Marada MX-2 Test and Review.

kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
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Here's another C&P from Water Ski Magazine.


Slap four wheels on the Marada MX-2 and you'd have no trouble convincing skiers they were riding in a new car. OK, that might be a stretch, but not much of one. With Marada's unmistakable penchant for lush upholstery, deep padding, flowing interior lines and eye-pleasing colors, the MX-2 brings auto luxury to America's waterways.

The package is enhanced once you hook up a ski rope, turning the MX-2 into a hybrid: part shoreline cruiser, part slalom-capable. The mono-hull design with recessed transom throws peaked wakes that flatten out, especially at 28 and 30 mph (15-22 off), making the versatile runabout perfect for family slaloming and combo skiing. Unfortunately, it will force your skiers to make a tough decision: cut it up behind the boat or relax in the lap of luxury on board.

That decision is made tougher with the addition of the optional Executive package on the MX-2, which brings even more zing to the water. A depth finder, hour-meter, four-speaker stereo upgrade, tilt steering, beige gel-coat and vinyl and deep-pile, color-matched carpet complement the boat's smooth lines. Skiers who want even more pizzazz should check out the MX Limited Edition, which adds a solid-color hull. Additional features include gold-bezeled instruments, a CD player and a Sunbrella convertible top.

The good value runs deeper than just looks. Marada has eliminated wood from the interior of the 20-foot runabout. Surprisingly, it uses wood in the hull and stringer system. Still, the Kentucky-based company is so sure of its construction process that each boat comes with a lifetime hull warranty.

The solid workmanship shows through ? we recorded extremely low decibel readings (83 db) in the shake-free cockpit, allowing driver and passengers to converse freely, even at skiing speeds. Drivers sit on a comfortable helm seat, allowing unobstructed sight lines through the five-piece walk-through windshield both at rest and while under way. The tilt wheel can cut off visibility to some lower instrument gauges, and we would like to see an arm pad added for better throttle control, especially since it's hard to hold a stern-drive in check in the low-speed range.

Drivers could be spending a lot of time between 18 and 21 mph, as the boarding wakes are a great playground. The vee hull delivers wakes with a sharp peak that are good for launching. They are clean (no turbulence or white water) and are best with a touch of trim up (to 1/4). On the table, however, it's messy, and surface turns on kneeboards and wakeboards should be prefaced by practice.

Taking the MX-2 up to 24 mph and beyond produced nice results. Slalom wakes from 24-28 mph are tall and soft ? skiers of all levels should be able to move through them without mishap. As the speeds increase to 30 mph, the wakes harden but they are lower and easier to cut through on an edged ski, meaning slaloms stored in the in-floor ski locker probably won't go unused. This may be the mantra of the MX-2 ? there's so much good stuff happening both inside and behind the boat that a skier's toughest decision may be where to spend his or her time.
 
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