MasterCraft Boats for Sale

MasterCraft Boats: what to know

MasterCraft have been building tow boats in Tennessee since the mid seventies and are one of the two names most people shortlist when they want a wake. The X series is the surf and wakeboard line, the NXT is the shorter-optioned one that costs less, and the ProStar is the direct drive built for slalom skiing rather than surfing.

What to check before you buy

• Work out which line you are looking at before you compare prices. An NXT and an X of the same length and year are different boats with different equipment.
• Ask which generation of the surf system it has. The later ones move the wave from side to side without anybody changing seats, and that is the feature people miss most when they do not have it.
• Hours matter more than years on any tow boat. Under 500 is low for a boat five years old or more.
• They hold their value well, which cuts both ways: a used one is rarely a bargain, and the one you buy will not fall off a cliff either.

Common questions

Is a MasterCraft better than a Malibu?

Neither is better in the abstract and people are loyal to both. Malibu's surf system has been well regarded for longer, MasterCraft's interiors and helm are often preferred, and the wave each throws is a matter of taste. Ride both before deciding, because the difference is one you feel rather than read.

What is the difference between an X series and an NXT?

The NXT is the shorter-optioned line: less standard equipment, simpler interior, a smaller price. Both surf well. If the budget matters more than the toys, an NXT is not a compromised boat, it is a plainer one.

Are MasterCrafts expensive to maintain?

They are inboards, which are simple and long lived, so routine servicing is not unusual. The expensive parts are the ballast system and the electronics, and both are cheaper to inspect before buying than to discover afterwards.