Review: 2003 MasterCraft X-Star
Wake
The wake behind any given boat is another example of a feature that has a lot of personal preference attached to it. Some say bigger is better, but that's not always the case. The shape of the wake is very important. Some riders like a steep bucking style of wake while others may prefer a rampier, more forgiving style.
We did everything we could to turn this into an objective analysis by measuring the aspects of the wake that were possible to measure, height and width, and capturing video of the wake from both the boat's and rider's perspective. These tools will allow you to make your own evaluation of what goes on behind the X-Star.
As you'll see from the video (Quicktime, 9 MB), the X-Star wake falls into the rampy category. It's got an excellent shape that allows the rider to transition comfortably from their cut to the air. The wake does not buck, but provides a very friendly boost off the water.
As far as wake size goes, you'll find it to be one of the biggest available. The combination of shape and size makes this one of the most attractive wakes available. The fact that MasterCraft was able to get this wake out of such a large boat is a tribute to their design skills.
I would say that the most amazing thing about this wake is what happens when you double it up. I don't know why or how it works, but the wake seems to hold its shape much longer than most. Therefore, when the boat gets back around to cross the wake and converge it with another, the collision of both wakes is maximized. It is definitely one of the best double ups you'll see out of today's boats.
Although MasterCraft may have over-hyped it a bit when the first announcements about the X-Star came out, we found the wake to be one of the very best with an incredible double up to boot.
Wake Width
Our wake width measurement is approximate and is measured from the lip or highest point of the wake on each side. Wake width was measured at the end of a 70-foot line at both 20 mph and 23 mph.
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Speed
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Wake Width
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20 mph
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16' 6" / 5.03 meters
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23 mph
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11' 5" / 3.48 meters
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The rope attachment on the X-Star tower is 82.5" from the rear of the boat (transom). Despite the boat's added length over the 2002 model, the attachment is approximately one foot closer to the transom in the 2003 model, which essentially means the rider will be an additional foot back from the transom. We mention this because as you move further behind the boat, the wake gets wider. So having the tower sit farther back may require you to shorten your rope in order to stay at the same wake width. On the other hand, larger boats generally produce a wider wake, so this may be a factor as well.
Wake Height
Wake height was measured using a device specially built by WakeWorld, dubbed The Wakealyzer. The Wakealyzer measures the height of the wake from the bottom of the trough just outside the wake to the lip or highest point of the wake.
The wake height was measured at two speeds, 20 mph and 23 mph, and two rope lengths, 65' and 75'. We also tested with both the stock ballast, which consists of 850 pounds of water weight in three tanks, and with additional ballast over and above the stock ballast, which consisted of an extra 1,000 pounds of water weight in the rear and an extra 300 pounds of lead in the bow.
The 54-gallon fuel tank was ¾ full, weighing approximately 250 pounds, and there were three people on board that weighed a total of approximately 560 pounds.
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65-Foot Line
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75-Foot Line
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20 mph
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23 mph
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20 mph
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23 mph
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Stock
Ballast
(850 lbs.)
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Right Wake
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17" /
43.18 cm
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16" /
40.64 cm
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16" /
40.64 cm
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16" /
40.64 cm
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Left Wake
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17" /
43.18 cm
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17" /
43.18 cm
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16" /
40.64 cm
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16" /
40.64 cm
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Stock +
Added
Ballast
(2,150 lbs.)
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Right Wake
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20" /
50.8 cm
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18" /
45.72 cm
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18" /
45.72 cm
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18" /
45.72 cm
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Left Wake
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20" /
50.8 cm
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19" /
48.26 cm
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18" /
45.72 cm
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18" /
45.72 cm
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Wake Video
Click here to see the video (Quicktime, 9 MB) of the X-Star wake. We've tried to provide as many different looks at the wake as possible. The video includes shots of the wake from both the boat and from the rider's perspective. It also shows how the wake reacts when both low-end and high-end riders hit it. Finally, we give you a look at the double up. All video was taken at 23 mph.
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