How good is the 2014 ProStar?

[Horton]

well Nate ran 5 @ 41 and Asher ran 5.5 @ 41 first round in cold water and 60 degree air. you figure it out

[ForrestGump]

Oh so close. Willy needs to step it up next round!

[jedgell]

How is it to drive? Does it track like the 200? Or more like a CP? The wake looks awesome.

[cwillygood]

somewhat convincing

[ral]

OK. Here come the dislikes and ban...

 

To me, the fact of Nate and Will running that does not tell anything about how good the boat is.

 

I am not expecting it to be worst than the 197, and they can run the same on that one as well. It just tells me that the lake where it took place is good, especially compared to where the World Games took place.

 

I do expect the boat to have a better wake than the 197, especially at longer line lengths, and to have a better handling and driveability. The fact of a lower engine and pylon would certainly mean the second, and I am pretty sure that the extensive research done by slalom skiers will yield a far better wake.

 

To me, keys here are wakes, driveability, fuel consumption and price. The 197 is excellent for jump and tricks, better than the SN200, as per what world class skiers tell me. For sure wake and handling for slalom are worst than the SN200. If this new boat gets at the same level or better than the SN200, I think it is a big thing for the sport as they are the official IWWF boat. If the price is not crazy, this will be good for the sport.

 

 

[SkiJay]

Predator is not PB friendly at the best of times. With it's cold, high mineral content water and a shallow, rocky bottom, it's as if it was designed to be as hard to ski on as possible. Today, it was so cold that Nick Parsons wore a dry suit and a portable hot tub was towed onto the site to thaw out chattering Floridians.

 

While everyone expects Nate and Will to post great scores, it seemed like a lot of other skiers were posting better than usual scores for big events at Predator Bay too. The weather wasn't helping, so maybe this new boat is.

[liquid d]

@ral, nobody had any difficulty with 15 or 22....must be fine.

[Garn]

I don't like how the front windshield ends without coming further around.

[E_T]

@scotchipman I believe that is correct. The windshield shown on the 2014 has been a option for a few years now @garn

[Horton]

the windshield is different but it is really nice.

[ForrestGump]

That windshield has been optional on the 214V/X14 for the last couple of years.

[Wish]

Not a question for me so much being in FL but does that windshield keep the wind and cold air of the north off your body head and arms or does it rap around. That actuarially would be good here but thinkn the northern folks may want to know one way or the other.

[ForrestGump]

I'm actually more excited about our '14 ProStar coming in, than our '14 200.

[jdarwin]

@ShaneH - I will be coming down when you get it!!

[swc5150]

@shaneh

How soon do you expect yours? Is an Oct delivery possible?

[ForrestGump]

@swc5150 from what I understand, they will take the first orders the first week of October. Dealers have production slots committed right now, but not detailed orders in. With a first order of October 3rd or something like that, you can figure first boats will ship 6 weeks later. I think Charles told me our first prodution slot for a ProStar had it shipping early December.

[brody]

I posted this elsewhere, but I talked to a friend who skied it today in the pro shoot out, she is not sponsored but trains behind a 200. her opinion is that it is way better than the 197 and skis like the 200.

[The_MS]

IMO never buy a first year boat. Things will change and you will want the changes that are made.

 

[swc5150]

@MS

I couldn't agree more

[gregy]

@scotchipman yea it be tough settling for a first year boat but I'd be willing to give it a and tough it out, TXI or new Prostar. LOL. Just gotta win the lottery.

[The_MS]

Lots of examples out there on first year boats.

I think the 99 or 2000 MC needed the Hook added.

2003 CC 206 had a week frame and when it was put on a trailer, the boat would flex.

97 196 changed up the rear of the boat.

 

[JC McCavit]

Is the new MaterCraft certified to pull tournaments? If Will or Nate would have broke the record would it have even counted?

[ForrestGump]

Boat tests aren't until the fall. It's common practice for the AWSA to grant exceptions for new models. The TXI pulled the Malibu Open in August, 2 1/2 months before the boat tests.

[The_MS]

IWSF

[JC McCavit]

@ShaneH -Thanks, When the guys including myself have to work this hard to find somehting to dislike about the boat, it says a lot about the effort the MasterCraft Team put into the design. I like it.

[ForrestGump]

@MS The IWWF/IWSF uses the AWSA approved boat list.

 

My pleasure, JC. Me thinks its going to be a good boat!

[ForrestGump]

@bananaron The same thing was said in late 2009 when the 200 came out. And the 200 has consistently sold all production slots that CC has had available every year even though it was $10k more than it's predecessor. In the case of the PS, it's pricing is staying pretty flat relative to the boat it's replacing. MC will sell out their entire production run for 2014 even though they will only have 2/3 the time frame of a normal model year.

 

Also, teak platforms have always been optional on the entire mastercraft line. The composite is standard.

[Texas6]

Does anyone know if MC is going to do a TT boat with the new Prostar? As dialed in as that boat looks, I can't imagine what would differentiate it, but curious nonetheless.

 

[Horton]

How about a Baller edition?

[ForrestGump]

Will it come with a wig for all of us with short or no hair?

[gsm_peter]

@horton

Great idea.

The req spec is well written in 'what if ballers would design a boat'.

;o)

 

 

[Chuck_Dickey]

I want mine in Ruby Red Metal Flake!

[Wish]

[rfa]

I watch many water-skiing promotion-related videos. I never met Mr. Marcus Brown (although years ago I skied with your friend Terry Winter). I have only owned CCs and Malibus. I have to say congratulations on a truly awesome video. Well balanced and well done!

[swc5150]

The more footage I see of this boat, the more excited I am to see it. Since the pricing doesn't sound like it'll move much, if at all, from the current 197, what do you think that will do to the value of the current hull? The 196 retained it's value, since the 200 was quite a bit more $$, and to some, it didn't ski that much better for the added cost. Not to start a CC discussion, but I don't see 197 values holding strong like the 196 did. Just curious what ballers are thinking?

[The_MS]

The 196 wakes were the same of better then the 200 and that is not the case with the 197 vs the new MC (from what we are hearing anyway) so that will make it tough to retain value. I would bet that there are also many more 197s out there then 196s. Slow speed long liners will always be looking for wake performance and with there being used 196s, CPs and TKIs out there, that will also have a resale price effect. I am just glad that I wont have to buy a 197 now that Mrs_Ms will not have to worry about wakes when she goes to events.

[swc5150]

Not that I'm currently in the market anyway, but I don't know that I'd take advantage if there was a 197 fire sale. My wife is 98lbs and skis at 26mph...enough said.

[ForrestGump]

A LOT can be done with the PS197 wake with a couple of hours and a little bondo. For someone not concerned with trick wake, a little hook added will turn that boat into a fabulous slalom boat.

[MISkier]

@ShaneH, do you have any specs, description, other demonstration as to creating the hook? Would be nice to know. Also, would the same change work on a pre-2004 197/X7 hull? My understanding is that MC did modify the hull slightly after 2003.

 

I'm good with the boat I have, but know of others looking for boats. If the 197 were to become cheaper and modifiable into a good slalom wake for longer line and slower speed, that information might actually help support the 197 pricing to buyers willing to break out their tools.

[ForrestGump]

I don't have a pick of a 197. But here's one where 3/16" of hook was added with bondo to the passenger side of a 200. This is the sweetest skiing 200 I've been behind. The owner will gell coat it at some point.

 

On the 197s, MC put hook in the hull on 02 Tournament Teams and then added that same hook to the molds for all of the 03 and newer production. You can experiment with differing amounts in very little time with bondo and a sanding board.

[MISkier]

Looks to be about a 4" wide wedge increasing to about 3/16 inch depth at the transom, correct?

 

 

[skinut]

@Shane-what were the wake characteristics on the 200 that hook eliminated?

[skihart]

@ShaneH Is that to balance the boat off if you don't have an observer? Is it just on the passenger side? I have never heard about the 4 molds and the 200 issue.

[ctsmith]

@ShaneH as skihart said, please elaborate on the 200 hook and the 4 molds.

[ForrestGump]

Guys, I only posted that pic as an example. Let's not tie up the MC thread on this. I'll post something separate.

[skihart]

@ShaneH.....I hear you. No worries it's the topic of another thread for sure.