Despite its relatively short overall length when compared to the rest of the boats in this roundup, the MasterCraft X23 has one of the longest waves out there. The height is there as well, but the X23 really shines when it comes to a huge pocket size.
The wave has a more mellow curl at the front and gets more vertical as you move back, and then it culminates in a nice big lip at the end of the pocket. We can’t stress enough how big the pocket is on this beast. MasterCraft has plenty of other boats that surf well, but we picked the X23 because it hits a sweet spot between length, ballast, hull design and surf system characteristics that give it a truly solid surf wave.
When MasterCraft was designing its Gen 2 Surf System, it was important to the company that it produced something that would create symmetrical waves on each of its models. With this in mind, MasterCraft engineers created unique tabs for each side of every different model, the result being two different tabs for the back of the X23, neither of which is identical to any other hull in the lineup. This generates equally powerful and nearly identical waves from one side to the other, which is important when you’re transferring, or if you just regularly surf both sides of the boat.
The driver controls the Gen 2 Surf System from the dash through the touch screen. The boat does all the work, which is fantastic because it takes all the guesswork out of creating a wave. The X23 has unique rear storage access that’s perfect for surfing. The rear-facing seats at the transom are great for lounging, but they also flip up so you can stick your board directly into a compartment after your set so it doesn’t get dinged.
Top-Notch Trait: MasterCraft is a legacy inboard V-drive company that’s been building very successful tow boats for years, so when it set out to engineer a purpose-built surf boat from the tips of the tracking fins to the top of the tower, the X23 was sure to be something special. This boat has too many surf-specific components to mention in this review, but suffice it to say, the whole unit is designed to give you a great surf experience whether you’re riding, spectating or driving.
Stats: The X23 has unique rear storage access that’s perfect for surfing. The rear-facing seats at the transom are great for lounging, but they also flip up, allowing you to stick your board directly into a compartment after your set so it doesn’t get dinged.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Length | 22’9” |
| Beam | 102” |
| Dry Weight | 5,500 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity | 57 gal. |
| Seating Capacity | 15 |
| Standard Ballast | 2,447 lb. |
| Max Ballast | 3,040 lb. |
| Standard Power | 365 ft-lb. |
| Maximum Power | 524 ft-lb. |
