G23 Versus Xstar

[perry386]

I never really wear owner glasses, I've been around watersports all of my life and have seen the good and bad from every boat manufacturer.

Generally there are years when CC will have the latest and greatest and there are years when they are behind the times. With the G series wakeboats and 200's for water skiing I can say that Nautique is currently serving up the best wakes in the business. Prior to the G series I felt the MC and Bu were much better wakeboats for most of us than anything from Nautique. I would expect it to take a few years for MC, Bu, and the rest to answer but they will. Wakeshaping is here to stay, versatility to have a boat that can be programmed to serve up different wakes for different levels and different sports is where the industry is going. Ballast only wake tweaking is history.

So you would argue that a 23LSV has a better wake than a 230????

[biggator]

So you would argue that a 23LSV has a better wake than a 230????

No way.. I just traded my LSV for a G.. part of the reason I went over to Nautique was always riding on lion90's 230 (that he just traded in for a G). His wake was WAY better than my LSV.

[Nordicron]

If you ever find yourself in Chicago area please hit me up come take a session on our G23!

I'd make a special trip from Madison to Chicago any day if it involved a pull behind the G!

Was at dealer on Tuesday and totally checked it out top to bottom. Such a nice boat! Can't believe how deep it is. If it wasn't for the 6 figures I'd have traded the 210 in that day!

[MattieK27]

Im not here to bash any one but yesterday at the chicago boat show they have the X-star set up next to use (nautique) and that is one UGLY boat. finally got to play around in it and for a 24 foot boat there is more room in my 210. there is a switch that says left right and one that says up down. i asked about it and they said its for the wake plate (up down) and the surf tabs (left right) but they said they do not offer surf tabs on the xstar they just put that in there because its on every boat. WHHHHHAAAAAAT! witha 160k price tag you better no have useless buttons in the boat. There was just a lot of "fluff" that was useless in the boat and made it look terrible. the flip around seat handle is on the top to when you are walking into the boat bare foot you can trip on it and bash your head on the tower that sits back way to far! i will update with photos. i cant say anything about their wake but from a user stand point they got a C - on the Xstar. if you really want to go with a mastercraft look into the X10!

I was at the show yesterday, and I would like to consider myself unbiased. (Nautique fan, MC owner)

To me, if I was spending the money, the G23 is simply a much better boat. More thought to the interior, more space, and more features that make a day on the water easier. I disagree that the G23 looks better, as it looks a bit bloated standing next to it, but by no means is it ugly. I like the looks to the Xstar a bit more, but not enough to outweigh the numerous advantages I saw on the G. I think Nautique won this round by a comfortable margin.

Anyone in the market needs to look at these two side by side. That's the easiest way to decide.

[biggator]

I was at the show yesterday, and I would like to consider myself unbiased. (Nautique fan, MC owner)

To me, if I was spending the money, the G23 is simply a much better boat. More thought to the interior, more space, and more features that make a day on the water easier. I disagree that the G23 looks better, as it looks a bit bloated standing next to it, but by no means is it ugly. I like the looks to the Xstar a bit more, but not enough to outweigh the numerous advantages I saw on the G. I think Nautique won this round by a comfortable margin.

Anyone in the market needs to look at these two side by side. That's the easiest way to decide.

It seems that all the comments about how bulky it looks are always made when on the trailer or in a boat show... I find that it doesn't look 'big' when in the water. It just looks MEAN. Less Italian sports car and more classic muscle car.

[Andrew14]

^^^Agreed. The G looks very different on the water compared to how it looks on the trailer or on a boat show dolly. Our local dealer had one out in the line-up at our last local wake tournament and I passed it in my 2008 210....it didn't look bloated or bulky at all. It sits really nicely in the water....probably looks even better when its ballasted up.

[Mikeski]

So you would argue that a 23LSV has a better wake than a 230????

Good question but unfortunately I have not spent any time in a 230. My buddies 23LSV has an amazing wake but it took a ton of weight on top of the factory ballast to get that way (literally an extra 2000lbs). Pushing that much wake it takes a solid 30 seconds or more to plane out. So long that I try not to fall so I don't need to wait through another slug start, and this is boat is running an Acme 1235 prop (14.5 x 14.25). Once up it does throw an amazing wake. My info probably does not really apply to 2010-2012 boats but my point was that the G still seems to be the best wakeboat going. We are in a period of time where Nautique seems to be ahead of the curve and it did not seem that way before the G arrived.

[Nautiquehunter]

I went to the Atlanta boat show yesterday the G and the Star were about 50' away from each other. The Star was a good looking boat but that was where it ended the inside area was smaller than my 210 . There had to be at least 3' of wasted space in front of the bow seats . No way you can call it a 24' boat more like a 21 or maybe 22' at best. No power towers were shown are they having more problems with them? And what were they thinking with that hump in the walk through?
Looks like a tripping hazard waiting to happen. As for price you can get a loaded G25 [ a real 25' boat]for less than the star.

[perry386]

but you said that prior to the G MC and BU were better. 230 hasn't changed since 2008.

[jbach]

I was at the show yesterday, and I would like to consider myself unbiased. (Nautique fan, MC owner)

To me, if I was spending the money, the G23 is simply a much better boat. More thought to the interior, more space, and more features that make a day on the water easier. I disagree that the G23 looks better, as it looks a bit bloated standing next to it, but by no means is it ugly. I like the looks to the Xstar a bit more, but not enough to outweigh the numerous advantages I saw on the G. I think Nautique won this round by a comfortable margin.

Anyone in the market needs to look at these two side by side. That's the easiest way to decide.

i 100%, whoeheartedly agree. i was at the nashville boat show yesterday. i agree with the other comments that the G looks somewhat bloated on the trailer. but the G is hands down a better booat from top to bottom. there is tonns of wasted space in the x-star. the only think i liked about the xtar was the carbon fiber style of vinyl. even my buddy who owns an 06 xstar commented how he wouldn't even connsider an x star after going through them both side by side. fit and finish is no comparison. and the boat show price differences were negligible between the two if i recall.

[wakeboarder3780]

The G will be a more mellow and much longer transition, way taller/beefer, with a "kick" at the top. It's not as steep or as abrubt as the 230, but it's got just as much buck at the top. If you want to a visual of the G23 compared to the 230 check out this video. All riding was behind my SAN G23 and SAN 230. The :57 sec and 2:09-2:27 marks (along with a few other spots) are behind the 230 - fully weighted w/ 5000 pounds of ballast, the rest is done behind the G23.

ironj in this video did you have any additional ballast in the G23? If so, how much extra and where did you put it? The wake looks amazing! I want to take notes so if I own this boat a few years down the road I can simply do what you did. If no extra ballast how many people were in the boat? Also if you don't mind, what engine / prop option was on the G23 and did it take a long time to get on plane? Most videos I've seen so far have taken the G23 a full 30 seconds (or more) to get on plane. Please let me know! Wake looked great!

[V8 Killer]

My first real boat was a brand new 2006 X-Star purchased in April 2007.
I bought a new 2010 X-Star in April 2010.
I admit to being a MasterCraft fan-boy, to some degree. Enough that I "wish" the X-Star were the better new boat, and if it were 55/45 in favor of the G23, I'd probably get a 2013 X-Star.

Yet, here I find myself, this <.> close to ordering a G23. I have my final quote, picked the colors, etc. They don't even want a deposit at Buxton Marine for the G, while TXMC wants 10% down despite the fact I've bought 2 new X-Stars since 2007.

I went to the Pro Tour at TXMC, sat in both X-Stars, spent an hour with MC technicians. I've spoken to many people, including people that work at TXMC and 2 people that ride/teach for Brian Sasser, a TXMC salesman and big instructor in DFW. Every...Single...Person (minus 1 blind nutswinger) has told me to get the G23. Many said it with a whisper, but its been said over and over.

I'm about to drop a lot of money - again - on a boat I'll likely keep about 3 years and put about 600 hours on. I ultimately just want the best boat. And despite the desire of my heart, the logical choice seems to be 1 final visit to Buxton to sign some papers.

My decision has been a difficult one, but mainly because its not turning out like I had originally hoped/expected. But I tried to go into this with my eyes wide open, and I just can't see myself being as thrilled in a 2013 X-Star as a G23.

Best of luck,

Dusty

[Nordicron]

v8 Just wondering if you've ridden both boats yet? Also how far apart are the prices on both boats? Also if you have ridden them how did each compare to your star wakes?

Oh and if it were me I'd opt for the G also

[ironj32]

ironj in this video did you have any additional ballast in the G23? If so, how much extra and where did you put it? The wake looks amazing! I want to take notes so if I own this boat a few years down the road I can simply do what you did. If no extra ballast how many people were in the boat? Also if you don't mind, what engine / prop option was on the G23 and did it take a long time to get on plane? Most videos I've seen so far have taken the G23 a full 30 seconds (or more) to get on plane. Please let me know! Wake looked great!

This video was shot with both just stock and extra weight. You really cannot tell a difference in the height of the wake with extra weight...the reason we add weight is because it makes the wake harder. Extra weight setup is about 650 in each rear compartment (Pro XSeries Rear Seat Sac)...I have it slid forward a bit so there is about 450 far back and 200 under mid ship seats. Put 200 under each bow seat (XStar Pro Tour bags) and then 375 pound Pro X Tube Sac in the bow walkway.

[V8 Killer]

v8 Just wondering if you've ridden both boats yet? Also how far apart are the prices on both boats? Also if you have ridden them how did each compare to your star wakes?

Oh and if it were me I'd opt for the G also

Rode and drove a G with Andrew from Buxton Marine. I've had several opportunities to ride the X-Star but nothing has worked out. They even gave me one for the day 7 weekend ago on a beautiful Saturday. My lady had gone to town at 8am to get a few things and would up rolling her truck 1.5 times on the way to town. She crawled out with her life from a wreck that should have put her in ICU. So I've missed my opportunities to ride the 2013 X-Star.

My 2010 X-Star, sacked out, has a huge wake and rides great. I honestly have a great boat in great condition with few flaws. My boat is truly in better shape than most boats with 150 hours on them.
The reasons to get a G are that I try to get a new boat every 3 seasons, and because the G/new X-Star are next generation and I can't deny both have some features I would like.

Prices are closer than I expected after I put the options I want on both boats, but the G is still more expensive (and I was always told it would be).