Saw pics, etc. of 2012 MasterCrafts

V8 Killer · Outlaw Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 207 City: Bridgeport

Was at the Texas MasterCraft dealer today. I got to see some (still secret?) pics of the 2012 models and hear about their new features, etc.

As of today, they will have 3 different tower options, all 2 point. WTF?? Why would you DOWNGRADE to a 2 point tower? My 2006 X-Star and my 2010 have a 4 point tower. I have no confidence a 2 point tower will hold my WetSounds. I have 4 Pro 80's and 2 485's which weigh a lot. My 2006 was a weak 4 point design. The 2010 is spot on with the extra reinforcement bars at the top rear, and a different sub-contractor is making the 2010-2011 towers and it shows.
Why would they discontinue the 4 point tower and not even offer it as an option?
I was told its because all their competitors have gone to 2 point towers so they are too. Again...WTF?!

The X-Star will be about 1.5 feet longer and have a lot more cabin space. The front bow will have arm rests.
All boats will feature yet another new gauge setup with a full touch screen, but IMO its in an awkward place (down and to the right of the newly designed, overly-blingy, split 4 spoke steering wheel.

The X55, X45, X25, and X15 (maybe others) are starting production next week. I'll get to drive an X45 in July. X-Star isn't done yet as the pro riders haven't signed off on the wake, so molding will be behind and very few 2012 X-Stars will be made. So if you want a 2012 X-Star, good luck and expect to pay closer to retail.

Overall, I'm disappointed. 1.5 feet longer means a new hull and a new wake. 2 point towers suck when you have 200-300 pounds in speakers like I have the last 5 years.

I'm hoping MC will see the light and continue to offer their current 4 point tower as an option. Maybe then I'll pick up a 2013 when mine is 3 seasons used and has 600 hours on it.

Just thought I'd share.

Dusty

Brit Rider · Posted: Jun 30, 2011 1:53 am Post subject:

Have you been up close to a Nautique 2 point tower? Those things are ROCK SOLID. I don't know of a more rigid tower... I've loaded them with 2 pair wetsounds, cargo bimini, stacks of gear and they've still been solid.

In order to make a 2 point tower work, the deck is built to a higher spec than that of your current boat therefre it's really not an issue.

IMO, as someone who made their living out of wakeboard towers for the last decade, I think 2 point towers are going to be the future.

PimpinD2 · Posted: Jun 30, 2011 4:20 am Post subject:

Mastercraft was sick of paying nautique for the 4 point patent.

Chattwake · Posted: Jun 30, 2011 4:36 am Post subject:

I agree that the nautique two point towers are rock solid. Many times I had a z5, 2 485's, four boards/bindings and three surf boards all on my 230 towers and I got absolutely no shake - even in chop. The FCT3 nautique tower was awesome and looked sick, but folded waaaayyyyy too high. The new FCT5 is ugly as hell, but is equally sturdy.

Also, the A22 tower is technically a two point tower. It is every bit as strong as the 230 tower. No shake at all loaded the same as my 230 towers were.

jjaszkow · Posted: Jun 30, 2011 5:57 am Post subject:

I agree with Chattwake. The two point towers that I have experience with (Nautique, Malibu and Axis) all seem to be really solid. My A22 tower rattled a bit when we first purchased the boat, but it was an easy fix ... just had to tighten a few nuts.

I'd be comfortable putting anything on a two point that has been installed on a four point. It seems that there has been a lot of R&D spent on the two point towers while the four points haven't seemed to change much (as far as sturdiness) over the past few years.

V8 Killer · Outlaw Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 207 City: Bridgeport

Well that's all good news. Glad to hear lots of positive feedback on the 2 point towers. I have ridden behind a 220, I assume the 230 has the same tower. Also been on 3 Malibus so I'm very familiar with their towers as well. None of them had their towers loaded with speakers like mine though, so I don't have experience there.

I'm an X-Star guy. Just like some of you are 230 guys and Bu guys. I don't want to change any more than you do. I've ridden behind enough of the nicest boats to know I'm very happy with my X-Star wake, and I'm not a pro and never will be. I love everything about the quality, options, look, resell value, etc. of my X-Star and want to stay a MC guy for life. I just don't want to see them, or Air Natique or Malibu, taking steps backwards. I felt the move to the 2 point is a move backwards, but I'll hold out hope they are doing it "right."

Cheers,

Dusty

Bambamski · Posted: Jul 04, 2011 6:25 am Post subject:

so MC is going with the dash off to the side of the driver kind of like the Tige set up? At the boat show I thought the Tige dash was probably the best set up going. I have the 4 point 06 tower and it's terrible. I have the wetsounds three some set up which sound amazing but weigh a ton and are too much for the tower. I've been trying to figure out if the side braces would work on my tower to help with the side to side stability. I'd have to get someone to weld them up or something though. I think MC 09 to 2011 towers are the best they've ever had. excluding the automatic folding tower which I've heard is a POS.

So they are coming out with the new Xstar for 2012 are they. I heard they had tried to bring the new Xstar out last year and it wasn't very good at all so they scrapped it. So the New Xstar is 23.5 feet long? Too big for me I guess...

V8 Killer · Outlaw Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 207 City: Bridgeport

Yeah the pics I saw had the dash to the right of the wheel and a little storage compartment to the left of the wheel.

My side-braced 2010 tower is amazing. 2 x 3-some WetSounds up there and no issues at all. My 2006 tower was junk and I had to re-weld it 3 times. They told me they changed manufacturers in either 2007 or 2008, I don't remember which...but good thing they did.

A couple of guys from TX MC showed up on my lake yesterday and we talked a bit more about it. They said likely another 18" longer and should be rated to hold 15 people instead of 12. But all that is still being finalized.

Hull is clearly a redesign since its longer and the pros haven't signed off on it yet.

txwakeboarder · Newbie Joined: 05 Jul 2011 Posts: 10 City: McKinney

Y'all need to check out the MB Sports towers. We have 2 485s, 2 rev8s, wakeboards, surf boards, a disco light, me, a tube on top, and diving board on 1 side and it's still solid. Well, the disco light and diving board are still is the design phases