Which one??

Been on the hunt for a boat for my friend.. Found these two.
2005 Mastercraft x-2 with 130 hrs on it
2006 centurion cyclone c4 storm series with 300 hrs on it.

I currently own a nautique and have owned a mastercraft. I have never seen a centurion or rode in one so I would like some opinions. I would like to find him a nautique but a nice one is out his price range. Have 30k in cash looking to buy. Thanks

The Centurion will cut through chop much better than the Matercraft but the wake is more consistent in the MC. Also the MC will have an easier resale.
If the X-2 was stored properly then it is the one I would pick. It has spent most of it's life stored.

Thats what I was thinking about the resale.. MC will hold its value

If you wakeboard at all or want anyone to wakeboard under 22mph, get the MC, that hull is money

I have owned both boats and put them through the ringer . Here's my take

As far as wakeboarding the biginner , intermediate and advanced wakes are all almost identical in shape and transition except for the Cyclone having a bit peakier lip. The Cyclone surfs noticeably better . It has more push and a much longer pocket. It also handles chop and rough water like a knife through butter. The ride is amazingly smooth for an inboard. The cockpit is much more roomy and the storage is little bit more . The Cyclone also has a great slalom wake and a surprisingly flat barefoot table for a v drive. The Cyclone needs the optional Hydraulic Bennett trim tab , if it doesn't have it forget the boat. It's mandatory for sure.


The XStar is a proven wakeboard machine . The difference is the Cyclone maxes out on wake at a point. The XStar just keeps taking weight and really gets to that pro caliber specimen everyone is in search of. That will come at a cost though. You will loose the bow area or the entire walkway dies to needing sacs to get there. If you comparing wakes at the intermediate - advanced level all the weight can be hidden in the Cyclone because it requires a little less weight. The XStar still needs a sac in the bow in the open. The vinyl and finished product attention to detail wise is a step up in the Xstar for sure. XStar surfs ok. The pocket is short . Skis very well

All in all it depends on your priority. If you're looking for a pure wakeboarding machine there is no doubt the XStar is that boat. It your looking for a cruising boat , with a bit more roomier cockpit that wakeboards well with a decent intermediate- advanced wake the Cyclone is it. It really boils down to what you're looking for. People will flame for this comment but I have been to both factories and watched each build boats during this era. The reverse shoebox construction , ICS beams , and smooth gelcoat lines are right ion par with anything from MC. The difference comes in the accessories. The vinyl is better , the stereo stuff is better, , the tower and chrome racks were much more detailed on the MC. That's where the difference comes in. Both boats have taken their hits price wise . The MC has a much wider sales base, but if you're on the west coast, centurions have a huge following are never a problem to move

The Cyclone is a great boat. Both have already plateau'd in terms of resale. The big win for the Centurion is the gel coat cockpit floor. He already put down SeaDek too. Both are running Chevy 350 blocks. If the MC has the MCX vs. Centurion's Black Scorpion, you'd get an extra 20hp. All depends on what options you have. Centurion is a very solid manufacturer that has the same quality as MC, Malibu and Nautique.

Its not a pickle fork x2, so i would def get the centurion. The x2 is also a smaller boat, so as for resale, i think you have a better chance of selling a larger boat for the same money and the surf market has (obviously) become the main focus, I would drive them both, see what you like.