Nautique steering vs mastercraft

[johnboyy7]

Went out with buddy this weekend who has a X1. Took my sac to sac it out. I noticed that his boat has way better and more responsive steering, especially when surfing. Thoughts as to why? It turned like it was running empty.

[janswake]

I don't know too much about mastercraft I find they are much too expensive for what you get.But I do know the x-1 as well as a lot of the other x model boats (excluding the x star) are just glorified ski boats all using the maristar hull which is a ski boat hull I believe.I am pretty sure the x-1 has no skegs or shark fins on the bottom so I guess this could contribute to the better steering.

[NautiqueJeff]

Haven't been in an X1, but in my experience, the MasterCraft line in general (at least the wakeboard boats) don't handle even remotely as well as Nautiques. I am very surprised to hear that your experience was different.

[bkhallpass]

If this is true, then good for your buddy, and good for MC, I think. Every MC Vdrive that I have driven has handled more poorly than a Correct Craft V-Drive, particularly the boats based off the Maristar hulls. Leads me to wonder if MC got it right, or if there is something wrong with the steering in your CC. BKH

[mcbridek]

The MC X1 is there original X Star (late 1990's / early 2000) design - 90 inch beam, 20"7 length. When you look below the water line, the hull is very similar to the 210 from that era - the early 2000 models when the 210 was also 90 or 91 inch beam. On both boats the hull bottom at the back is nearly flat across. The posts I have read on this site - a lot of people believe those hulls were the best ever made for pure wake boarding. Remembering all the posts when CC changed the 210 - ouch. Not sure why they would drive some much different if you were comparing those two boats. But if your comparing with a wider beam nautique, I would expect a big difference in how the boat handles and feels.

[Rick]

Prop Rotation

Depending on which side of the boat is weighted and the prop rotation. I believe that may account for the ease of steering. If you weighted your boat on the other side and tried it I think you would find the steering easier. It has to do with the back of the boat being a big skeg.

[jimmyj]

mcbridek was correct. the x1 is the 205v hull. old school x star and x 2 for a short while. arguably one of the best hulls ever made for wakeboarding. the other contenter is of course the super sport hull. when weighted correctly, they are suprisingly similar, with the 205v being a bit more more rampy but every bit as dense.

these two boats are about the same size. in my personal experience, my super sport handles tighter when loaded, as the 205v feels similar to a 'bu, really loose and floaty. maybe something akin to a sports car without power steering vs power steering. i guess you could consider that "better", but i prefer the tight steering and tracked in feeling of the super sport. the 205v would have been my second choice hands down though.

[swc5150]

...almost right. The first X Star was a direct drive Prostar 205. The "X" package was simply a solid color hull, graphics and an extended pylon. Probably a better slalom boat than wakeboarding!

[GoBig]

Depending on which side of the boat is weighted and the prop rotation. I believe that may account for the ease of steering. If you weighted your boat on the other side and tried it I think you would find the steering easier. It has to do with the back of the boat being a big skeg.

Exactly. Also, just my $0.02 --- I wouldn't compare steering between boats when sac'd out...too many variables to get a true comparison (were the weights identical? same number/weight of people? weight distribution? etc, etc...)

[hourglass]

my 05 x-2(current x-1) sucked to drive. that was a big part of me liking 210's over mc's version. you could also lube your steering cable. they go bad easily

[johnboyy7]

The number of people were the same. Ballast was within 500 lbs. Both were turned in both directions We surf both sides of both boats. My steering cable is fine. X1 rudder appears to be bigger and for sure a different shape. The x1 is an 06 or 07 can't recall. I'm just saying his boat seemed to be more responsive in low to idle speeds. At surf speed and wake they are the same.

[deltawater]

I've owned a 210, currently own an X-Star (for sale), and trying to purchase a new 230 but have never had such a hard time trying to hand someone money!! That's another discussion in itself though!! From my experience in driving CC, Malibu, and MC; CC's steering is just stiffer in general in my opinion!! I like it being a bit stiffer, seems easier to keep it on a line! As far as the price comparison it has a lot to do with dealers! I'm in an open zone for CC so I can buy from anywhere and I've had the same 230 priced between 3 dealers. The quotes were 79K, 85K, and 90K! I bought my X-Star Saltwater Series w/LY-6 engine for low 80's. So they seem to price around the same.