tested this boat at Couran Cove, was adding more rudders without adversely affecting the all-important wake. So, there’s a lot of design behind the location of the twin flanking rudders, which are each half the size of the main central rudder. They operate together through a tie-rod and the hydraulic steering system.

There was a light breeze, but wind nonetheless, so I went for a berth that would blow us off rather than in. To really test the system, the berth was also on the port side, opposite the usual starboard-side prop torque and walk from a clockwise-rotating propeller in reverse. Basically, everything was trying to keep the XT21 off this berth.

But with some incremental and soft movements in and out of gear, using the momentum of the boat and avoiding aerating the water with aggressive throttle use, the XT21 did indeed pivot back and around to port. With a bit of shifting in and out and wheel steering, I got the boat in that berth. For driving on and off trailers, the system will also be a boon. It costs about $4k.

Back on the track, the XT21 went really well, cracking mid-40mph, creating sweet wakes, and banking nice and flat. The boat’s forefoot and freeboard did a good job of carving the water without pounding or getting us wet.

Our Verdict: A warranted best seller, with classic bowrider lines and plenty of bling, and a great ride and drive. The all-round all-rounder.

MASTERCRAFT X26: This was a 2017-model, with the older-style dash with more analogue gauges and a less intuitive operating system. The dual dash arrangement really had spoilt us, I must say. But where the big boat excels is with its flagship status.

The biggest MasterCraft money can buy includes a step-down bathroom under the co-pilot’s console and an 18-person capacity.

With the standard 430hp 6.2L Ilmor 6000 engine, top speed was early 40mph. More importantly, with 1270kg of ballast in the 3039kg hull, you’ve got a lot of displacement to dial-up Big Wednesday out the back.

While Dockstar isn’t available, our test boat had the optional jet thruster that got me back in the berth second go. Too easy.

Our Verdict: The X26 flagship is a huge party platform with the benefit of a fully enclosed head. That’s the big feature. We expect the dual dash to be added soon. The party boat.

MASTERCRAFT NXT GLOBAL: This was the surprise package, designed for the Australian market, a MasterCraft with outboard power and the ability to hit the beach or a sandbar with ease.

Perfect for the social saltwater market, the NXT Global went like a rocket and cruised so smoothly and quietly with its 20in-shaft-length upgraded 225hp Mercury Verado four-stroke outboard that we were stoked without even towing so much as a tube.

With a simplified finish and layout, the bowrider boasts surround seating for 12 in wide fore and aft cockpits. With 680kg of ballast and the SmartCraft Smart Tow system, you can hold your speeds for skiing and wake boarding. But surfing isn’t permissible with the rear outboard prop.

Our Verdict: A smooth and quiet performer thanks to outboard power — especially noticeable following lots of V8 Ilmor boating — and such a fun social dayboat for summer you’d almost need it and another dedicated wakesurf model.

WATCH THIS SPACE
Certainly, there’s plenty coming out of the Tennessee factory in the ramped-up high-tech wakeboat market. Although the U.S. heavies wouldn’t be drawn, MasterCraft will release its third new 2018 model soon. It’s a watch this space. Not that you can miss them.

More at MasterCraft.