need advice: x-star vs nautique 230

I started wakeboarding this summer and just became crazy about the sport.

I bought myself a 2007 x-star in july and really like it. Problem : my boat was stole at the end of september.

Im now looking for another boat. Was pretty sure to buy another x-star but im confuse now cause i heard pretty good stuff about the N 230.

Also my MC dealer want to sell me his x-star 09 new but with the 350 hp motor. I had the 400hp in my previous X. Heard bad stuff about that smaller engine not being powerfull enough for size of the boat.
In resume 2 questions:

1- X-star vs N 230
2- engine 350hp vs 400 hp

Thank you in advance for advice

The boat choice has to be your preference. Take out the Nautique and see what you think. I think most people would tell you the MCX 350 motor is a safe bet and more popular than the 400 hp. It is bullet proof. It is definitely powerful enough. Most of the power nowadays is based on your prop

^^^^^Agreed.

Both boats put out a great wake, but ultimately the choice is up to you. A lot of my decision would be based on the relationship you have with the MC or Nautique dealer.

The 230 has a 5 year warranty and comes standard with the 6.0 L with closed cooling system. Also check out the ez rear storage and engine excess.
Get the Titan or fct3 tower they both come down in seconds and are solid.

How much weight are you going to run. If you are going to load it down you will miss having the 400hp.

This is a great dilemma to have...Enjoy it

I agree with Nick, I have only ridden behind the 400 horse version though. I have been told many times(from people with much more experience in X stars than myself) that if you are running lots of weight you need the 400hp motor. It's been rumored that this (400hp motor) is the common setup for the Florida boys, please correct me if I am wrong.

The 230's wake is MACKIN when heavily weighted... One of the best wakes I have ever ridden.

I believe Travis use to run the MCX in his and loved that engine even with a lot of weight. I think I remember him posting that he really likes the LY6 now.

The boats are so different in every aspect other than they are both really nice boats that produce top notch wakes. The 230 is a beast inside the cockpit. The Xstar is still the sexiest boat on the water when dumped though.

Demo,Demo,Demo.

Spend as much time as possible in both boats and then make a decision.

I have the smallest engine in my 07 xstar the 310 hp I reproped and run 4500 pounds and have had no issues the rtp motor has gave me no problems, and the x star is the best looking boat on the water. Go with the better deal beat up both dealers get the best bang for your buck. Enjoy both are sick .I would buy the x star.

Wow, you are the first person I have ever heard of that has the RTP in an Xstar. The motor has pretty much the same low end torque as the MCX so I guess it can work.

The torque curve on the MCX and the LY6 is the same up to 3200RPM, which means the LY6 will pull a little harder torque wise than the MCX.

If you have the right prop with the MCX, you won't even notice the difference. I am pretty sure that the boat that T-MO had before the Bandit had an MCX and pulled the pro-tour set-up without issue. Call the boys at OJ and tell them what you are running and they will get you dialed. The MCX is bulletproof.

Don't know much about the 230, other than getting to ride behind Murdawgs and the wake was awesome, but a different shape than the X. Both nice boats, good luck.

Ive ridden a slammed 230 with a ton of people in it and the wake was the most amazing wake I have ever ridden. I was huge, but you could still really charge it and it just felt great. Wish I had your problem

"I was huge, but you could still really charge it and it just felt great"

Hee hee...

Okay carry on.

ya the rtp mcx and the ly-6 all have pretty close to the same low end torque if you reprop you will be fine. Lets face facts most of us dont need over 4000 pounds of wieght in are boats.

Forget the X-Star and the 230, just throw a tower on it and you are set...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KAYOT-PONTOON-2-5-ltr-I-O-28-FT-PROJECT-BOAT-TRAILER_W0QQitemZ320444440739QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPo wer_Motorboats?hash=item4a9bfa20a3

haha....they should just try and sell the trailer seprate, theyd get more out of it than the pontoon

(Message edited by highrock on November 05, 2009)

Choose what people on this website have voted #1 wakeboard boat for 7 years in a row.
The "XStar".

I would demo both they are both unique in their own way and you may find you love certain things about the 230. There are not that many riders that need a tone of weight and a X-star will throw a good wake stock but one with a pro tour system is sick, the wake is a whole new monster and it is scary fun to hit. I have been in a LY6 with pro tour ballast and it struggles a little to get on plane.

IMHO, the 230 interior leaves a ton to be desired. I recently spent months comparing the 23 and 24 footers trying to decide which to buy. The 230 ended up last on my list out of the Malibu 23LSV (and 24 LSV), Mastercraft x45 and xstar, Supra 24ssv, and the 230. I thought the 230 had the smallest interior (which was big to me), the lowest freeboard, and was the worst in the rough water. The wake was nice but so were all the others (in their own ways). I'm sure I will get flamed for saying this but I am amazed at all the hype about the 230. When starting my search, I assumed I would end up with a 230 so it was even more perplexing that it ended up last on my list.

buy the x star

the 230 interior is off the hook. the interior is HUGE. rear facing seats are great. and mine handles rough water like a champ. FYI.

It is amazing how two different people can see things so differently.

Tro, what did you own before the 230 and what did you look at before buying it?

first boat. i looked at a few X-30's and malibus and some 06/07/08 x-stars. but i was really looking at 21 footers like the vlx, x-star and the supra so i guess i'm thinking the interior is huge compared to those. obviously it is. either way, the 230 has a TON of room for me and i can load it down with people and gear for an entire day.

When comparing between the X-Star and the 230 the 230 will have a huge interior compared to the X-Star. Rear facing seats are only one of the great features I like in my nautique, it makes everything easier except getting around in my 210 when the seats turned around. Its really nice for pics, videos, and when you have several friends in the boat who like to watch.

I water tested a bunch of boats before buying and the 230 will have a better surfing wake if that is something you are interested in. The X-star might get a better wake with a ton of weight in it. Just another thing to consider.....

thats the first time I've every heard anyone say that a 230 has a low freeboard.

compared to thoese boats (24ft and the 23lsv) yes the 230 will have the smallest interior. I still prefer the rear facing seats. But my boat is strictly a wakeboarding boat. I never have more that 4 riders at any time.

btw, wasnt trying to dis any of the boats. they area all money. My buddy has an lsv and its just sick. xstars are killer too. I really like the new crop of bigger boats.

230 all day long. I would choose x-star second tho.the 230 had the best wake i have ever ridden... Look at the thread called mastercraft x-star. Baisically we debated this over like 100 posts. And I posted some pics of the 230 wake

Ok, I just got home and checked my boat notes (I'm an anal boat shopper so I logged everything). I actually ruled out the x-star first because it had the smallest interior (which makes sense since it was the smallest boat of all I looked at). See my post above for all boats I checked out. I was really not very interested in the x-star because we were looking for a big boat (23 or 24 footer). So the 230 is indeed bigger inside then the x-star (as it shuold be because it is a bigger boat).

The 230 was the smallest interior with the lowest freebord of all the 23 & 24 footers I looked at. That is what I was remembering and I transposed it onto the x-star - oops. Anyway, I ruled out the 230 first (out of the 23 & 24 foot boats I looked at) because of the ride, low freeboard, interior size, and wierd interior setup (wierd to me and my purposes and opinions - not trying to bash or offend 230 owners).

From my notes:
230 has 4" less freeboard then the 23LSV and X45 and 5" less then the 24ssv and 24lsv.
230 has 10 sq ft. less interior room behind the window then the 23 lsv and x45. 230 is 21sq ft smaller then the 24lsv.
I don't have the specs on the 24ssv but I wrote that I thought the 24ssv seems way bigger inside (I had the 24ssv and 230 side by side so I was able to jump in and out of both).
I also wrote the 230 had the smallest wake of all (all tests were done with stock ballast). just my 2 cents.

I have to say the 23 LSV is huge for a 23 footer - easily as much room as the other 24 footers. The 24 LSV is in a class all its own - it is HUGE inside.

back to the task at hand - I would still get the 230 over the x-star though for room. I never tested the x-star wake since I ruled it out on size alone.

(Message edited by tre on November 06, 2009)

(Message edited by tre on November 06, 2009)

so better question is this. You owned and xstar. did you not like it? Did you like it? What did/didn't you like? I have an 04 MCX, roll with 2,500-3K propped down to 14.5x14.25. I do not think anything compares, period. It is the only boat specifically designed for wakeboarding. My opinion is pretty obvious.

I've rolled an 04' X-Star with Pro Tour Kit (plus a little more) and an MCX, propped right its a great pull and actually what the PWT ran until 2007 or so. I'd prolly run a 14.24x14 prop on it if you are running beyond stock ballast.

I've never ridden a 230 so I can't comment on it.

"it is the only boat specifically designed for wakeboarding. My opinion is pretty obvious."

Not true the only inboard designed from the ground up to be a WakeBoard boat is an Epic.

I think CC was the first to build a wake specific hull. I think in the late 90's they offered it on the Air Nautiques.

The Star was built on an AP-1 hull which was and is wake specific.