SCOOP: Mastercraft goes fishing

Well, it won't be official until Thursday, but Mastercraft is entering the FISHING market! Mastercraft is set to unveil the the new CSX 220 on Thursday.

The new boat is a Center Console(!). Obviously it has a center-console, a low, kind of "cut-out" transom wall with flip up seat, a forward facing seat in front of the console and a platform seating area up front. The boat still uses the picklefork front end.

There was a Mastercraft engineer on site. I told him I'd noticed a lot of marketing of the MasterCraft "Saltwater Series" (twin engine 280, etc.) and I asked him if this was the next level of their plan. He said it was. I asked him if this was a based on the X15 and he said it was not. He insisted it was a brand new hull.

I guess in sort of a crossover effort, the boat is available with a hardtop over the center console. The hardtop is fitted with bicycle and wakeboard mounts. Plus, it still has a tow eye. It's somewhat similar to Supra's idea on the 24SSV. (Neither design seems terribly convenient to me.)

The boat had a single inboard prop, probably driven by a V-drive. I didn't get to see the engine. It really got me thinking though: if you're trying to sell an inboard boat to anglers, what's really important: DIESEL! Perhaps this explains the rumors we've been hearing about MasterCraft experimenting with diesel. Certainly can't hurt to let R&D for the fishing market benefit wakeboarding.

Anyway, I was trying to figure out the marketing thought behind this: "Well, we've lost a lot of marketshare to Malibu and the wakeboarding market is not growing appreciably. If we can't grow the category through increased marketshare or new customers, we have to find another customer to sell to." I guess that's how they ended up with this new boat. I wonder though: Why fishing instead of high-end performance cruisers? It seems like they could have targeted a type of Cobalt or Fountain-type boat.

What do you think?

That sort of makes sense because I heard that MC was owned by the same company that owns Coleman camping and outdoors supply. Anyone know anything about that?

bycicle mounts? i just dont see the usefulness except wierd occasions. other than that , pretty cool

MC boats dont go fast enough,they make a nice boat but what a dog.I think you need 400 + hp just to make 48mph.Fishermen like fast boats.If they used the BF200 hull with a 300hp outboard then you would have a good fishing boat.
MC made a boat go 44+for Keath St.Oange world class barefooter but if you see him on the Ski pro web site his comment is"This is the type of boat you could set world records behine" He is not behine a MC when he makes that comment.

For inland and bass fishing only an Allison will due!


"and a Mercury 200 XS can push the hull beyond 82 mph"
or you can go with the XS-2003 Grandsport and do 100 MPH!

http://www.allisonboats.com/

All you need is a different prop. I know a guy who had a high pitched prop on an older nautique, and he clocked it right at 60. No one I know needs to run faster than that in salt water.

There are two boat shows in Columbus, one in January and one in February. I saw the February one last weekend. Represented wakeboat companies included Tige’, Supra, Moomba Malibu, Centurion and Mastercraft. There was also a Yamaha with a tower.

There were many sports booths, representing hunting and fishing in Tennessee, Kentucky and Canada. There were all kinds of booths to buy fishing reels, bait, and fishing demo tanks. There were no booths with wakeboard, ski, or other board sports. I bet the fishing market is huge, I think it makes sense to expand out in to a wider market as long as you don’t hurt a well established one.

However, Mastercraft makes some of the most expensive inboard boats you can find, how will that work in the Skeeter, Ranger, and pontoon boat market?

The boat should be called "Master Baiter"

LOL That is Hilarious Cory

Thursday is the day the maimi boat show starts. They will probably be unvieling it there. I am going to that show so if they do have it there I will post back on it. I have a feeling because it is a center counsel it will compete more with the offshore market then the inland bass fisherman.

Festivus Maxximus said, "That sort of makes sense because I heard that MC was owned by the same company that owns Coleman camping and outdoors supply. Anyone know anything about that?"

MC is employee owned since they purchased the company back from this parent company you speak of.... probably 5 or 7 yrs ago.

MC was owned by the Coleman company in the '80's only.

More than likely the Bike Mounts are for transporting your bikes to and from camping sites, fishing trips, ect. It is not that bad of an idea. Just think how many times you have seen a fishing boat riding down the road packed full of gear.

I don't think it's wise for MC to get involved with the fishing market. Much like the skiing market, the preferred brands there are pretty entrenched in people's heads. Unlike the skiing market (except for barefoot), there is a large bias for outboards over any I/O or inboard setup. Didn't Correct Craft already try (and fail) at this back in the 70's? I seem to remember seeing an older Fish Nautique once in the mid-80's. I haven't seen one since.

Thanks for clarifying the Coleman dealio. I was wondering how long it would take them to make the "Air Coleman" package available for the X-Star, but now I guess we'll never know....

I dont know about MC but I know that Correct Craft made a center console fishing boat in the 70s called the Fish Nautique.

Boy if you want to hear rumors and facilitate them
this is the place to come. MC is releasing a NEW type of boat...not dedicated to fishing.
I heard Bu was purchased by Bayliner and is going to go into the flats boat business.

Matt if its true id say its mostly because the volume of units is higher for the smaller cheaper boats in the range you are talking and the go fast boats are triple to quadruple the price = less units. VOLUME is the key word but converting the hard core fishermen is going to be a hard sale, even with their reputation in ski and wakeboard boats.

malibu was bought by bayliner!??!?! HAHAHAHA!!!! THAT's RICH!!!! tjk, always there for that little bit of absurdity.

How much market share has MC lost to Bu, they always seem to have very close sales figures?

Actually, in all fairness, I think their marketshare was up in the last quarter. But over the last two years, there's no doubt that Malibu has been the overall marketshare winner. They've consistently gone up while both MC and CC struggled, leading to their number one position. Those facts are reflected in the SSI data that Dave and others have posted on this site.

I guess I should clarify that I don't think MC's new boat launch is any indication of a fear of taking on Malibu in a marketshare battle. Rather, I think they see tight competition in a limited niche. It's smart business to see if they can get new customers into the brand family by expanding the potential audience for their product.

In fact, I believe (just an opinion) that MasterCraft's recent gains have been the result of creativity and more new models (points of entry) -- the X15, etc. Even their graphics represent a fresh approach (everyone was doing tribal to one extent or another and they took it in a totally clean, simple new direction. Well, with the exception of the X-star). They're definitely at the forefront when it comes to innovation.

MC:

1) too many boat makes and models -- fewer great boats would help sales and gross margins.

2) the xstar blunder -- inferior wake & too big and too expensive.

I think it make sense to have 4 boats (19', 21', 23' and 25') in two formats (X and XSTAR). The X format is the VALUE/PRACTICAL model (HONDA) and the XSTAR is the LUXURY/BLING model (LEXUS).

I agree with Matt that MC is an innovator as they seem to transform the industry with neat stuff. I can't wait till they release photos of this new boat. If we could bring along our mountain bikes, fishing rods and packs on the boat for a weekend camping adventure...that would be way too kool. Hopefully, the boat will stay true to MC form because my husband will still want to board while I pull him around

x-star blunder? that's funny. it is still my favorite wake to ride behind, and it was the best selling MC at our dealership last year.

"1) too many boat makes and models -- fewer great boats would help sales and gross margins"

Could not disagree more. A wider range of products reaches more customers.

I will be selling my xstar/x2/x1 if they come out with a fishing version.

is there a more polarizing boat than the x-star? you either love it or hate it. i personally like the thing, even though i'm not too wild about the spraypaint design that looks like something i would do on microsoft paint to pass the time in high school. while i would never buy the current x-star--even if i won the lottery and could actually afford one--i certainly would never pass up a ride behind one.

and i agree with mc leading the way in terms of innovation with the pickleforks (again, love it or hate it) and the new simplified designs. hopefully, other companies follow suit and trash the tribal/tattoo craze

Here is the mysterious "Starfish"

Here is another shot...

I would not think the pickel fork would be good on the ocean. I like how they kept the swim platform. They should rename it the urination platform.

Didn't Correct Craft already try (and fail) at this back in the 70's? I seem to remember seeing an older Fish Nautique once in the mid-80's. I haven't seen one since.

Dante,
No they did not fail at this venture. Basically that Fish Nautique that you saw was a one time only production. One of the people very high up in the company had the boat made and entertained clients on it.

I think it is a very cool boat. I dont know if fisherman will but it is the coolest fishing boat that I have seen.

Ok, I need to look into that some more. I just went to boattrader.com to try to find that boat, but there seems to be other fish nautiques. Maybe I was fed wrong information on that one!

Here is one. Check out this site and you can see several
http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=494&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1925&yr end=2006

So the :StarFish" looks like either a D-drive X-star or X-2. Makes sence to use an existing hull in yet another configuration to reach a new market, at a minimal entrance cost. I think MC is attempting to broaden their market base, witht he intriduction of the X-80, and saltwater series boats, and this would be a logical next step.
Or maybe the MC engineers just got tired of the rednecks in Vonore asking if they really needed outriggers for the bass on Lake Tellico
Overall this seems like it would be a very smart crossover boat for a family, or someone who like to do multiple different things, ski, wakeboard, fish.
I wonder if the ballast tanks double as live-wells.

Personally, I don't think the Star Fish looks like that cool a boat for fishing. It's got too big a hull to be a good bass boat and too small a hull to be a good sea boat. A Whaler or Ranger would eat that thing's lunch and the Whaler would probably even be cheaper. That Fish Nautique though is a lot cooler than the one I remember seeing.

Is that wood on a new MC? Never thought I'd see that again.

Gives a new meaning to the fish & ski boats I remember! I think that is the x-45 or 80 hull.

Dante, that would be a fine hull for big lake fishing. The swim decks have always been wood. You can get them in fiberglass as an extra. Personally I like the wood look.

Checked out the MC web site about the wood decks. Sure enough it is only an option for the glass deck. I guess the fiberglass deck is an option everyone around here gets. I've never seen a newer model MC with a wood swim deck. Personally, I like the wood look too.

I've fished in some pretty big non-great lakes and found a bass boat to my favorite option for that sort of thing.

The Fish Nautique sold from '76-'89. I wouldn't call that a failure.

Compare that to the all-time best selling MC, the 205 DD which sold from summer of '91- end of '00

(Message edited by HBSkier on February 15, 2006)

(Message edited by HBSkier on February 15, 2006)

By the way Joe, thanks for getting the early pics!!!!!

I just don't see that FisherCraft being sea worthy at all, wakes from botched double ups or other boats always seem to be rolling over the pickle fork already, now they're adding it to a fishing boat that's going to have a salt water application? Well at least they have snap in carpet, err full length blood sponge for the catch. Maybe this will only be for trout fishing at our local stocked reservoir. Better add that Honda four stroke on to the back just in case.

I'm beginning to respect Epic more and more. Simple mission --Make a great wakeboarding boat.

i would NOT take that mastercraft in the ocean, however the fish nautique looks very seaworthy.

That being said, there are a LOT of people who never go on the ocean and just cruise to the sandbars on the intracoastal to party. This boat would be perfect for that.

It could be ok for a bay boat on the gulf, however youd be nuts to use an inboard for that. Too much shallow water.

So this looks to be a fish and ski made for lakes.

that thing is ridiculous. and to think, i thought grady-whites and parkers were expensive fishing boats!!

I did not mean to offend. I think the MC XSTAR is a neat boat. But, I still think it was off the mark. I bet the original XSTAR out sold the current XSTAR. To me, the XSTAR should be their flagship wakeboat with their best wake. I also think it should be 21' feet before 23' because it wants to be OUT THERE in high volume. Actually, I think its still WRONG that the X1 has their best wake.

MAD CHILD... You are living upto your name MAD ! I am sure that a bunch of new potential MC owners are going to call you and ask about that boat and you will give them your opinion based on your unlimited amount of knowledge and experience. (No one has even driven the new boat yet) Take a chill pill. The NEW boat is not a fishing boat. I am sure those board racks on your BU would hold some fishing poles just fine...does that make your BU a fishing boat.?...Hey everyone MADCHILD fishes out of his BU!

GREATDANE... The OLD Xtar out sold the New one. That hull has been in MC's fleet since the MID 90's It was the 205V, X-star, Old X-2 and now the X-1. A great boat, great wake etc. Now being a price point boat it is a hell of a deal! The Current X-Star with about 1200-1500 LBS of weight additional has a AWESOME Wake

Tim Kurtz. The new front end PICKLE FORK design is a VERY VERY Dry ride. You need to check out the 05 rewind video from MC. They drive a 280 down to the keys and get it airborne a few times. Rescued a few boats along the way that where stranded on sand bars.

TJK have you ever been in the atlantic ocean when there are 4-6 foot waves? I've been in big waves in a 28' pursuit and a 25' contender, both made for that stuff and you don't stay completely dry and you get pounded when you are driving through them.

While it appears that you are defending MC because of goggles, I would not take any ski boat hull out there regardless of brand.

Also, I won't ever take a boat with only one engine offshore, imagine your engine conking out while you are in the gulf stream (just off shore where I live) and you don't have enough rope to anchor in 300-1200+ feet of water.

This boat is a lake/bay fish and ski.

You can take ANY boat down to the keys and be fine, as there is a lot of protected water, but I dare say, try taking this boat through the Jupiter Inlet on an outgoing tide when there are 4' waves and you will be swamped.

(Message edited by timmy on February 16, 2006)

I heard they're changing the name for marketing reasons... to Basstercraft

That boat would be awesome for wakeboard, put ballast all around the engine in that beast.

I guess Im a dork because I think that thing is cool. Would I trade my boat in for one NO but as far as center console drive boats I think it was a cool way for MC to enter into a new market by using a existing boat that they all ready make.
That MC remindes me of the Wally Tender Ill post a photo of it. Ill bet they used the Walley Tender for some sort of inspration in the design of the StarFish, What do you think?

I think its actually pretty dang cool, period. I think the tower/bimini could be better looking but other than than I love the layout.

I have a DD, and have always thought that having the drivers seat in the middle in front of the motor would be much better. It would be elevated, and would allow wrap around seating in front of you.

I don't know how this will sell for MC, but as fishing boats go its as cool as they get.

Ill take that Black one. And yes these are from the makers of the Darth Vader boat.

www.walleypower.com

tjk, i assume you have never been in the ocean fishing. i know for a FACT that that boat would be swamped within a matter of minutes off the san diego coast. hell, any coast for that matter, i'd be scared in the great lakes with that thing. the next time you are fishing in the ocean.....oh that's right, you never have because up until this point, mastercraft hasn't made a "fishing" boat.

FYI, i leaned how to drive a boat on in a real live marina, which i then left and went fishing in the ocean. i'm pretty sre the only reason we didn't sink was because THE BOAT WAS DESIGNED TO BE used in the ocean. it wasn't a cc ski/wake boat.

i'm beginning to think tjk isn't a real person. i notice he only chimes in when someone puts down a mastercraft or is asking about them. whene everyone else is trying to be fair despite their blatant bias, he is always putting down every other manufacturer because "they suck".

dave, can we ban this guy? he brings nothing good to the table.

i like what someone said earlier about the "carpet...i mean blood sponge." HAHAHAH!!! soooooo true.

(Message edited by madchild1 on February 16, 2006)

Look how close the seats in the back are to the transom!! Don't sit there at idle speeds or you will die from CO poisoning!!

I dont think they are any closer than any other direct drive boat.

www.mastercraft.com/csx

Hey all,
There's information on the boat at:
http://www.tmcowners.com/teamtalk/showthread.php?p=148695#post148695
It's a "22ft pickle fork...unique hull..."

The pickle fork does take on water when it is weighted and maneuvering at slow speed or when some Delta cabin cruiser cuts you off and you have to come off plane to avoid collision. That's in flat water! Add some ocean chop and forget about it, maybe they'll throw in some buckets.

I think the boat is for fishing, I see some stainless pole holders around the seat, center console, walk around layout. I'm no CSI. I guess if you put snap in carpet in it you can call it a family day boat.

This boat doesn't make sense to me when they could be improving their current line and delivering what we all want- the perfect wakeboard boat ( I'm beginning to think that is as attainable as Nirvana).

Is there anybody from Brunswick still working at MC?

Who said that the boat was marketed to be an ocean going vessel? Nobody. I love how everyone speculates and then condemns. I am sure that MC has put a ton of money into R&D on this boat and its just going to suck

I have yet to see a bass boat that doesn't have carpet.

Why wouldn't they go after the largest growing boat style. Now incorporate the largest growing sport and what do you have yup a center console fishing machine. I live on the Chesapeake bay and this would be ideal for me because I wake more than I fish plus when I do fish I don't catch a damn thing but a buzz. Hell go for it and hope it does not fail like the Nautique

Consumer product companies are always looking for a niche that is not being served. MC may have found a small defined market; the guy who wants to take his boat out for a couple of fishing trips a year in coastal waterways (not deep-sea), but the wife wants a nice boat to take the family to the lake on weekends for skiing, tubing, boarding. This customer is not hardcore ski or board, but they appreciate the performance step up from a runabout. You won't see this boat in the showroom in every market.

Grant, speaking of niches, the pics of the custom boats are cool. I can't imagine the functional purpose of the big open-hull boat w/ 3 outboards. What's the concept about?

"I am sure that MC has put a ton of money into R&D on this boat and its just going to suck"

Putting money into R&D doesn't always equate to commercial success. Look at the Ford Edsel or Atari 7800 for proof of this.

And the reason people are assuming that it will be marketed as an ocean-going vessel is that it looks an awful like most ocean-going fishing boats. If the interior looked more like a bass boat, people probably wouldn't be so quick to make this assumption.

IMHO they won't make it in the center console salt water market with an inboard. The new generation outboards like the Evinrude E Tec are much better
for salt water applications.

Fishing is the largest growing sport? Hmmmmmlol.

If it's set up like a bass boat I could understand the carpet, but it's not. It's set up like a largelake/delta/ocean fishing boat. That kind of fishing gets a bit more messy than pulling a couple of bass out of the local pond. If this thing has a live well then we could say it's a bass boat, maybe.

Money and R&D does not equal success. We don't have to get into a thousand examples of that. Just ask yourself (honestly) is that boat in your top 3 choices in purchasing a family sport boat, is it worth your 50K and will it satisfy all your wakeboarding needs; because that's the largest expanding segment of the boat market.

I've never seen a thread started on Wakeworld like this:

"GIVE US WHAT WE REALLY WANT"

How come the boat manufacturers don't come out with a boat that we can fish off of then wakeboard behind.

I never said that R&D = success. WHat I meant was that if they were going to truly market the boat as an ocean boat, I am pretty sure they would test it to make sure it worked. I highly doubt it is meant for deep sea fishing. And no it would not be my top three for a sport boat. It might be for a fishing boat though. Snap out carpet is exactly that. SNAP OUT. If you are going to go and fish for marlin, then take the carpet out. If you are going to pull your kids around on a tube, put the carpet in. Whats wrong with inboards for saltwater applications? Most ocean going vessels are inboards, albeit, twin engines, but again, I seriously doubt its meant for deep sea fishing.

Last summer I went Striper fishing and the boat looked very similar to this mastercraft only it had a pointed nose and an outboard. We were on a big lake with a guide. I am guessing that this boat would be for a big lake not the ocean.

Isn't that carpet snap out (or "leave out")?

You could use it as a small dive boat as well. Hell, We dove off of an inflatable Direct Drive in Hawaii about 2 years ago. I think they just need to pick up the nose and put a trim tab on it.

this boat is not aimed at the wakeworld demographic; it's also not aimed at the pure fishing market. It's about market segmentation - you've got families with multiple segments in the same family. The kids want watersports, but the Dad wants to fish. They can afford nice toys and appreciate the quality / reputation of an MC.
I know guys like this. Time will tell.

If you can afford nice toys then why wouldn't you buy a X-2/X-star/VLX/SAN 210 etc. then buy a Skipjack. That's the best of both worlds.

I've heard of a crossover boat, but seriously this is stretching it.

Are the guys you know going to buy one?

Saltwater jigs and gaffs don't mix with vinyl seats.

Machew, I should have been more specific. I know guys that fit the demographic MC is trying to reach. Since the boat was only introduced 24 hours ago, I don't know if they have gotten on a plane to Miami and put down a deposit.

And you are right, there are plenty of people with different boats for different uses, but some people only want one boat w/ one trailer.

There are lots of markets I don't understand. I can't see spending $60K on a Ranger bass boat, but they sell lots of 'em. Just because something doesn't appeal to me, doesn't mean it won't sell. As I said, time will tell.

This is all real entertaining, "X Star Blunder" You must be new, the X Star has only been voted Wakeboard Boat of the year for 2003,2004, and 2005 right here on Wakeworld, by YOU, the readers, NOT a Magizine(Powerboat which gives it to Malibu, when MasterCraft,Nautique, and Supra don't even parcitpate). The masses want a bigger wakeboad boat, the X Star is 22.5 feet long and 100" wide. It is 2 feet longer and 10" wider than the hull it replaced. The new CSX is a totally unique hull, they DID NOT use an existing hull, the whole boat is unique. For all you Tige fans, they must think the X Star is not a blunder, look for a new Tige twin tip at a Tige dealer near you soon, they splashed the X Star in the usual Charlie Pegion style.

this mystery tige` you speak of must be in the prototype stages. i have heard nothing of the sort. there wasn't even so much as a word spoken about it at the LA boat show.

I think it has leggs here in MI - the Great Lakes market. Thinking about it, the East Coast near shore and ICWW fishing crowd would do well with something like that. The market will decide.

There are quite a few families here in West Michigan with multiple boats and normally are brand loyal - except for the MasterCraft or other ski boat. Otherwise, they will have a Tiara/Pursuit, Four Winns, or Sea Ray in a CC and a cruiser. Why not attempt to tap into that market?

For all the ski boat companies, the biggest untapped market is salt water operations both here and in other countries. MasterCraft is simply ahead of the curve as compared to the other companies.

Some more pics

Sorry about the pics of the Bugatti, you cant say ud rather i didnt post them though.

I thought the mastercraft booth sucked. You couldnt see the new boat up close becouse it was on that stupid lift. The only other boat they had was an x star. No x 80 which is marketed at big water saltwater wakeboarders. No salt water series boats at the world largest boat show.

Nice pics of the Veron. Ok Ill take the black walley tender and pull it with the black and grey Veron

I dig the Mastercraft... Seems like it would be the prefect boat for the inter-coastal and the bays around where I live. You could ride in the morning when the water is flat, once the wind and the seas pick up ride around drinking beer and fishing for the rest of day... It would just be nice to not have to sit on your a$$ all day, looks like you can stand up and drive this one. I do agree with whoever said they wouldn't want to go offshore with it, probably has low gunnals (compared to most fishing boats), plus a single inboard, a little spooky. But hey what the hell do I know. Just nice to see someone doing something a little different…

"I thought the mastercraft booth sucked. You couldnt see the new boat up close becouse it was on that stupid lift. The only other boat they had was an x star. No x 80 which is marketed at big water saltwater wakeboarders. No salt water series boats at the world largest boat show."

Looks like it says SALT WATER SERIES on the side of the X-Star. Looks like it says SaltWater Series on the Banners on the wall. The 220 is a SALT WATER BOAT. I must be missing something here. Anyone read the same thing on the photos?
Are you in the Market for a $120,000 X-80? Did you talk to one if the 12 people there representing MasterCraft? C'mon

Well the 220 is a natique so that wouldnt be the mastercraft booth. I am not in a market for any boat I am only 16, but I no that there is a large amount of people at that show that can afford a $120,000 boat. Yes the x-star was a salt water series boat, but it was the only one that you could go in. The new boat was cool, but it would have been nice to see it on the ground where you could experience it up close. Maybe my words were a little harsh, but I was stating my opinion . I was also saying that at such a huge show I would have thought they would have brought more boats. Disagree with me if you like, but I was stating my opinion you can disagree with me, if you like. I am not gonna change my opinion and I think that there booth could have been better.

220 CSX...the boat on that stand that you did not like.