June 25, 2007

The MasterCraft Concept X-Trek = The MasterCraft CSX? (o_O)

We came across this photo of the "MasterCraft X-Trek", which was originally reported to be a design exercise performed at MasterCraft for unknown purposes. Was this sketch done purely for Popular Science Magazine, where it was originally unveiled, or if it was part of a MasterCraft skunk works project that evolved into the CSX line of boats? And if it is part of that same exercise, what in sam hell is this?

There is no doubt that every significant player in this market has some type of skunk works department with all sorts of crazy ideas (looking at you, MB Sports Tomcat designers) floating around and perhaps scale model prototypes that the design engineers get to play with in the pool. But rarely do we get to see a far-off bit of concept art actually see the light of day - not to mention that it seems that this concept art actually became the CSX Series. In fact, in terms of big departures from the norm, we can't think of a single other instance of anything like this happening. Maybe that is because our boats don't make their way into mainstream publications like Popular Science very often, or the big wake boat manufacturers don't release concept art. Or both.

When we toured the Correct Craft factory a few months ago, we imagined that there was some sort of skunk works facility nestled in the back of the factory where we were not permitted to go much less blog about. I can only hope that my 25 foot long, Classic 210-based hull is back there being worked on; getting clay models built against the crude CAD models and concept art sketches with which I've been spamming Correct Craft management for the past 2 years.

Posted by erik