X-14/X-14v owners & enthusiasts thread

[cdstukey]

I'm looking at getting into an X-14V. We are a Ski-first family, then surf and do some tubing for the kids.

How is the ski wake? This is my main concern.

This is kind of an open ended question. What are your expectations? How do you ski?
Like the others have suggested, if you keep the boat light and fast, with a little bit of attitude plate and maybe some weight in the bow, you should be able to find your sweet spot by shortening the rope a bit.
Now is it going to match a 90s pro star wake? Nope. Will it be better than a larger wake boat? Without a doubt. It will also track much better when using the center pylon as opposed to the rear one.
The same is true for surfing, will it do it? Yes. Is it awesome at it? Not really. Add as much weight as you are comfortable with on top of stock ballast, add a gate device, maybe raise/modify your platform and choose the right board and you can surf all day. Is going to be waist high, with a 15yard pocket a half mile back from the platform like some of the new surf specific boats? Not even close, get used to riding close to your platform in a short pocket. Your ability to trim and generate and bleed speed on your board will improve greatly while surfing behind this boat.
Now tubing. That's where this boat really shines. Speed and direction changes on a dime with nine cents change. Wakes that can launch both kids and adults into low altitude orbits at will. Multiple attachment points depending on your tubers skill level and more importantly the size of your gallery. Honestly, there isn't a better tubing boat out there.
As to you other questions, options-wise - attitude plate is a very good idea. Engine 5.7 or better. The boat just listed on the classifieds here (also in the Denver Craigslist) is nicely set up. The s&w/mastercraft Colorado one has the bigger engine but is missing some options the larkspur one has.
It's been pretty warm, grab a dry suit and go water test one and see if you like it.

[214skier]

Tossing in my $0.02. Everything Chad has said is spot on. I am on my second x14v and I am an avid skier. I have found that the compromise for my family is "cruise-ability" --we take other couples out for the day and we are all very comfortable. I have skied most of the other cross-over boats, including the Air Nautique DD...and the wake in the V-drive 214 is way softer. I happen to ski short line (36 off) and there is zero bump.

My first boat was a 2010 and I now have a 2014. Theoretically there is little change other than engine (Indmar to Illmor) but the 14 skis demonstrably better than my 10.


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[cookster22]

Thanks!! This is a big help. I like to hear serious skiers enjoying skiing behind it. That's the biggest selling point for me. I'm not in a place in life where I can just go with the DD dedicated to skiing, but I think this one beats the other crossovers.

I'm super interested...

[JohnE]

If skiing is a priority, why not consider the x14 DD? 2 nice ones for sale on this site.

[cookster22]

If skiing is a priority, why not consider the x14 DD? 2 nice ones for sale on this site.

As in other things in life, its all about the trade-off. My wife likes the open cabin and doesn't like the feel of the dd engine location.

I'm willing to sacrifice some ski quality for an all-around that leans toward ski....unlike my current X30, which is a wake boat first.

[moosehead]

And she is in CO

2013 X14V For Sale $58,500

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?share_fid=25886&share_tid=78440&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emastercraft%2Ecom%2Fteamtalk%2Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D78440&share_type=t

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[214skier]

As in other things in life, its all about the trade-off. My wife likes the open cabin and doesn't like the feel of the dd engine location.



I'm willing to sacrifice some ski quality for an all-around that leans toward ski....unlike my current X30, which is a wake boat first.

My wife has the same perspective.

This is a ski boat trending towards wake boarding. I feel strongly it is a quality / close to PS190 wake. I gave up surfing with it -- required too much external ballast which I was uncomfortable.

I personally don't think it's possible to bridge skiing and surfing. If on a scale wake boarding is between the two poles: skiing and surfing. You can pick two, but not all three in your boat's characteristics.


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[mike koen]

Love the DD

[93Prostar190]

Our 214 does not have ballast but does have a tower (mini) ... the ski-ability of the boat is phenomenal for a boat over 21 ft.
Room inside the boat for cruising to the dam for lunch, also really good.
Want to run the course? heck yeah. do it.... including the tight turns at the end of the pass.

In all the 214 is just a big 197 and has all the sound ski ability of that boat. It is bigger so the bump at 22 is there and requires to be on edge if you are a course skier.

Would I surf a DD 214/x14 ... nope not on purpose. Thank goodness for all my awesome friends with their engines towards the stern.

A X14 / 214 with some ballast is a nice Intermediate (soft) Wake Boat as well.

I can't wait to ski an XT to see if it delivers as well, it appears to from the web.

[rtw_travel]

A X14 / 214 with some ballast is a nice Intermediate (soft) Wake Boat as well.

Agreed - I understand 214skier's reluctance to use extra ballast, and I remember where that reluctance came from. My limit on flat-ish water with our 14V is about 800 lbs of sacs combined with internal ballast, gas and people. Raising the platform helps the wave, but adding a suck/surf gate of some description helps a lot to define and shape the wake.

[214skier]

Agreed - I understand 214skier's reluctance to use extra ballast, and I remember where that reluctance came from. My limit on flat-ish water with our 14V is about 800 lbs of sacs combined with internal ballast, gas and people. Raising the platform helps the wave, but adding a suck/surf gate of some description helps a lot to define and shape the wake.

I have not tried a suck gate. I would be very open to testing that.


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[FoggyNogginz]

I agree with everything Chad said, with one exception, surfing, I run 800-900 lbs of ballast over the factory. We use a FakeGate/Mission Delta for surfing, changed out the prop to an ACME with less pitch than the factory prop, raised the swim platform on teak risers.... and NOW I can surf beyond the length of our surf rope just fine!! I weigh 200 lbs and we surf at 10.5. No, it is not the X23, but it's not like I'm right behind the platform like this boat was when it rolled off the line.

Just offering a slightly different view. As for slalom, it is fine when we run light, put a person or 100lbs of lead in the bow, and go 33MPH / 15 off.

[Rhob88]

I looked at getting a fake gate before , but didn't think it would fit , so foggy where did you get yours and where are you placing it , I am also looking to increase our surf wake , I run hard tank and 600lb Ext. Tank on surf side with the KGB full and get a descent wave .

[rtw_travel]

Sorry for jumping in... here's mine. It's similar to most others in the 'suck gate' thread in the wakesurfing section. Go over there and join the DIY action... there's lots of good ideas.

Mine is an autobody or glass installation suction cup, two home depot book shelves, one cutting board cut in half , and various tie-wraps, nuts and bolts. For the Canadians in the crowd, I got the suction cups at Princess Auto for about $20.

Both suction cups have to be flat to the surface they are 'sucking on'. The x-14V hull is slightly rounded, so you have to find a suction cup assembly where the suction cups have some movement. When properly stuck on the hull, the suction cups are ~not~ parallel with each other.

When putting it together, you may find it easier to first stick the suction cups on the hull, then figure out where the bookshelves go so that you don't move the angle of the suction cups. You may need to shim the bookshelves. If you don't get it right, then one suction cup will stick, and the other will not because it is not flat to the surface. DAMHIK. I found it interesting that the gate I made for my x-14V does not stick on my neighbour's X-15 because the hull curvature is different.

Once you get the angles of the suction cups right, everything else is easy.

I put the cutting board both perpendicular and also running up on the bookshelf braces. My personal preference is to have the angled side facing forward - there's just less splash.

The gate is placed under the waterline on the side opposite from the surf wave. We ties ours onto the lifting lug just above the platform because the suck gate sinks like a rock if it falls off

With the suck gate, you fill up all ballast tanks. There is no need to lean the boat over to one side with people or extra ballast. The wave is still sensitive to the pitch of the boat - we use the center plate or people to adjust that. Switching from regular to goofy means moving hte gate from one side to the other. No need to change ballast or seating arrangements.

It's the best $40 you can spend on your boat.

[Rhob88]

Thanks for the info RTW , do you have any pics of it installed