First Ride - 2014 Mastercraft Prostar

[Skoot1123]

Had an opportunity to ski a new 2014 Prostar this weekend - made a good weekend even better! A few things I don't get to do much is ski behind a new boat or ski on a boat with ZO. The conditions were a bit windy - probably 8-10 mph with a few gusts. I started skiing at -22 @33 mph (ZO - practice mode is awesome) because of the unfamiliarity with the boat and ZO. This pass felt easy - and what bump at -22?? Took the speed up to 34 mph and did two pases. The thought of a bump didn't even cross my mind. It was a "flat wake" and buttery soft. Upped the speed to 35 mph - now its just a matter of staying in the pass at the higher speed and working with ZO. Completed that pass and then went to 36 mph. Of course the wind gusts picked up and I didn't make the next two passes but was pleased to have skied behind the new Prostar.

 

Overall rating: very impressed. The lines on the boat are sleek, smooth, well executed. Fit and finish of the boat is impeccable. Entry/exit to the ski platform was fantastic - the sea dek material is awesome - and the floor had a removable "spongey" mat which was like a foot massage. The side ski rack was money as it keeps skis off the floor and out of the way. A removable plexiglass (?) wind screen was in the opening to the open bow - nicely done. Windshield design - looks stunning and very clean - modern.

 

Only spent 5 min in the boat and those were the first overall impressions.

 

This boat is at the top (tied with a Centurion Carbon Pro) of my next ski boat list.

 

Great job Mastercraft and @MarcusBrown‌ - among many others who contributed to this awesome ski boat!

[jcamp]

I've had two chances to ski behind the new Pro Star, once in practice and once in a tournament. I've now set boat my practice and tournament PBs behind that boat.

[Skoot1123]

@jcamp - yes, the pull was very nice behind the Prostar. I was "worried" about ZO just hammering me and it never did. I only felt the slingshot effect - which is not only awesome but just what I needed at the time. I ski B2 by the way.

 

In contrast I have had PP set up 30lbs (un-intentionally) over my weight and it beat me to shreds.

[6balls]

Had some seat time in @razorskier1's Prostar over the last week at his house, and also some time in a Txi pulling buoy skiers. The only things I like better about the Txi are that it had less rudder pressure than the Prostar and that the 350ss motor is crazy strong in the 'Bu. Bear with me...it's the only stuff I liked better and lots of things I consider equivocal and likewise fantastic for both boats.

 

Certainly not much wrong with a Txi but I found the seat too low, lack of lumbar support, throttle a bit too high, less intuitive dash and touch screen, the tilt steering I felt was too high on one setting but too low one setting lower. The boat doesn't seem to have all that much usable space even with the back seat out. The trunk is probably useful for daily life but creates a space to get over before finding the platform. The boats all went trunk for a while but in the end I prefer the Nautique side compartments or even better the Prostar ski racks...awesome feature. Really put 2 skis in per side and still have easy walk thru space on both sides of the motor box as if there were no skis there. I felt more of the motor's vibration in the Bu at idle as well. All of this stuff is fairly subtle but noticeable for me in one morning of driving the 'Bu for 3 different skiers who took multiple sets. The materials used are very nice but are not as high end as the Prostar. Probably sounds like I'm ripping the 'Bu but I'm not...helluva boat. If I hadn't just been in the Prostar...I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have noticed much of this stuff and would have thought the Txi was a nice step forward in many ways over the Lxi...which is true.

 

On first pass in the course the Prostar felt a little "greasy" in the back but after a few passes I felt like I had that working to my advantage and my guess is I was easier on the skier with a more gradual pick up out of the ball. Cockpit ergonomics are awesome. I could almost get in blind-folded and where my hands would naturally expect to find the throttle and wheel they are there. Site lines are awesome. The ZO/multi-function touch screen is great, the ski racks are fantastic and bimini set up was a snap. I'm sure no tourney boat in history has the kind of floor space as does the Prostar...just crazy and so easy to keep the boat tidy even with 3 or 4 skiers and their gear in the boat. Windshield design makes talking with the skier between passes very easy. The observers seat is really wide...I felt like a single observer sitting fully to port side was a long way from me in the driver's seat. You can also walk between the motor box and the driver's seat...something I've never seen in a top notch tournament inboard before. Materials seemed top notch throughout and I sure think the Prostar is sharp on the water.

 

The nose of the Prostar is low, and in a crosswind you can get some spray after kicking the skier out and coming to rest up onto the windshield. This can happen in slow speed work as well...I pulled a group of 4 young knee boarders and two very tiny knee boarders as well. I love a low bow as a driver, though, so no issue for me and actually preferred. Sea deck in the right places for no ski stepping into the boat with wet feet. Hard cover for open bow is cool, and I love the walk thru of the back seats...though we kept them out this week...25 people at Jim's house for a week all with kids; 4 behind the boat at times and it made more sense for no seats just now.

 

The prop change on Jim's boat made a huge difference. When I drove the 5.7 stock a few months back I thought it was mighty weak. With the current prop it's much improved...not as much power as this gear head likes but not an issue. Initial hole shot is actually pretty strong whereas mid-range acceleration to speed could still be better.

 

All in all a fantastic boat with the only niggles for me are I want the bigger motor and less rudder pressure...that's it. OK, I don't love the aesthetics of the steering wheel but function is fine. Given a guy could order the bigger motor and grind the rudder OR change holes in the rudder linkage(we didn't get around to it)...both of these are correctable.

 

Sorry, stream of consciousness here. Sweet boat.

[gregy]

@6balls‌ nice comparison. Neck must be doing well.

[CowboyTroy43]

My only complaint about the new prostar is that it doesn't have a cup holder for the observer on the side of the gunnel. It's seriously the perfect distance for a cup holder to be from the observer seat! Other than that, great boat and ideal wakes.

[skierjp]

The ski rack seems like a good idea but I'm not putting my 2k dollar ski in the rack to bake in the Florida sun. Probably a great option for weekend Wally's.

[oldjeep]

You have a ski that can't be in the sun?

[eleeski]

The trick wake sucks.

 

Skiable but just like the other crappy trick wakes out there. No trick PBs helped by the boat.

 

I hate to post negative comments but for trickers this boat could be a lot better. Am I turning into MS (196 fanatic) with the love of an obsolete boat?

 

Eric

[eleeski]

@oldjeep‌ No ski should be in the sun!

[Razorskier1]

My boat is never out during the heat of the day. We ski between 6:30 and 8:30 AM. Ski racks are awesome!

[Chef23]

I love the interior of the new Prostar and the space inside it. I agree with @6balls that the TXI gets to skiing speed much faster. This is true for the TXI vs the Nautique also. I am not much of a tricker but my son prefers the Malibu trick wake also (he really prefers the 197 trick wake).

 

I was fine with the drivers seat and positioning in the TXI but I spend a lot of time in Malibus. The drivers positioning in the 200 is great but the throttle is terrible. I wound up driving two long rounds last weekend and had a cramp in my hand by the end.

 

Regarding the ski racks I live on a lake but the course isn't right by our house. We drive out with 3 or 4 people ski 1-2 sets each and come in. For that kind of use the ski racks would be awesome.

 

If I was buying a new boat it would probably be the Mastercraft if money was no issue. I haven't spent a lot of time in the Centurion but I want an open bow so I ruled it out.

 

[6balls]

@gregy neck is ok, but I'm told no skiing til spring. Threw a lot of bean-bags and cards at Jim's though.

 

@cowboytroy33 I bet there is an automotive mod that could be worked there...had to do that for my M5 as the biggest complaint in that car was the lack of decent cupholders for driver and passenger. I would have to dig into it and sit in the boat with the old thinking cap on.

 

@skierjp you could still bag your ski and then put it in the rack. My ski sessions are not long enough for it to matter but if they were that's how I would use the racks.

 

@eleeski I defer to your judgement on high end trick wakes. We did, however, pull both of razorskier1's collegiate kids slalom tricking and at their level doing surface stuff and beginner wake tricks they were fine. Of the current big 3 (or 4) offerings do any have fantastic high end trick wakes? Erika Lang has done pretty well behind the Nautique setting recent records.

 

I would love to now spend some driving time in a SN200 in close proximity to driving a Prostar. If forced to pick right now without that extra time I'd take a Prostar with the big motor.