Continuing my quest, X-15 demo

[Escondido]

I wanted to make sure I covered all of my bases in my search for our new boat. Saw the new MC x-15 at the boat show. Looked like the closest comp to the 22ve that I am considering.

Yesterday we were in the neighborhood of the local MC dealer that has a ski lake next to the dealership. Thought we would see if they had an X-15 that we could demo. Wanted to see what the extra $$ was for. Fortunately they had just prepped their X-15 for some type of test/review that was supposed to take place later this week.

Our impression had been, and has been well stated in many places, paying a premium for the name not much else. While the boat was very nice, it did not drive as well as the TIGE. The boat is loaded with storage, nice to ride in, deeper seats that are more comfortable than the Tige's and the wake looked pretty good for a recreational slalom (we did not load the ballast for a wake comparison). The driver's seat sits very high, no need for the bolster for a very good view what's happening. The boat felt like it vibrated a little and just didn't respond as well as I had expected. It had the 350 hp engine which was very quick out of the box. The dash was easy to read but I know the views very on the pod like setup. THe switches are definitely different.

There were a couple of features I liked. Their swivel board racks with clamps, no straps, seem very good. Didn't try them with a board in them though. One other feature I liked was the combination tower speakers with lights built in. Some may think it gimky but if you want lights it was a very clean look on the tower. Also has the full snap out carpet. I like that alot.

Has anybody seen this feature in other speakers or is this a MC only design.

The boat we demo'd was 63K and had basically everything but PP. We didn't really find the premium. Very nice boat but that is quite a premium.

[Gardyloo03]

are you talking about the x-10?

[David]

Good review, I'm looking to see the new x-15 at the boat show next weekend.

Gardyloo - The x-15 is the new model from MasterCraft, I think you can find more info on it (and pics) at www.wakeworld.com

[Escondido]

The X-15 is replacing the x-10. A little larger than the X-10.

[condor86]

Hi denbow,

I know a company called Warlock's that makes a nice speaker/light system, it is called the neo bullet system, i will try to get the email address/web address for you. I know the owner and he is a great guy and makes an excellent product. His phone is 916 859 0126.


Regarding the X-15, are you saying that you like the tige 22ve better?

[Boarder_X]

denbow, condor

www.bulletspeakers.com

Jaime (High-me) is a great guy.

[Escondido]

Condor,

Even without the price differential I might give the Tige a slight edge. I liked the seats in the MC better. I really didn't pick apart the MC, once I determined there wasn't anything worth the premium about it, I just enjoyed my ride.

On the speakers, the MC are actually in the housing of the tower speaker facing the bow. I forgot to see what they were going to do for the rear facing lights, if anything. Nice alternative for docking lights.

I know, should have take some pics. Really didn't even expect them to have one out much less available for driving.

[empty_boat]

SNAP IN CARPET

We sell several boat brands that have snap in carpet. My opinion with snap in carper is....now you have 2 surfaces to keep clean instead of just one. You still have to vacuum the carpet, but then you have to clean all the sand out from under it. So far no one builds a family/recreational boat that you can "just hose out". You can "hose out" a center console walk around fishing boat because the floor is above the waterline and it drains overboard. In a runabout style boat the floor is usually at the waterline or below so the water drains to the bilge. You don't want your bilge full of the stuff thats on your floor. Just my .02

[Tip]

I hear what you're saying about the dirt, but try putting on the cover with wet carpet and smell what you get in a week. Because I don't have snap in carpet I have to use an electric fan to dry the carpet. Even the owner's manual says to not cover the boat if the carpet is damp or wet.

I believe snap in carpet is not offered because it would cost more to finish the gel coat.

[empty_boat]

snap in carpet

It may be more of a problem in different climates too. I will say that most snap in carpet has a rubber back, and if you don't remove it or turn it over it will mildew between the carpet and the floor, even in a very dry climate like we have in Montana. Water seems to stay in between the rubber and the floor and it doesn't dry out well at all. Of course you can remove the carpet each time you come home from the lake and hang it in your garage or something like that. You can't do that with permanent carpet. The one other maintenance item with snap in carpet is that it gets ruined when the snaps pull out of it. which happens quite often. I had a "smell" in my Tige when I first got it and it turned out that water was trapped in the compartment under the cooler and it began to stink. I fixed that and it has been fine ever since. just my .02

[dogbert]

Re: SNAP IN CARPET

Originally posted by empty_boat
We sell several boat brands that have snap in carpet. My opinion with snap in carper is....now you have 2 surfaces to keep clean instead of just one. You still have to vacuum the carpet, but then you have to clean all the sand out from under it. So far no one builds a family/recreational boat that you can "just hose out". You can "hose out" a center console walk around fishing boat because the floor is above the waterline and it drains overboard. In a runabout style boat the floor is usually at the waterline or below so the water drains to the bilge. You don't want your bilge full of the stuff thats on your floor. Just my .02

Sounds like it needs to be an option. My walk-thru has snap-in carpet and it hasn't proven to be a problem. I do keep my boat in a garage and we're not in a really wet climate. The permanent carpet hasn't proven to be an issue either, but it would be nice to be able to pull the carpet out when you're working on your boat.

[Lucky 275]

snap out

I think it's that aluminum floor that would tend to be a problem with snap out carpet. That big square in the floor of mine is not fiberglass, but a big piece of metal.