X45

[samw]

My brother n law told me today he is serious about buying a x45. So my first question is why? Response....because he has always wanted a mastercraft. So what does everyone know about that boat. I tried to tell him that the hull hasen't changed in years, over priced. I said if you going to pay 60 + on a boat look at all options not just one boat. He thinks I am biased because I have a Tige. I basicly it in not a good idea limiting his options just because he has always wanted a Mastercraft, plus I told he was going to pay 60 grand and my boat was still going to throw a better wake. Let just say he no longer wanted to talk about boats.....
Any thoughts...

Thanks
Sam

[Lunchbox]

An x45 brand new is WAY more than $60k...

You can't even get into a brand new XStar for less than $70k...

Is he planning on buying used??

[Guest]

I have wanted a Mastercraft Maristar for a few years now and I did not want to buy used because at 50 this will be my last boat. When looking at the 20ft Maristar its features were very nice and its bow is bigger than the 20V I bought but when I compared feature for feature and value per dollar I found that Tige, Malibu and Supra had better price points than the Mastercraft.

We have a 23ft Maristar in the family and it is one nice boat but over priced like the 20 foot model. When I looked at and test drove the other three I found that the Multisport Capability of the Tige suited me better with a fairly loaded model vs less options on Supras and Malibu. I especially liked the holeshot and the handling of the 20V.

I also saw this price point issue at the boat show this year. All three of the other brand are nice, have good to great brand name recognition but their price point to features are to high. In Illinois Tige is not heard from because they are not marketed here but where they are marketed they seem to do well.

Since we are mainly skiers and hydrofoilers the tall wakes of the X series with ballasts don't make a big deal to me. I like though the trimmability to get a higher wake if I want it for the Air Chairs or for tubing and to have reasonable slalom wake for when I go out and play.

[wannabewakeboarder]

An x45 brand new is WAY more than $60k...

You can't even get into a brand new XStar for less than $70k...

Is he planning on buying used??

New X-Stars at the boats shows were 82k, loaded, with trailer and all the add ons.

I think I heard X-45's new were around 90, but the number could be way off, I though I remember someone mentioning it though. Don't quote me on it.

[KonaKing]

boat show price on the x45 was 93k to 98k depending on options.


Anything but a DisasterCraft They have ruined the industry with their high priced boats. When I purchased my 04 22v I also looked at X30 It was 52k loaded now look what they are My 22v was much less 42k and a better boat. My neighbor has a x10 I am always working on it. All say it again anything but a DisasterCraft

[bk3104]

Difficult subject. Mastercraft make good boats. Tige makes good boats. I seriously looked at Mastercraft, Nautique, and Tige. I ruled out the Nautique with help from my son on layout, width. I was torn with the Mastercraft. The boats look really nice, I'm partial to the interior cockpit layout. All the switch gear/guages look "solid". Again my son's opinion factored in. Then the cost caught up with me and practicality set in.

As I looked at Tige the VE became the boat of choice for me primarily due to the activity center. I test drove a 22VE, 24VE and RZ2. Pickle fork didn't do anything for me. Guess I'm too old. Settled on the 24VE as the comparison boat.

Compared the Nautique 236 and the Mastercraft X-30. Had a friend with a Nautique as well. Went to the dealers and in both cases, they bashed Tige, said why they had the best boat etc. Nautique looked to cramped even though the beam is only 1.5" narrower. They each pushed ballast etc. Knowing we didn't expect to become competition wakeboarders and also wanted a decent ski platform (for me) when asked they didn't have a good answer to TAPS/ballast even though both boats had wakeplates. I questioned the lack of tracking fins on the X-30 and didn't get a good response. After all this I was still attracted to the Mastercraft ... nice color on a boat immediately available.

So back to price ... 2006 Nautique with 20 hours vs 2006 X-30 new vs 2007 24 VE. Major option difference was I ordered the VE with no tower speakers. The others had full ballast options. 07 was cheaper, I got exactly what I wanted, the deciding factor was the dealer experience.

Went to the boat show, had a VIP invite from the Nautique dealer. At the show they pretty much bashed the other choices, when I told the Mastercraft folks I was seriously considering Tige the walked away. Tige dealer said they are all good boats and this is why we think we are better.

So, bought the 24VE. It handles rough water very good. Works as a ski boat for me, holds the right amt of people, and basically performs as I was told it would. And the dealer has continued to be great.

Have another friend with an X-45 and have been on it. Great boat. Looks nice on the water, runs great, uses 2x the gas I do with my 24VE. And even though cost really didn't matter for me my practical side said why pay more ?

So, happy with what I have, added tower speakers as a birthday present to my son, and we have what we need for weeks at the lake house.

Net, get what your happy with, what you like, make sure you have the dealer support because it makes the most difference, and decide if your trying to impress others or just have a good time with your real friends.

[ragboy]

I looked at the X45 hard also, but liked the malibu and the Tige better. I chose the 24Ve, but the 247 and the X45 were both nice boats. In the end, you gotta buy what you want, and what makes you happy.

[samw]

He is looking at used. He has found two. One WI and one In AZ $$$ at 60-66.
I don't want to bash Mastercraft and I don't think I am. When I started looking at boats I almost bought a X5. Sure it looked nice but couldn't get past I was paying for name. I just afraid he is going to spend this money on MC and be disapointed. At this point he won't look at any other brand. When I bring up Tige it comes down to I have one so he won't consider it. I think it is a pride thing.
I also see that MC is putting a wakeplate on their boats now.

[scoot18]

Tough subject, I think I agree with many of the others. You got to go with what you like best. Let's really be serious about this. As much as the different brands want to say how much better they are, do they even really know the industry, and most all love to bash the other brands. They all are good boats, heck when you get down to it, the business ends of the boats are all just about the same, most/all use GM 5.7or bigger, they may be marinized by different folks but in the end still manufactured by GM, most transmissions and V drives are the same, there are only 2 or 3 to choose from. Many of the differences that dealers use to push the sale are things that us as consumers would never see or be able to appreciate. More fiberglass or better resin's, our process is better, our stringers are best, our hardware is better, etc. etc. Things like durable vynil and good quality assembly for fit & finish and creature comforts are things that we can see and appreciate every time we use our boats. So they all are "great" boats it's all just a matter of what your taste like and the dealer you would like to have a relationship with, if money is not an issue buy what you want. I would imagine that the MasterCraft heritage goes a long way, and probably shows in resale if you ever sell the boat. In the end support the sport, buy a boat! As long as it floats you're 1 up. Brand loyalty is great and it makes you feel good if someone buys based off of your recomendation, but as far as the main boat makes spoke of here, tige', MC, Bu, Nautiqe they all are great boats and share a lot of equivalents, most of the others probably are a small step down in visible quality, but still good, if you like the layout, like the colors and if need be like the wake for what you going to do, get the boat you like. It many ways it's hard to go wrong. Heck as many companies that there are out there building boats, it's not rocket science. Boat building can't be that difficult, if it were, there would be many less companies building boats. The only thing they really develop & R&D is hull design (hydrodynamics) and associated decks, floor plan and configuration, seat design and seat construction, just about everything is else is done and made by someone else.

Tell him Good luck shopping X45 is a lot of dough

[samw]

I will let evryone know what he decides.
Thanks for all th input.

Sam

[scoot18]

I also see that MC is putting a wakeplate on their boats now.

Wake plates or trim tabs are available on just about every inboard or V drive on the market, for obvious reasons. Not that tige' needs to take credit for it as if they were the inovator, just as tabs have been used on larger boats for decades, someone finally saw value and good function to add it to the heavy inboards we all love so much. I find that the trim tab on my 22Ve is best for getting up on plane with the boat loaded down with ballast & people, trim it down all the way prior to holeshot, the boat planes much quicker and saves a ton of fuel, once on plane I put it back up. I repeat this cycle every time we take off with a loaded boat.

[TigeDuner]

I have wanted a Mastercraft Maristar for a few years now and I did not want to buy used because at 50 this will be my last boat. When looking at the 20ft Maristar its features were very nice and its bow is bigger than the 20V I bought but when I compared feature for feature and value per dollar I found that Tige, Malibu and Supra had better price points than the Mastercraft.

You may surprised. My guess is, it will be the first Tige you purchased after 50.

We are on our second 24, and looking for the third in another couple years (RZ4). Once you have filled a 24' Tige with the kids, their friends, gear, and your beer, you're hooked. And in this case, bigger is always better.

Tell me I'm wrong in a couple a years, not today.

[Jason B]

MC sux azz! Pieces of crap-ola. The owners of MC's are queer as folk. Anybody stupid enough to buy one deserves the a-hole tag they get.












j/k
I like them a lot form the boat shows. If I had a stupid amount of money I'd seriously consider them. My dealer here was super cool when we spoke to them and even complimented other brands while selling thier own.

[Guest]

You may surprised. My guess is, it will be the first Tige you purchased after 50.

We are on our second 24, and looking for the third in another couple years (RZ4). Once you have filled a 24' Tige with the kids, their friends, gear, and your beer, you're hooked. And in this case, bigger is always better.

Tell me I'm wrong in a couple a years, not today.

It is my first Tige your right but I would also bet it is my last boat. I have had a boat since my 20's and my kids,nephews, nieces brother in law etc have all gotten into boating from initially going out with my wife and I over the years. At 50 we are empty nesters for a while until grandkids come into play. If they do we will love to take them to the lake and get them into the fun like my folks did before us. In all the years I have had numerous boats but since I trailer and keep my boat garaged at home 20' is my choice in size. Has been for years.

[ragboy]

Tough subject, I think I agree with many of the others. You got to go with what you like best. Let's really be serious about this. As much as the different brands want to say how much better they are, do they even really know the industry, and most all love to bash the other brands. They all are good boats, heck when you get down to it, the business ends of the boats are all just about the same, most/all use GM 5.7or bigger, they may be marinized by different folks but in the end still manufactured by GM, most transmissions and V drives are the same, there are only 2 or 3 to choose from. Many of the differences that dealers use to push the sale are things that us as consumers would never see or be able to appreciate. More fiberglass or better resin's, our process is better, our stringers are best, our hardware is better, etc. etc. Things like durable vynil and good quality assembly for fit & finish and creature comforts are things that we can see and appreciate every time we use our boats. So they all are "great" boats it's all just a matter of what your taste like and the dealer you would like to have a relationship with, if money is not an issue buy what you want. I would imagine that the MasterCraft heritage goes a long way, and probably shows in resale if you ever sell the boat. In the end support the sport, buy a boat! As long as it floats you're 1 up. Brand loyalty is great and it makes you feel good if someone buys based off of your recomendation, but as far as the main boat makes spoke of here, tige', MC, Bu, Nautiqe they all are great boats and share a lot of equivalents, most of the others probably are a small step down in visible quality, but still good, if you like the layout, like the colors and if need be like the wake for what you going to do, get the boat you like. It many ways it's hard to go wrong. Heck as many companies that there are out there building boats, it's not rocket science. Boat building can't be that difficult, if it were, there would be many less companies building boats. The only thing they really develop & R&D is hull design (hydrodynamics) and associated decks, floor plan and configuration, seat design and seat construction, just about everything is else is done and made by someone else.

Tell him Good luck shopping X45 is a lot of dough

With the economy the way it is, buying recent used, he will find a good deal on either. I just saw this in my area:

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/595196321.html

I still prefer my Tige, especially with gas at $4. But my guess is manufacturers will be selling less, and the barely used market is going to be a buyers market. Normally, I would say the spring is the worst time to buy a boat, but maybe not this year. The dealers will be selling less, and start lowering prices to move them. People buying boats the last couple of years, will be dumping them. Good time to be in a buying position.

I just bought a $19k new motorcycle for $12,500. I told a friend, he went to another dealer/brand, and brought a 10k bike, for $7300. Luxury type items are going to be like this I think this year.