Malibu Wakesetter 247 LSV vs MasterCraft X-Star

[wakesk84life]

Hey guys and gals, my father and I are looking out to buy a new boat and we were looking into MC's and Malibu. I was wondering what you thought about those two boats and what you would suggest. We currently own a 19' Larson I/O but we've had an inboard before... decided to try an I/o and are looking to going back to inboards.

Thanks

Charles

[ty540]

Those are two pretty different boats. If you can answer the following questions I'll be able to give you better feedback as to which models you should be looking into (fyi: I work for a MC dealership, so rather than telling you which boat I think is best, I'll just try to point you in the right direction regarding the models that you should consider).

How many people will you usually be riding with?
What is the maximum number of people that you would like to accommodate (legally)?
Do you have lots of gear that will need to be stored on the boat, or will you always be riding from a dock?
What is your skill level?
Which watersports will you be focusing on? (What is your first priority in terms of wake size and shape?)
Are you on a lake, or will you be towing the boat long distances.

You get the idea.

[wakesk84life]

I am on both a lake and a river, and I am equipped to tow the boat elsewhere. I intend to use the boat for wakeboarding and I would consider myself intermediate.
12 people would be the most, and yes I do have alot of gear.

[Riddick]

I havent even looked at the 247, but i do know the x.star has a bunch of storage. It might get a little crowded with 12 people, but the wake should be very nice. After owning both the 23lsv and the x.star back to back, i personally think mastercraft builds a little better of a boat.

[JoeyJojo]

i'd give my right testicle for a 247 =( damn i love that boat

if you get the 247 will you take a testicle for it? right or left your choice!

[scott a]

If you're running 12 on average, then I'd go with the 247LSV. That Malibu is an absolutely ginormous boat. But take both of them out for a test drive and see which can gobble up your gear the best.

[wakesk84life]

[scott a]

If it comes down to the CC and the Malibu, your best bet is to demo them. The 247 is still going to be noticeably bigger, but what it's going to come down to is how comfortable you are with all your buddies in the boat, and with the wake, etc. Stuff like this can only be figured out when you're floating on the water on a nice warm day.

[J-Ro]

I don't think you can beat a 247 if you have 12 on average. You won't be disappointed.

[K-dub]

[ty540]

While you're at the MC dealership, you should take a peek at the following models:
X-15: smaller than the X-Star, but has more interior space, and I personally think that the wake has a better shape
X-Star
X-30: slightly bigger than the X-15, and is rated for 16 persons
X-35: also rated for 16 persons, and has an absolutely killer wake!

The X-45 has a good wake for wakeboarding, but it's not as good as the 35.

[scott a]

OMG don't forget the X-2! It's also got more interior room than the X-Star!


I'm not sure what the X-35 and X-30 are like interior-wise, but I'd never EVER want to be on an X-45 when it's got 16 people on it.

[wakesk84life]

Thanks for all of your advice, we're probably picking up the CC soon, we already had tested it and we love it. as far as interior space goes, we'll manage because 12 would be the max I would bring as far as safety goes so it's gonna be fine.

[ty540]

scott a,

Why not?

[K-dub]

ty540, because the X45 can only fit 16 13 yr old girls that barf right after they eat.

NO WAY that boat can seat 16 full grown adults. No matter what the MC faithful say.


A few months ago, we had 6 200lb guys on that boat, and without the bow seating (we were all in the cockpit((no pun intended)), that boat was small.) No way it seats 16. We were all up in each other's Kool-Aid. Period.

[scott a]

ty540, Have you been out on that boat? How many people did you have on the boat?

Why do I keep finding myself asking others if they've ever been out on the MC that they're talking up?

Same thing as K-dub. I was out on a product demo and me and 6 or 7 other people were sitting in the cockpit area wondering where the other 8 people would fit. Sure, you can probably squeeze 3 of them in the bow, but do you really want that? And how often does anyone sit in the bow? You're up there all alone sitting in the sun away from every one else with some speaker blasting at your knee. And even if you convince three people to sit in the bow, you still have to squeeze in a bunch of heads into the cockpit. Hmm...no thanks.

[ty540]

I seem to have hit a nerve. I don't understand why some people feel the need to come online and bash brands that they don't own (or carry, if you happen to be a dealer).

[K-dub]

18 people.....even proves our point even more. No way in hell you are getting 18 people in that boat. You'd be hard pressed to fit 10 comfortably. I said 16 earlier because that is what the 247 is rated for.


No nerves hit.
I've been working for an MC dealer for many many years....which btw, also carries Malibu. I do feel that what I am posting is legit.....no bashing, just stating facts.
If you feel that it isn't fact, then go find yourself a 247, and tell me that boat doesn't have more room than the X45....not happening.

[ty540]

[K-dub]

ty540, you can disagree all you want. I'm confident in knowing that you are wrong, and i'm okay with you having your own opinion on the matter. Make your point how ever you see fit, as will I.

Yes, I said it.....16 13yr old girls that have their finger for dessert. (In a non-bashing sense, of course)


Loosen up the neck tie. You might be able to breathe a bit better.

[ty540]

K-dub,

Why the animosity?

Do you really think the boat on the left can accommodate that many more people than the one on the right?

[K-dub]

sure do.


In REAL LIFE experience, I can say that the boat on the right does NOT seat as many adult bodies as the one on the left.

Your pictures mean nothing in this case.

Go get yourself a 247 somehow, and grab an X45 off of your lot, and go take them both out on the water. Then come back to me and tell me that you were right. I have done what I am talking about dozens of times since both boats came onto the market. And, can honestly tell you that the X45 has not seated as many people "comfortably" as the 247 has any time we have gone out.

I'm talking about REAL experience here....not just pulling this out of my ass like you seem to think I am.


Here's another real situation for you...to give you an exact feel for what I am talking about.
I had a group of customers last summer. 3 business partners to be exact, that were buying a boat together. They were looking at my 247, and X45 and another dealer's 236 Nautique. We went out to the water with all 3 boats on the same day, drove them all back to back. On the boat, we had, Me, Scott A., the 3 business partners, their wives, and 3 more of their friends. 11 people total. We did the 247 drive first. Everyone fit in the boat with enough room to spare for everyone to find their own spot and not be sitting on top of someone next to them. Next was the X45. No way was everyone comfortable inside the cockpit, so a few chose to sit in the bow. Next up was the Nauty....same thing, but as expected with a smaller boat. Not to mention the fact that the 247 and the Nauty drove circles around the 45, handling wise.
In their eyes, the 45 was out of the mix.....had me come back out the next weekend so they could drive the 247 and the Nauty again to make their decision.

They are now the proud owners of one of the nicest 247's that is in this area.
Didn't matter to me if it was the 247 or the X45....the $$$$ was still coming my direction. Get my point. No bias was there, and in the actual situation of trying to seat people in both boats, the 247 HAS MORE ROOM.


I don't know how else to spell it out for you.

[ty540]

Good for them. They chose the boat they liked the best. That's all I was ever trying to suggest in this thread. And I'm glad that you posted the story at the bottom of your last post. It gives potential customers a LOT more information than your posts above.

[K-dub]

ty540, i'm not the best typer in the world, so avoiding long posts is usually my style, but here it was needed I guess.

it was a painful type.