2007- 2009 X2 vs X15 Surf Wave

[SteveO]

Having previously owned a slammed 2007 X2, I'm familiar with the X2 wave, but have not surfed or boarded behind an X15. I'm considering getting back in the game and wanted feedback on the X15. One of the boats I am looking at is a 2009 X15. Any known gremlins to be aware of for the 2009 model year?

[Forrest-X45]

Good to see you back on TT, Steve!! Hope everything is going well for you in TN. You are missing an amazing spring and early summer here in the NW. Lake Sammamish warmed up so fast this year I never even broke the wetsuit out, even the first of May.

I think the X15 has been a solid boat and in my opinion nothing to worry about. Even the VDIG has been pretty solid. I have never had any issues with VDIG. Good luck with your boat shopping. Your X2 will be hard to replace.

[tkemperdc]

I don't think there anything major I can think of. I had the 06 X15, same hull. I loved that boat honestly. Great space all around and can board and surf pretty well. I have a friend ski it and like it, by no means a tournament ski wake.

[ssnaples]

I haven't owned an X15 so I cannot comment on that, but I can certainly say that a Wake-Shaper will vastly improve the surf wake on either of these boats. Best modification I have done to my boat. (not just saying that because I developed the product)

A couple different options:

V2.0: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7jZVDYKrTQ
Platform Edition (V3.0): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4PdZhAVGR0

More info on the newly released Platform Edition Here: http://www.mastercraft.com/teamtalk/...ad.php?t=67453

[DaFuzz144]

Really? that was it... no more opinions reviewing the two..... X2 vs. X15 surf wake?
maybe if I resurrect this post???

[FoggyNogginz]

Well, it looked like an advertisement jumped in mid thread, and that always kills momentum.

In my personal opinion, the X2 is a far better surf boat and it can make a wake steeper and cleaner than the X15. I have surfed behind both many times, and opinions can vary, but this is my experience.

[SS LS1]

Honestly they are both great boats that you can't go wrong with whatever you would choose. I think you would be happy with either one as I was in the same buying decision struggle between the X2 and X15 models. I love X15's and they can have a wonderful surf wave with a little help IMO. Last summer I tried a '12 X15 for a day and I was quite impressed with the boat. The stock surf wave is weak (same for a stock X2) but with a little help the wave was spectacular, clean with a ton of push. It was a newer model than the OP is looking at but it has the same hull so any X15 should surf just as good with similar mods. Also been on an '08 X15 with a suck gate and it was also a great clean wave.

The '12 boat we used had 2 extra fat sacks plumbed into the rear lockers that made a huge wave height difference but the surf wave was not clean until I added a BOB V2 suck gate to the side of the boat. The wave was instantly transformed in to a tall clean surfable wave with so much push we were getting pushed into the back of the boat and had to stand on the "brakes" by putting weight on our back feet. It surfed well on both sides of the boat with a simple swap of the suck gate to the other side. Never once did we fear swamping the nose of the boat on our own wake when returning for a fallen surfer, wonderful family boat. It should be noted this boat had only a center tab (didn't use it) and no surf tabs of any kind but some type of wake shaper is a must for a clean surf wave with good push IMO. (Same goes for the X2, needs extra ballast and a suck gate for good surfing)

It should be noted I did not buy that boat as we could not handle the Yellow, blue and white hull colors it had but loved everything else about it. I really wanted an X15 but it had to have a ZFT4 tower and the newer style vinyl interior which is limited to the 2012 models. However I just couldn't bring myself to buy a '12 with the one year Medallion computer issues so I had to pass. I ended up buying a sweet custom '13 X2 with Gen 2 surf upgrade and couldn't be happier as the surf wave is excellent. It is better than an X15 with a suck gate for sure but it's not fare to compare a Gen 2 setup to one without.

So to summarize you would be happy with either the X2 or X15 of the same vintage. I would personally chose an X15 for the extra interior room over the X2 if buying an older model. But if you can swing an X2 with Gen 2 surf then it's no question that's the way to go. It surfs as well as the '16 X10 w/Gen 2 we had for a demo day but that is another discussion.

Here are some various X15 surf wave photos with different setups we tried.

Photo 1 Stock "surf left" ballast

Photo 2 Full stock ballast, additional port fat sack ballast (listed boat). Wave taller and face cleaned up a little.

Photo 3 Addition of home made "Suck gate" wake shaper. Port wake face has cleaned up nicely and wave is taller and pocket is longer.

Photo 4 Full stock ballast and both additional rear locker fat sacks full. So evenly weighted boat. Tall wave with awesome port wake face from suck gate wave shaper. Tons of push on the clean wave face. Rooster tail rolling over starboard side similar to a Gen 2 system due to delayed wave convergence.

Photo 5 Not me but Brad's very first day on a wake surfer. Wave was steep and tall for a newbie bit he handled it like a champ and rode ropeless later that day.

Photo 6 The X15 we had for the day. Not my color choice but perfect for the Michigan Wolverine fans we have here in MI.

[swatguy]

Well, it looked like an advertisement jumped in mid thread, and that always kills momentum.

In my personal opinion, the X2 is a far better surf boat and it can make a wake steeper and cleaner than the X15. I have surfed behind both many times, and opinions can vary, but this is my experience.

Honestly Snapples has been member here for bit and worked on his wakeshaper starting specifically geared at the X2. The original plastic version has seen some great revisions to what is the "product" now. Its not your normal "add" as he has ton of R and D and testing. He has ton of posts here detailing it from ground up.

I would say pre suck gates and all the additional aftermarket add ons the X2 was much easier to dial in and had little better push than the X15. While the 15's pocket was little longer, it was a bit more work to surf the X15. Suck gates, wakeshapers, and Go surf assist products have leveled that playing field these days . These add one no make these bots equal and I would argue ultimately favor the X15 because you now not only get the longer pocket, you get the push too