About this tender
The XT23 is the build we ask MasterCraft for when your on-water programme needs to cover surfing, wakeboarding, skiing, and a full crew day without buying three boats to do it. At 7.11m LOA with a 2.59m beam and capacity for sixteen passengers, it sits right in the middle of the XT Series - more boat than the NXT range, more manageable than the X Series models above it. The hull is a variable-deadrise GRP V-drive configuration, which plants the stern cleanly through turns and delivers the displacement the surf system needs to work.
Propulsion across the model range is Ilmor inboard, with the 2020 model year moving to a 430 hp 6.0-litre GDI unit as standard. The V-drive transmission runs at a 1.57:1 reduction ratio, turning a four-blade nibral prop. BoatTEST recorded a top speed of 42.1 mph on a pre-2020 test hull with the outgoing 5.7-litre engine; the step up to the 6.0-litre GDI for MY2020 moves that figure up. For the 2025 iteration, Boating Magazine tested the 5.3L GDI HO variant and recorded fuel consumption of 2.5 mpg at cruise, with 10.7 gph at full ballast in wakesurf mode - competitive for the class.
The surf system is the core of the XT23's value proposition. The 2020 model ships with the Gen 2 Surf System and 2,600 lb of ballast capacity; later revisions have pushed that figure to 3,300 lb on tested 2025 hulls. The system offers more than 1,600 size-and-shape combinations, with simple presets for surf left, surf right, and wakesurf modes accessible from the helm touchscreen. We'd put this alongside the Nautique G23 and Malibu Wakesetter 22 MXZ as the three realistic shortlist entries at this length and price point, and the MasterCraft holds its own on surf-wave quality and interior volume.
The cockpit layout is where the XT23 earns its sixteen-person rating in practice, not just on a capacity plate. U-shaped bow seating, a doublewide observer position, flip-over transom backrests, and a full-length swim platform give the boat genuine crowd capacity. Deckadence custom flooring runs bow to stern; upholstery is manufactured in-house by MasterCraft using mildew-, UV-, and stain-resistant materials. The tower options range from the folding Z6 base unit through to the Z8 with integrated side-tow points, and the Z10 power tower for owners who want hydraulic raise-and-lower. Storage is well thought out, with dedicated cooler space, anchor stowage, and under-seat lockers throughout.
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Highlights
The four details we'd point out first to a captain who hasn't seen one on the water yet.
The XT23 uses a V-drive layout with a 1.57:1 reduction transmission, planting the engine weight amidships and keeping the stern clear for the surf system and swim platform. BoatTEST confirmed the configuration tracks cleanly through turns without washing off speed - important on a boat expected to spend hours in wakesurf mode.
The 2020 model ships with 2,600 lb of ballast capacity and MasterCraft's Gen 2 Surf System; 2025 tested hulls carry 3,300 lb. The system provides over 1,600 combinations of wave size and shape, with simple helm-accessible presets for both sides. Boating Magazine confirmed the wave is customisable for beginners through to experienced surfers.
At 7.11m, the XT23 rates sixteen passengers and justifies that number with U-shaped bow seating, a doublewide observer seat, convertible transom benches, and a full-length swim platform. The hull also offers 3.18 sq m of storage, with dedicated cooler space, anchor stowage, and under-seat lockers across the cockpit.
MasterCraft specifies Ilmor inboard engines across the XT23 range, from the base 320 hp 5.0L MPI through to the 430 hp 6.0L GDI. The 2021 model's base engine, the 380 hp Ilmor 6.0L MPI, produces 407 ft-lb of peak torque. The 2025 standard fitment is the 5.3L GDI HO unit, tested at 2.5 mpg at cruise speed.
MasterCraft produces its own upholstery using mildew-, UV-, and stain-resistant materials; the optional CoolFeel vinyl is rated 30 percent cooler in direct sun. The hull is GRP with no structural timber - BoatTEST confirmed no wood is used in MasterCraft construction - and dry weight is rated at 2,268 kg across the tested model range.
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The full specification
Specifications, prices, availability, and performance figures are supplied for guidance only and remain subject to confirmation by the yard, seller, broker, survey, contract, and final specification.
Questions, answered
Last call · Available
MasterCraft · Vonore, Tennessee, USA
Tell us about your yacht, your programme, and the missions XT23 needs to handle. We come back within 48 hours with a written assessment - fit for the brief, lead time, and trade-offs against alternatives in the same band.
Prefer to talk? +44 (0) 77180 88055 · other ways to reach us
From the library
