G23 v XStar - 2019 purchase

[dnccowell]

HI All,
In no way is this a post to start issues or a way to bad mouth brands, and I'm posting the same questions on the MasterCraft forums too.

We are in the market for a new boat this year, we are in Australia and 90% of our waterways are coastal (saltwater), so from order to receive is about 3-4 months, we have looked at and test drove everything from Supra's, Malibu's, Axis, Moomba, MasterCraft and Nautique. From this we have narrowed our list to the following

Nautique G23
MasterCraft XStar

We are coming from and I/O to a Vdrive, and the steering assist is an option we like, what is your opinion on them?

Both boats drive well, I know the Xstar is hydraulic steering, is the Nautique? As the steering felt a little softer on the Xstar?

What is your opinion on both boats? What would be your positive and negatives on both?

Thanks in advance

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[blueroom]

I am going to be 100% brutally honest.

G23

I have one, I use one, I am frustrated from time to time by one, and I would not choose anything else.

I had always had a Mastercraft on my mind. However, that went out the door when a local pro was picked up by them this year, got a boat and has put almost zero time on it due to mechanical issues. If a sponsored rider can’t get a decent boat, or have it successfully repaired by multiple shops, my chances are not good. Industry people that have been on the boat, or been around it, have been totally bewildered - but also seemingly a bit unsurprised.

I take great care of stuff, but I am about as unlucky at getting “the good one” as you can find. I need the odds to be in my favor and Nautique has been there for me.

[homer12]

Well, I wish I had the resources to get to play on both of those boats, but I don't. From a purely outside perspective, the G23 has been a tried/true model for more years than the latest generation of X-star. I'm not a "one brand" kind of guy either. First boat was an old Mastercraft and loved it! I just think the X-star might have more bugs to work out. As Blueroom illustrated, I'd be curious as to what your dealer support looks like for both brands and that should play into it.

[Kmayotte]

I haven't seen a full review of the steering assist. I'd be interested to hear from someone with first hand experience. Sometimes turning the G in a tight area is like turning a tractor trailer.

[FEVB]

HI All,
In no way is this a post to start issues or a way to bad mouth brands, and I'm posting the same questions on the MasterCraft forums too.

We are in the market for a new boat this year, we are in Australia and 90% of our waterways are coastal (saltwater), so from order to receive is about 3-4 months, we have looked at and test drove everything from Supra's, Malibu's, Axis, Moomba, MasterCraft and Nautique. From this we have narrowed our list to the following

Nautique G23
MasterCraft XStar

We are coming from and I/O to a Vdrive, and the steering assist is an option we like, what is your opinion on them?

Both boats drive well, I know the Xstar is hydraulic steering, is the Nautique? As the steering felt a little softer on the Xstar?

What is your opinion on both boats? What would be your positive and negatives on both?

Thanks in advance

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

Are you primarily wakeboarding or surfing?

[dnccowell]

We are wakeboarders, but I do surf (old school, surfboard and ocean waves ... Lol)

But we are very interested in wakesurfing, as this is 2 of my loves rolled into one

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[FEVB]

Being wakeboarders and secondarily surfers I would go with the G23. I spent a good amount of time with the new xstar wakeboarding and surfing. PM me if you have specific questions.

[swc5150]

Being wakeboarders first, I'd assume the X Star would be preferable? Regardless, my advice would be to test both out again and choose your favorite. Both brands are top notch. As far as MC working out the bugs, and one boat apparently not running at all, just keep this in mind... drive shafts are snapping left and right on G's. That's a pretty serous bug that hasn't been worked out in 5 years. So yes, if you go Nautique, be sure you have a solid dealership in close proximity. I haven't seen any threads on TeamTalk regarding mechanical issues on the new X, but that's not to say there aren't any.

[Tallredrider]

Being wakeboarders first, I'd assume the X Star would be preferable? Regardless, my advice would be to test both out again and choose your favorite. Both brands are top notch. As far as MC working out the bugs, and one boat apparently not running at all, just keep this in mind... drive shafts are snapping left and right on G's. That's a pretty serous bug that hasn't been worked out in 5 years. So yes, if you go Nautique, be sure you have a solid dealership in close proximity. I haven't seen any threads on TeamTalk regarding mechanical issues on the new X, but that's not to say there aren't any.

Left and right is likely a gross exaggeration. It happens a lot more than I thought, but it is sort of like airplane crashes, you hear about it when it happens. I personally do not know anyone who has had a prop shaft break out of about 10 friends and acquaintances with G23 boats.

Which does bring up my main point. Many wakeboats have problems, and which dealer down under can serve you best will play a huge role in who you choose. I personally would choose the dealer. A weak dealer can make a good boat a bad experience. If you have a failure and dealer A gets if fixed and running in 5 days, and dealer B gets you fixed and running in 3 weeks, that is worth a lot to me.

[swc5150]

We'll have to agree to disagree that I'm grossly exaggerating. I would take it into account if I was shopping G's.

[bandit628]

I have been behind a G21, I own a 210. The wake behind the G is sick. It has so much vertical pop and kick.

If you are wake 1st, surf second I would get the G. From what I have read the Xstar wake is awesome with a big transition, but takes a while to get used to. Not the same type of kick the Gs have. But I have no experience on the new Xstar, this is just what I have read.

Just my 2 cents.

[surfnjosh]

doesn't the 2019 Xstar still have carpet...………. case closed. lol

[dnccowell]

doesn't the 2019 Xstar still have carpet...���. case closed. lol

Good point ! ! We hate carpet

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[dnccowell]

Another thing I have noticed is the G has a surf pipe when the Star doesn't,

Anyone surfed both?
Do you smell the fumes on the Star?
Is the G quieter due to the pipe?

Thanks

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[Wayward]

doesn't the 2019 Xstar still have carpet...………. case closed. lol

Star has a choice...... Carpet, Deckadence, or SeaDek. You can choose any of the three when you order.

As for the surf pipe question.... hmm, I think the G was a little quieter while surfing, but I’m not sure I noticed a big difference. Neither boat has an issue with fumes.