Access More Boat Tests
Already have an account? Login
By submitting this form, you acknowledge that you have read and agree with the Privacy Policy & Terms of Use of BoatTEST.com.
MasterCraft X-35 (2009-)
1 x 400-hp MasterCraft Power Vortec LY6 HO
Price
See the price by becoming
a BoatTEST member.
Members Must Log In
Brief Summary
At 23½ feet, this boat offers both a great ride for cruising, and the layout and equipment to cover the range of watersports. MasterCraft does it again; from the pickle-fork bow to the sturdy swim platform, you’ll find everything you expect, and more!
Key Features
- Teleflex Xtreme high-performance electronic throttle & shift cable
- Teak boarding platform
- Bow and stern pull-up cleats (stainless, flush-mounted)
- Clarion AM/FM CD stereo
- Cockpit entertainment center
- Removable boarding platform
- Interior courtesy lights
- MasterView bolster driver’s seat
Test Results
RPM | MPH | Knots | GPH | MPG | NMPG | STAT. MILE | NM | dBa |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
650 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 6.37 | 5.54 | 344 | 299 | 67 |
1000 | 6.2 | 5.4 | 1.1 | 5.56 | 4.84 | 300 | 261 | 68 |
1500 | 8 | 6.9 | 2.1 | 3.83 | 3.33 | 207 | 180 | 72 |
2000 | 9.3 | 8.1 | 3.9 | 2.42 | 2.1 | 130 | 113 | 78 |
2500 | 13.2 | 11.5 | 6.3 | 2.1 | 1.83 | 114 | 99 | 81 |
3000 | 21.3 | 18.5 | 8.3 | 2.57 | 2.23 | 139 | 120 | 84 |
3500 | 26.6 | 23.1 | 10.7 | 2.49 | 2.17 | 134 | 117 | 84 |
4000 | 31 | 27 | 14.2 | 2.19 | 1.9 | 118 | 103 | 85 |
4500 | 35.1 | 30.5 | 18.6 | 1.89 | 1.64 | 102 | 89 | 85 |
5000 | 38.4 | 33.4 | 25.1 | 1.53 | 1.33 | 83 | 72 | 86 |
5521 | 41.5 | 36.1 | 33.7 | 1.23 | 1.07 | 67 | 58 | 88 |
Specifications
Length Overall | 23' 5'' / 7.14 m |
---|---|
Beam |
102'' 2.59 m |
Dry Weight |
4,900 lbs. 2,223 kg |
Draft |
27'' 0.69 m |
Deadrise/Transom | N/A |
Max Headroom | open |
Bridge Clearance | N/A |
Fuel Capacity |
60 gal. 227 L |
Water Capacity | none |
Acceleration Times & Conditions
Time to Plane | 4.5 sec. |
---|---|
0 to 30 | 7.4 sec. |
Ratio | 1.6 : 1 |
Props | 14.75 x 15.5 4 blade OJ |
Load | 2 persons, 5/8 fuel, 0 water, 0 lbs. of gear |
Climate | 37 deg., 46% humid.; wind: 10 mph; seas: light chop |
Engine Options
Tested Engine |
1 x 400-hp MasterCraft Power Vortec LY6 HO |
---|---|
Std. Power |
1 x 310-hp MasterCraft Power Vortec RTP-1 |
Opt. Power |
1 x 350-hp MasterCraft Power Vortec MCX 1 x 400-hp MasterCraft Power Vortec LY6 HO 1 x 450-hp MasterCraft Power Vortec L-18 HO 1 x 450-hp MasterCraft Power Vortec Saltwater Series L-18 HO 1 x 225-hp Diesel-Volkswagen Turbo Charged Direct Injection |
Warranty
Engine Warranty Extended | 3 year limited |
---|---|
Hull Warranty Extended | Transferable limited lifetime |
Captain's Report
Learn More
Watch Our Video
‘09 MASTERCRAFT X-35By Captain John B. Wenz
I don’t think anyone can dispute the ability for MasterCraft to put an excellent sports boat on the water. They were one of the pioneers of competitive wakeboarding, and they’ve got the goods to prove it. They’re good at building boats that can get you on the water to “wakeboard, wakeskate, wakesurf, cruise, or ski.” With the X-35, they challenge you to invent a new sport. Once you’ve done that, the options list on the X-35 will allow you to invent a new boat to go with it.
It starts with a great-looking hull.
The gel-coat is flawless, the graphics are hot, and the color combinations seem to be endless. The hull itself is an updated version of MasterCraft’s modified deep-vee that delivers both an awesome riding wake and a nice ride for the peanut gallery on board. And that’s just the start- Tweak the wake effortlessly with the standard ballast system. Add an optional attitude adjustment plate if you like a little “change in your attitude” every now and then. The X-35 makes it easy to conjure up the right wake for just about anything you can imagine.
So that takes care of the rider, what about the rest of the crew? Let me first say that there are two schools of thought when it comes to an options list. Some people like to see everything included as standard equipment with little or no optional equipment offered. Other people like a bare-bones approach with lots of options so that you can customize based on your individual preferences. Both approaches have their benefits and shortfalls. I personally subscribed to the second way of thinking. If that’s your preference, then the X-35 is definitely something you should see. The range of options is extensive, and it’s all quality stuff.
The Engine Package
Standard on the X-35 is the 350 horsepower MCX from Indmar Marine. The options include an available engine package range from 310 hp to 450 hp, so there should be something here for everyone. These V-Drive inboards are all built on a GM Vortec platform, which means that they all feature electronic fuel injection and digital control systems.
Great Layout
You can invite up to 15 of your closest friends to join you on the X-35, and they’ll all enjoy a comfortable place to sit, thanks to MasterCraft’s fine upholstery. There’s a nested cooler under one seat, and you can add an electric fridge and a cockpit table if you choose. If the sport you’ve invented has you out on the water early, when it may still be a little cool, get a load of this- you can order your X-35 with both a heated helm seat and hot air registers in the cockpit to take the chill out of the air. And speaking of air, the tower also offers a number of accessories to go along with the standard swiveling board racks. How about a bimini and a clear vinyl windscreen or a set of speakers and lights to dress things up aloft? Want to match up a boat and trailer combination? You can do that, too, right from the factory. The options are seemingly endless, and the bottom line is this- you can make this boat everything you want and need in a watersports machine.
The X-35 from MasterCraft is 23 feet, 5 inches long. Add a swim platform, and she’s 25’ 1”. But don’t worry about fitting her in your garage, the swim platform is built to tilt down or be removed. She’s got a beam dimension of 102”, and she draws 27 inches. Speaking of draft, the inboard configuration of the X-35 and the rest of MasterCraft’s lineup has a lot to offer over the standard inboard/outboard configuration offered by most of the competitors in this size range. Not only is performance and handling a different animal, but the prop and rudder are beneath the hull, so there are benefits in the area of safety as well.
Test Results
Our test boat was equipped with the optional 400 horsepower Indmar LY-6. When we took her out to check her performance numbers, here’s what we observed: We reached a plane 4.5 seconds after we kicked the throttles up. As we accelerated, we reached a speed of thirty miles an hour in 7.4 seconds and we topped out at 41.5 MPH. For fuel consumption, we calculated a fuel range of 139 miles at 21.3 MPH, given the on-board fuel capacity of 60 gallons.
There are potential competitors out there who, for all practical purposes, have taken a day boat and added a tower and a ballast system and converted a cruiser into a sport boat. For the Mastercraft X-35, the process went the other way. They took a world-class wakeboard boat, with all the essentials as standard equipment, and provided an options list to allow the buyer to customize. The end result is a no-compromise watersports boat, with the potential to offer everything you might need in a cruising day boat, all wrapped up in a well-engineered and beautifully finished package.