2020 Starcraft Marine MDX Surf 231 IO Surf

[Spie16]

This boat and prop setup really intrigues me. Does anyone have any info or experience with this boat, specifically wake size and quality of boat? Doesn't necessarily have to be the 2020 year either. I'm planning to go look at one this weekend and I won't be able to get it in the water to test drive it.

 

[Spie16]

 

[Spie16]

View attachment 327140View attachment 327141

Here is the boat I was talking about. Had trouble adding attachment earlier.

 

[JimS123]

We all have opinions and we all have likes and dislikes. That's why they make so many different styles and sizes because they want to attract the biggest market possible. I'm going to apologize ahead of time in case you buy the boat.

* The bimini is too too small. It will be a waste of time even having it. The lack of shade will limit the boats usefulness.
* The hull design will not provide a pleasant ride if it gets choppy.
* The lack of a windshield will limit the use to only fair weather, so the boat won't get used much.
* Lots of seating, but little floor space. Not enough room for more than 4 people.
* The forward prop was an experiment a few years ago. Nobody bought them and those that did weren't happy. Why they are bringing it back is a mystery.

Other than that, nice looking boat.

 

[muc]

* The forward prop was an experiment a few years ago. Nobody bought them and those that did weren't happy. Why they are bringing it back is a mystery.

I'm surprised by this comment, it goes against my personal experience.
We have sold a large number of the Volvo Penta Forward Drives. In fact everyone that we had in stock. And the feedback has been nothing but positive. Especially from people who traded up from a wake boat. They have been popular enough that Mercury Marine has copied it and is now marketing them.

New MerCruiser Bravo Four S forward‑facing drive with Smart Tow system delivers total control for tow sports | Mercury Marine

FOND DU LAC, Wis. (Aug. 24, 2020) — Mercury Marine® today unveiled its Bravo Four S™ forward‑facing drive with Smart Tow® controls, a new drive system for MerCruiser® engines that elevates the art of crafting perfect wakes for wakesurfing, wakeboarding and other tow sports. Digital controls that...

www.mercurymarine.com

What we have found with the surf boats, is that hull design is important. The first year they came out. They were good but in the last few years they have gotten much better.

I have no idea how good the Starcraft is. But I'm guessing that because they are a low level boat. You won't get the full effect of the surf drive.

 

[JimS123]

I don't speak from personal experience since I don't own one and never would consider it. My opinion is purely based on what I've read in the boat rags, plus never having actually seen one on the water.

The first one I saw was at the Miami boat show. Later shows in my home area turned up not even one. As I understand it, the design was specifically to address wake surfing. Thus, right off the bat there is a limited market.

The last article I read commented that the sales were not as hoped. I would imagine that sales might be area specific, so some areas may have sold out while others may have been dismal. Because of limited sales overall, the writer questioned why Mercury would develop one as well.

Safety is often cited as a concern. Again, not my data, but it is often cited that that duoprops may present more safety concerns due to entrapment. Having the props far up under the boat could possibly cause entrapment to be more fatal.

No horse in the race - just providing some info. When you buy a new boat you need to investigate all angles. Personally, after switching to an EFI Outboard, I'll never go back...

 

[briangcc]

Personal opinion...

I wouldn't buy prop forward. Here's why...I boat in rocky/stumpy/weedy areas so the prop facing forwards means it's going to be the very first thing to contact structure - the skeg won't save you here.

And when I do get "beached" typically I can tilt my traditional outdrive up and get out of whatever situation I may find myself in. With a prop forward design, I go to tilt my drive "up" and all its doing is further anchoring the boat into whatever just got hit.

Should you foul yourself with a rope around the prop with a prop forward drive, you're diving under the boat to free it. Again, tilting up isn't an option here to expose the prop, you're going under water to do this or being towed back to the launch ramp to haul the boat out and remove the offending rope on land.


For me, and I don't wakeboard/wakesurf/ski behind my boat, its either going to be a 4 stroke outboard (I miss my Honda) or a traditional I/O (not prop forward).