Is x-star too much boat for a total newb?

[wickedgoodtrader]

I'm about to move onto a lake and am looking at picking up wakeboarding as a new hobby (never done it before). I used to snowboard a bit and have mainly stuck with skiing. Anyway.. I've read a lot about how the x-star just has the downright best and smoothest wakes. I realize this is the boat the best pros use, but is it also good for a beginner? Like with all things put aside (mainly money)... would a beginner have a better time learning on a boat like an x-star because the wake is better? Or is the wake just too aggressive for a beginner?

[joecarew3]

I dont have a star, I am a beginner and wish I had a star.

[Waterski-Marcoisland]

start with a used X1 or X2, it will be fine for a wake until you start doing more advanced inverts...

[vision]

The X-star is a great boat and can accommodate many rider levels. With minimal to no ballast it is not aggressive, large, but not steep.

But, it is a wide wake and this can frustrate new and experienced riders alike. It forces you to either ride at shorter lengths or faster speeds. The latter is not good when trying to learn.

I would likely look at an X-1 or X-15 as my first MC if I was learning to board. Smaller wakes with no ballast but capable of excellent larger wakes.

On the up side, used X-stars are common and therefore relatively less expensive compared to other used MCs.

[mccobmd]

I would agree with the X1. I have one and love it. It's not the best hang out boat but you can go wake to wake with it empty and with added ballast go as high and as far as you want. It's not for everyone but if you want a versatile towboat with great wakes it fits the bill perfectly

[Ole Miss Rebels]

unless you are wealthy and can afford to change boats unnecessarily i would go straigh to an xstar. i have had one for the past five years and everyone wants to board behind it. EVERYONE, even small children can ahndle the wake. it is wide but lots of boats have a wide wake now. the X1 has a much more narrow wake but it is much more abrupt and vertical. the X1 wake also has very little transition (ramp). you hit it and are in the air. the xstar has a long transition and you have time to balance yourself as you are going up the wake. i would get an xstar and never look back, again unless you are wealthy enough to not miss the hit you will take by buying a boat and soon after trading it.

[Eagle Lake Rebel]

Get the X Star. I learned to wakeboard behind one & so did my son when he was 8. It throughs a nice wake for any level of rider.

[sand2snow22]

Shorten the rope when you're learning or listen to Vision (and others) advice. How fast of a learner are you?

[wickedgoodtrader]

I feel I should learn faster then most. I'm not much of a tricks guy (ever since I busted myself up a couple times)... more of a big air guy. I'm sure once the big air gets boring I'll move on to tricks. If snowboarding or skiing jumps relate to wake board waves at all, I know I've always liked nice smooth launches that don't throw me all awkward. It sounds like that's what the x-star has got.

I also am looking to buy and hold... I don't normally flip things. Defenitly seem to be leaning toward the x-star.

[kgrove]

Agree with general sentiment - you can always tone down an X-Star for beginners. That said, let me play devils advocate...

There are other boats that have outstanding wakes as well and might be better choices for you based on a number of factors (and to be totally sacrilegious, some of them aren't Mastercraft). You need to throw everything out that separates the boats beyond just the wakeboard wake. Surfing? Skiing? How many people? Does your storage area limit your boat size? Does your tow rig limit the weight you would prefer? How much are you willing to spend?

If you aren't a dedicated, 100% pure wakeboarder, there might be other MC models that would end up making you happier than an X-Star. In fact even if you are a dedicated, 100% pure wakeboarder, there might be other boats you would like better than the X-Star (example: If I were in areas that frequently had rough water, I'd take an X-25 over and X-Star... or if I frequently had a dozen people on the boat with me, I'd take the X-45).

Don't get me wrong - love the X-Star... I'm just saying MC makes probably half a dozen boats with excellent wakes that might have other qualities that make it a better choice for your specific all round needs. And the boat that's a best fit for you as a wakeboarder may not be the right boat for the wakeboarder next door.

[Jerseydave]

Since you sound like a buy & hold type of owner, go for the x-star. I love mine, so do all of my friends! As said before, you can make the wake small or big, shorten the rope for beginners and for learning new tricks. I can even wakesurf for 5-10 minutes with proper weight on the port side. If you are in higher elevations, try to get the 6.0 or 8.1 liter unless your never intend to add extra ballast to it. My MCX does well here at sea level, but more power is always nice. Shy away from the '03-'04 as they do not have swivel board racks, and they used Clarion speakers and a throttle cable instead of Drive By Wire.

[Jeff d]

I think people get too caught up in analyzing wake shapes and width. Unless you're literally a pro I think you first need to consider your budget and passenger compartment size/layout needs first and let the wake specifications be secondary.

You can work around the width by adjusting rope length and lengthen it as your air grows. You can work around the size by adjusting ballast weight and front to rear balance.

Get the boat that you want then get out there and have fun on it and don't worry about your neighbor's wake being a few degrees steeper or narrower at 70' than yours.

And yes, getting air on a wakeboard is completely different than a snowboard. Yes there's obviously skill to getting and handling air on a snowboard but a kicker cut into the packed snow is going to launch you when you hit it whether you like it or not. A wake will not be the same. Until you learn how to edge and maximize "pop" you won't get much air even off of a large wake. If you're a big snowboarder look at Slingshot boards. They're constructed similar to a snowboard with a lot of flex and feel a lot closer to a snowboard on the water than a traditional rigid board. Their bindings are snowboard style too.

[Barritia]

There's really no perfect boat wake. Everyone prefers different styles. I have some friends who are sponsored and ride in local comps. They can ride behind any boat at any rope length and it not make any difference to their ability but when you speak to them about what they prefer most of them don't like the x-star wake but a couple do. You will get used to what you are ridding behind in no time.

[flashydubber]

I had the X-1 and ended up moving to the X-star. The main reason was the interior space and design of the boat... wake was a factor but the space and design was the main factor.

X-1 gets cramped when you have more than 4 people in the boat. also it is very sensitive to weigth distribution side to side.

[Ole Miss Rebels]

i will say it again. once you have ridden behind an xstar and are good enough to recognize the difference you will appreciate what you have. you will not be wishing you had done something differently earlier. you can learn technique, edging and everythin g else behind an xstar just as easily as behind any other boat and once you are a proficient rider you can start to maximize the xstar's capabililties. you can wakeboard behind a jetski, i do from time to time, but i always want to get back behind my boat as soon as possilble. you will never regret owning an xstar unless ou just get unlucky and get a lemon but you takie that risk with any boat. good luck and let us know what you get. contact me if i can help you with any questions about xstars. i have owned two over the past six summers and have gotten prety familiar with them and the upgrades that are worth it and those that are not worth it.

[PaulW]

Its wake is so smooth and does not have the lip at the top that can kick you off your approach. I am an older beginner and like the wake on the star the best out of the boats that I have ridden on. Its also has a solid wake. Some of the other boats that I have ridden on have a softer wake that you can punch threw if you’re not set up just right.
It’s not a ski boat though….

[nmcjr]

I would agree, if budget isn't an issue, go with the X-Star. As said, you can, and should tone it down to begin with. Go shorter and slower with less ballast. Avoid the temptation to go for it at full speed and full line length. Doing so will just cause you to learn bad habits that you will have to unlearn--I know from experience. Walking before you run will pay off in the long run but don't worry about it being too much boat etc.

[mccobmd]

I had the X-1 and ended up moving to the X-star. The main reason was the interior space and design of the boat... wake was a factor but the space and design was the main factor.

X-1 gets cramped when you have more than 4 people in the boat. also it is very sensitive to weigth distribution side to side.

I would agree about the sensitive wake. I think it's OK with 6 to 8 people but is cramped at 8.

[Ole Miss Rebels]

I would agree about the sensitive wake. I think it's OK with 6 to 8 people but is cramped at 8.

just for reference, i had a 1999 xstar (current X1) before i bought my '05 xstar. i loved that boat but it was cramped. it did handle better than the current xstar but only because it was considerably smaller. the wake could get big but was very vertical and abrupt. a great boat for all-purpose but it has a 90 inch beam vs a 100 inch beam on the current xstar. plus it is 2 feet shorter. that is a lot of area for a boat. the current xstar is much more boat for not a whole lot more money if you are buying used. good luck and let us know what you end up getting.