G23 Versus Xstar

[perry386]

Rode and drove a G with Andrew from Buxton Marine. I've had several opportunities to ride the X-Star but nothing has worked out. They even gave me one for the day 7 weekend ago on a beautiful Saturday. My lady had gone to town at 8am to get a few things and would up rolling her truck 1.5 times on the way to town. She crawled out with her life from a wreck that should have put her in ICU. So I've missed my opportunities to ride the 2013 X-Star.

My 2010 X-Star, sacked out, has a huge wake and rides great. I honestly have a great boat in great condition with few flaws. My boat is truly in better shape than most boats with 150 hours on them.
The reasons to get a G are that I try to get a new boat every 3 seasons, and because the G/new X-Star are next generation and I can't deny both have some features I would like.

Prices are closer than I expected after I put the options I want on both boats, but the G is still more expensive (and I was always told it would be).

Wow, i cant believe the G is more expensive than the star because MC is always way over-priced in my opinion.

[Nordicron]

Wow, i cant believe the G is more expensive than the star because MC is always way over-priced in my opinion.

I think both CC and MC are over-priced! I've seen boatshow prices of $120ish on the forums for the G 23 but nothing for the X-stars. So hard to believe the G 23 is more expensive than the X-star.

[biggator]

When I compared - the prices were VERY similar.. I thought the X was a bit more - hard to do a true apples/apples spec.

[perry386]

I think both CC and MC are over-priced! I've seen boatshow prices of $120ish on the forums for the G 23 but nothing for the X-stars. So hard to believe the G 23 is more expensive than the X-star.

Dont get me wrong...VERY expensive either way but I just think MC is over priced considering you can get a Nautique for less most of the time.

[perry386]

It seems that all the comments about how bulky it looks are always made when on the trailer or in a boat show... I find that it doesn't look 'big' when in the water. It just looks MEAN. Less Italian sports car and more classic muscle car.

You hit the nail on the head. The Xstar has the italian sports car look and the G has the classic muscle look (even though the G performs alot better). Great comparison except if we were talking cars I would rather have a Lamborghini than a Camaro!

[vision]

My first real boat was a brand new 2006 X-Star purchased in April 2007.
I bought a new 2010 X-Star in April 2010.
I admit to being a MasterCraft fan-boy, to some degree. Enough that I "wish" the X-Star were the better new boat, and if it were 55/45 in favor of the G23, I'd probably get a 2013 X-Star.

Yet, here I find myself, this <.> close to ordering a G23. I have my final quote, picked the colors, etc. They don't even want a deposit at Buxton Marine for the G, while TXMC wants 10% down despite the fact I've bought 2 new X-Stars since 2007.

I went to the Pro Tour at TXMC, sat in both X-Stars, spent an hour with MC technicians. I've spoken to many people, including people that work at TXMC and 2 people that ride/teach for Brian Sasser, a TXMC salesman and big instructor in DFW. Every...Single...Person (minus 1 blind nutswinger) has told me to get the G23. Many said it with a whisper, but its been said over and over.

I'm about to drop a lot of money - again - on a boat I'll likely keep about 3 years and put about 600 hours on. I ultimately just want the best boat. And despite the desire of my heart, the logical choice seems to be 1 final visit to Buxton to sign some papers.

My decision has been a difficult one, but mainly because its not turning out like I had originally hoped/expected. But I tried to go into this with my eyes wide open, and I just can't see myself being as thrilled in a 2013 X-Star as a G23.

Best of luck,

Dusty

I went from an 08 X-star to a G23. Both have great wakes. The G23 wake is firmer and certainly easier to achieve. The 08 X-star handled better than my G (neither handle well by ski boat standards, but the 08 X-star was a touch better). But the selling point for me was interior layout. To be fair, I have only seen, but did not sit in, a new X-star. But I was blown away by the design and functionality of the G interior, lockers, seats, etc. After riding in the G last April, my decision was easy.

[wakeboarder3780]

I went to a boat show this past weekend and saw both side by side. Keep in mind I have not driven or ridden behind either so this is specifically my opinion on design / interior.

In my opinion the x-star was shadowed in comparison to the G23, here's why:

The X-star did have a reversible rear bench seat option that provided the same functionality as the G23 rear bench seat (one could argue more functionality because the seat can even be laid completely flat inside the boat to make a makeshift sunpad inside the boat (see all 3 positions here):


However, the mechanism for how the x-star operates is FAR inferior to that of the G23. The reason for this is because to flip the seat back and forth you must lift on a suitcase style handle on the top of the seat *straight up* no exceptions. This isn't bad alone, but couple that with the fact that the seat is very heavy and you must bend over the top of it to be able to lift straight up (your feet need to be back in front of the seat base) along with the fact that the seat is very heavy for a seat and IMO I can see myself having to do it every time. I would not feel comfortable having my wife or nephews do it - they simply wouldn't be able to. Now, I will say the seat feels solid as a rock, I'm sure it's overbuilt as was my impression of most mechanical parts on the x-star (a good thing) but for this type of functionality the overbuilt part really hindered the functionality. I am a 210 lb body builder and bench 405, I *had* to brace an arm against the nearby seat to be able to move this seat correctly.

However on the G23 the bench seat mechanism is easy peasy. Wouldn't think twice about having my wife or a young kid do it. It's extremely easy to manipulate and the implementation is just far superior for that reason alone. Now, if you put value in having the rear bench seat in a completely folded out position I could see having a different opinion but in my mind the G23 just nails it.

Back to the x-star the only other good things I thought about the boat were that in person it looked prettier than in the pictures. In the pictures, I hated the looks of this boat. In person I felt it presented very nicely except I still think the tower is fugly. As far as storage the lockers in the rear seemed medium to small sized to me and the storage everywhere else was all very oddly shaped which left me wondering if I could really leverage the other storage very well at all. Also, this is the smallest feeling 24' boat I've ever been in with the starboard side bench seat measuring only 49" of actual seat space (bow side edge to back seat rest). After further inspection you can see where all the space waste went. in the back of the boat there is a ton of empty space behind the motor - couldn't tell you why. Finally I would say the walkthrough on the x-star was more condusive to laying out on the sunpad without having to put a filler cushion in (if you were lazy) because it has less of a drop.

By comparison, the G23 smashed the x-star in spaciousness. The g23 had much longer bench seats although I have to admit I was so excited checking the boat out I forgot to measure the starboard side bench seat by comparison but I can guarantee you it was longer (and this is a full foot shorter boat than the x-star). The rear lockers were ginormous with just the ACCESS hole (the locker hatch) measuring 35" by 18" and a whopping 29" deep. Actually INSIDE the bottom of the locker it's even more massive. If there was *any* concern about space for sacking this boat out or when you need to wrench on the engine, forget about it. The lockers are even bigger than my 23 LSV which I've had tons of people tell me are massive and I'm a very broad shouldered fellow and can work on my boat easily. The fit and finish in the boat was great the nau-teak feels great on the feet and I'm hopefully it will be more stain resistant than carpet. I can certainly tell you it won't get that crappy matted down carpet look we all know our carpeted boats get. The tower is rock solid, the racks are integrated into the tower which means you know they're never going to rattle - however this also limits you to adding aftermarket racks IMO and ultimately you can't have 4 racks on this boat stock - ultimately my only gripe.

Anyway all this to say that the x-star ran MORE than the g23 and in my mind the G23 smashed the x-star hands down. More storage, better design on the interior, sexier tower, more space in the interior, and functionality that everyone in the family can operate. If you would like to see the pictures I took at the boat show, there are more here:
http://s1049.beta.photobucket.com/us...r3780/library/

[scottb7]

I compared my friends 2009 mastercraft to my 2008 and I would say that the hardware was better on the mastercraft. I mean the grab handles, windshield frame, and pieces that hold up the windshield, the handles to open hatches were all more substantial. mc has plastic grommets between tower and gelcoat to make a better fit...Honestly I like my boat, and I think that nautique is better designed, and maybe hull is even better built. But my feeling is that finishings are better on mastercraft.

[Miljack]

I compared my friends 2009 mastercraft to my 2008 and I would say that the hardware was better on the mastercraft. I mean the grab handles, windshield frame, and pieces that hold up the windshield, the handles to open hatches were all more substantial. mc has plastic grommets between tower and gelcoat to make a better fit...Honestly I like my boat, and I think that nautique is better designed, and maybe hull is even better built. But my feeling is that finishings are better on mastercraft.

IMHO, this is a "subjective" assessment of the hardware used in both boats, my opinion is the stainless steel in the CC boats will last longer and look better longer than the anodized machined aluminum that MC uses in their boats. That said, MC seems to have a VERY close relationship with the machine shop that builds their hardware, even looks like their tower is all machined bits bolted together.
BTW, MC didn't start using the plastic "shims" under their towers until the '09 model year, search on Team MC and see how many owner's have complained about the tower rattle and shake on the earlier boats. The '07+ towers were a step back for MC in terms of stiffness...my '08 230 has plastic shims under the tower's feet, doesn't your boat?
I do like SOME of the "bling" on a MC, but OT to the X vs. G, G wins hands down...

[scottb7]

Miljack, i think you are right about relationship with machine shop. When I spoke to mc last year the salesperson said nothing but very positive things about nautique, but he also did say that they tend to have tighter relationships and more customized parts then other mfgrs. I do think that is quite true. My 2008 does not have the shim...And the tower is quite solid without it...

[Nautiquehunter]

The center rear seat on the MC only makes the small seating area smaller . When the seat is in the rear viewing position where does the people sitting on the side seats put their legs? With out the side seats coming up to form back rests you only have room for 2 to face the rear. The CC on the other hand gives you a full bench seat with room for 4 with all having a confortable back rest.
To sum it up if you want a great looking boat with fair to average performance then the new star is for you .If you want the real deal where form , function and performance come together in the best boat of its kind then there is no better choice than the G.

[obd666]

that x-star interior is horrendous

[swc5150]

FWIW, our family has owned 9 MC's, and are now on our 5th CC. Every MC had weird quirks, like randon screws appearing in the driver's footwell (every boat had that issue), to a blown motor and trans issues. The only issue with CC was a bad fuel pump in my '08. I also sold MC's in my college years, and we knew CC built a stronger boat, even though our '94 Prostar performed better than a '94 SN (I actually still believe that, and it's one of my favorite boats to this day). One could actually use the lifting rings on a CC for lifting; MC strongly advised against the same for their boats. With that said, I do believe MC makes a great boat, and am actually excited to see the new Prostar due out in '14. However, as an experienced owner, MC would have to really improve upon a few things to bring me back to them. Moving from Indmar to Ilmor was one big improvement, IMHO. To me, it seems that MC has always been in a rush to bring the "latest and greatest" to market, and that haste has had some negatives associated. CC seems to take their time, and delivers products when they're ready. Just my $.2

[biggator]

I just want to know who it was that thought a motorized dashboard on a boat was a good idea.

[AllianceBJJ]

I just want to know who it was that thought a motorized dashboard on a boat was a good idea.

Which looks like crap anyway....The nice upholstry on the rest of the dash, but cheap looking plastic on the top of the motorized piece...

Not sure why they just didnt put another billet piece there....Billet seems to be everywhere esle.....