Old MasterCrafts

Anyone own/owned any old MasterCraft Stars'N Stripes? I love the sleek low look of them. Especially the PowerSlot trans. How fast it makes it take off compared to a 1:1 normal trans. If anyone has experience with them and/or photos, please share!

HA! Stellar endorsement Joel, at least not many of the potential buyers are probably looking here, at least lets hope not. Too Funny!!!   

Despite that enthusiastic sales pitch, I bet I could still be talked into one. Have always liked the looks/lines of them.

M3Fan wrote: Cons include microscopic size of the boat in general,

Have gotten by with a ski tique for 11 years. I think I could make it work (and that's after having a Supra for 11 years, so I do know what a comfortable boat is)

M3Fan wrote: awful tracking

I can see where that would bother you as you are an avid course skier, but since I don't, or very rarely do that (much to my huge disappointment) its not a biggie.

M3Fan wrote: crazy spray

Again, not a big time shortline skier, so again, not a biggie.

M3Fan wrote: ridiculous ergonomics and driver position.

Never sat in one, can it be that bad? Its not like I am planning a cross country trip in one. A few runs and we're done. I bet Hollywood's Eldorado, or coupe de ville or whatever it is, is comfier than the 65 mustang I had as a first car, but ask me which I'd rather have.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind having one.

Ok, let me come back on this a bit. I'm going to make the following statement and I'm going to go ahead and put my cup on before I say it: In 1983 this boat, performancewise and build quality wise, blows the competition (CC) out of the water in that time period. There is a reason that MC went from nothing to "big three" in such a short time and this boat was it.

1. Very good, nearly modern slalom wake. Tourney skiers, and I've talked to many, from that time period were terrified when they saw a 2001 at the dock in a tournament. They were overjoyed by the MC wake and the CCs of the era were considered a nightmare at the end of the rope.

2. Drives flat and accelerates flat out of the hole. CC2001 and similar boats from that vintage seem to handle much more sluggishly with more bow rise. Same with low speed manuvering, the MC is way ahead of the game here.

3. Incredible build quality. The gel work is incredible, we're talking all pinstriping is done in the Gel in 83, curves and straights. Two color deck with gel striping on the deck for chrissake. Looking at the woven roving in the bow storage area is a pleasure. My interior and gel are both original and perfect. Super beefy powerslot trans. Not a SINGLE stress crack anywhere. Trailer quality is also pretty awesome with fiberglass fenders and C channel, though it is a terrible design as far as loading. There is no question that this is a higher quality boat, with more work put into it, than any CC from that era IMO.

As far as tracking and spray, I'm talking about free skiing. I pull the boat all over the place and get pelted even at -28 in a headwind. It hurts. A lot. I generally free ski at -32@34 and spray is not a problem there, even at -35 as long as the winds are calm. But, slight wind and forget it.

Ergonomics, though seriously bad certainly tolerable for ski runs, no doubt. It's not like you're going to turn into Quasimoto after driving it.

There is no better performing vintage ski boat at the end of the rope, again that is how MC rose to the top so early. It's a skier's boat, designed for the end of the rope experience only.

I'd just rather have a NWZ hull because it's about 10X the boat in all ways for just a couple grand more.

Seriously if anyone wants this one, starting price is 8500, I'll go ahead and assume it's the nicest one in the country.

Another shot at the gel work:

Orlando76 wrote: Bumming through youtube today, Joel, is this your MC?

No. Darn near identical, but no.