In an unassuming-looking industrial building situated on the Vonore section of the Little Tennesse River, something very special happens. Here, the ultimate luxury toy is made. The term “ultimate luxury toy” may call to mind things like Killspencer’s $1,580 Indoor Basketball Kit, but this toy costs a great deal more and comes packed with significantly more technology and engineering. It’s made mostly of fiberglass, has as much horsepower as a Ford Mustang GT350, an onboard system that can change the shape of water and costs over $150,000. Mastercraft’s X23 wake surf boat is nothing short of extraordinary.
Everything from the initial CAD drawings to the final testing happens in-house in Vonore, Tennessee. Wake athletes like Parks Bonifay, Rusty Malinoski and Steel Lafferty test prototype boats and provide feedback on site. Such feedback led to the development of Mastercraft’s Gen 2 wake surf system. The system utilizes electronically controlled ballast tanks in the hull as well as tabs at the back of the boat to shape the wake into a perfect, surfable wall of water. It’s an industry-leading system, and one that can reproduce the feeling of hanging ten hundreds of miles from the nearest beach.
Practically everything on a Mastercraft is customizable — from the paint, to the decals, to the accessories. You can add a kicking sound system, change the seating configuration, add a swim deck and even pick your preferred engine option. While $150,000 is a lot to spend on a toy, a Mastercraft wake boat is worth every penny. At the very least, everyone else at the marina will be green with envy.
