MasterCraft X25

Others have been around for some time, and MasterCraft fits into that category; one that is a league apart from nearly all others when it comes to innovation and quality; the later which is more than skin deep.

Based on a deep ‘V’ hull, the bottom sides in the fore-end flare steadily from the keel line to the large turn down sides on the forequarters which basically act as an oversized chine offering superlative buoyancy and stability at rest and a more effortless hole shot when it all counts; when boarders are swinging off the pole.

And then topside the quality abounds in pizzazz and practicality.

The MasterCraft range has another important aspect that is hard to find many other brands and that is, the boats are designed to be in salt water and hence there is that extra level of sea-worthiness about them. 

From the upholstery and other finishes externally, to the engine and its cooling system, components have been insulated from the elements in a variety of ways.

That upholstery is made up from 38oz vinyl which is puncture proof so jumping around on it is of no concern unless on the way back from the nightclub still armed with your stilettos. The upholstery has been treated to resist mould as well as UV rays and it, along with the deck carpet that clips into place, has a five-year warranty.

It had been tricked up with an attitude adjustment plate which is a separate mechanism again from the left and right electronic trim tabs and allows the correct attitude of the boat to be achieved to put out the best possible wave for individual boarders.

This attitude adjustment is assisted by the optional weight of ballast tanks with one installed in the bow and another in each aft corner. They are filled and drained with the flick of a switch as required and the spectacular instrumentation for the skipper shows the levels of each amongst a myriad of other onboard information systems in relation to the engine and other functions.

 As well, two, pretty cool audio speakers are suspended off the tower and woof to the rear whilst the nose cones of their housings feature forward-facing observation lights. Another four speakers will entertain passengers on board and all are driven by two amplifiers secreted in the bulkhead forward of the main passenger seat.

Zero Off speed control is another natty functionality of this MasterCraft. It allows the skipper to dial in and store information as to speed suitable for specific people to attain the best wake possible given their weight. Ninety nine different boarders/skiers may be input here and recalled by name when it is their turn on the rope, the boat then runs at the pre-set cruise control speed for the person selected.

Another handy additional option is the fibreglass swim platform that sits at water level when the X25 is dead in the water, making it easier for people to get on and off the boat. Then there's a fresh-water washdown facility with a 28-litre reservior tucked away in an aftt compartment -- great for getting sand off the gunwales after a day on the beach.

A bimini on the test boat provides the required amount of shade for the two in the driving and observing lounges -- the other 14 (this boat is built to carry 16 people!) will have to find their own.

Wake boards are stowed on racks attached to the tower which may be unlocked and turned around and locked inside to reduce the beam of the boat when underway on road or for when parking under cover.

The tower is also collapsible by undoing four bolts with half folding forward and the other half back into the cockpit should you have low roofing on your undercover storage area or want to reduce exposure and wind drag when long hauling on the tar.

So, after dressing the base model with those items mentioned above, the till will ring at around $118,000.

While storage is available under each removable seat cushion, whereas the backrests are fixed and form-fitted to the boat with high backs to give extra support. The two forward-facing seats in the bow section feature drop-down arm rests offering plenty of security for those up front when the boat is doing aqua-batics. 

 Each side of the bow-riding section has an independent stereo control switch so the occupants may enjoy the radio or CD music which is piped through to the flush-mounted speakers.

In our test boat, the passenger seat next to the skipper was set up as a large rear-facing observer seat, however it is changeable to one that is forward-facing, and the skipper has a lift up squab so that he may sit higher for improved visual navigation.

There's a short lounge directly behind the skipper’s seat that has a backrest for another rear-facing observer also. Under the seat is space for an icebox of about 40 litres capacity.

Aft of the rear lounge, the upholstered sundeck lifts as a whole to access the engine compartment and the void each side of centre. Should you need to get into the side compartments individually, a gas-strut operated cushion lifts for access.

Going back to the helm station, you will find a plethora of switches, gauges, buttons and gizmos that will likely take you some time to learn how to use. Suffice to say all the functions are monitored and displaced on panels within easy view of the skipper, and the helm has adjustable positions to suit individuals.

All this sits behind a curved windscreen that has a good-sized opening to access the front pit. When this is closed and the alloy partition gate is secured, those here and aft will be out of the draft when underway at speed.

The 5.7-litre 350hp V8 Indmar MCX VRS engine is built specifically for MasterCraft and features a water strainer for the heat exchanger attached to the closed coolant system. A three-year warranty applies to the engine. In keeping with the anti-corrosion design of the boat, the exhaust is also manufactured from stainless steel.

Gear shifting is electronic fly-by-wire and is as smooth as silk. Coupled with the hydraulic steering the operation of the X25 could be undertaken by a child; it is effortless.

The propeller drives off a ZF V-Drive which is silent without any whining and no audible backlash when going through the gears.

It had all the punch for what it was designed for and then some. Big on pistons and low on noise thanks to the silencing of the exhaust system, the rumbling of the big-block Chevy was nicely audible if you put the hammer down but other than then, it was just a faint hum emanating from the stern.

Manipulating the attitude board produced steep and high wakes running at good angles to the boat allowing a number of boarders to share the space each side out the back. And the ballast tanks proved their worth in helping with the end result in the wake.

Trimmed for speed, the X25 had plenty of torque throughout the throttle range and could handle the hard and sharp manoeuvring at speed with ease with no evidence of aeration at the propeller or cavitation. Top end speed with two aboard was a shade under 70km/h at 5400 rpm.

The best description one could apply to MasterCraft's X25 is that it's genuinely breathtaking in every aspect.

Engine:
Indmar 5.7l 350hp V8 MCX VRS
Drive: ZF V-drive