The MasterCraft Boat Company is an American manufacturer of luxury high-performance boats. The company was founded in 1968 in
Maryville, Tennessee
Maryville is a city in and the county seat of Blount County, Tennessee, and is a suburb of Knoxville. Its population was 31,907 at the 2020 census.
It is included in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area and a short distance from popular tourist desti ...
, and is currently headquartered in
Vonore, Tennessee
Vonore is a town in Monroe County, Tennessee, Monroe County, which is located on the southeast border of the U.S. state of Tennessee. The population was 1,574 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The city hall, library, community cente ...
. MasterCraft boats are used in
waterskiing
Water skiing (also waterskiing or water-skiing) is a Surface water sports, surface water sport in which an individual is pulled behind a boat or a Cable skiing, cable ski installation over a body of water, skimming the surface on two skis or ...
,
wakeboarding
Wakeboarding is a water sport in which the rider, standing on a wakeboard (a board with foot bindings), is towed behind a motorboat across its wake and especially up off the crest in order to perform aerial maneuvers. A hallmark of wakeboardin ...
and
wakesurfing
Wakesurfing is a water sport in which a rider trails behind a boat, riding the boat's wake without being directly pulled by the boat. After getting up on the wake, typically by use of a tow rope, the wakesurfers will drop the rope, and ride the ...
, though the company has also produced several boats that are not focused on water sports, such as the NauticStar line of fishing boats.
History
![Water ski putrajaya 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Water_ski_putrajaya_1.jpg)
MasterCraft's founder Rob Shirley was a young waterskiing instructor who opened a waterskiing school in Florida 1965. In 1968, with the help of a few fellow waterskiers, he modified a Ski Nautique boat manufactured by
Correct Craft
Correct Craft is a United States-based builder of powerboats primarily for waterskiing and wakeboard use. It was founded in 1925 by Walt C. Meloon as the Florida Variety Boat Company. Correct Craft is the oldest family-owned and operated boat manu ...
. The boat was completed in August, and debuted at the U.S. Nationals in
Canton, Ohio
Canton () is a city in and the county seat of Stark County, Ohio. It is located approximately south of Cleveland and south of Akron in Northeast Ohio. The city lies on the edge of Ohio's extensive Amish country, particularly in Holmes and ...
. In that same year Rob had to close the school and moved to his wife's parent's farm in
Maryville, Tennessee
Maryville is a city in and the county seat of Blount County, Tennessee, and is a suburb of Knoxville. Its population was 31,907 at the 2020 census.
It is included in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area and a short distance from popular tourist desti ...
. There he founded the MasterCraft Boat Company, which initially operated out of a two-horse barn.
[MasterCraft Boat Company, Inc.]
. Encyclopedia.com website, accessed on May 15, 2019.
During its first year of operation, MasterCraft only built 12 boats using the modified hull design. The operating facility was moved to
Vonore, Tennessee
Vonore is a town in Monroe County, Tennessee, Monroe County, which is located on the southeast border of the U.S. state of Tennessee. The population was 1,574 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The city hall, library, community cente ...
and now has approximately 600 employees. As of 2006, MasterCraft produced over 3,000 boats per year, sold in 25 different countries by over 100 domestic and international dealers.
Some of its most popular boats today are the ProStar, a direct drive ski boat, and the X Series Wakeboard boats. All MasterCraft models since 2012 use Ilmor Marine engines inboard marine engines built on the General Motors 5.3L GDI, 6.0L MPI, 6.2L GDI, and 7.4L MPI V8 engine blocks.
In 2007, the company was acquired by two
private equity
In the field of finance, the term private equity (PE) refers to investment funds, usually limited partnerships (LP), which buy and restructure financially weak companies that produce goods and provide services. A private-equity fund is both a ty ...
firms:
Charlesbank Capital Partners
Charlesbank Capital Partners is a private equity investment firm focusing on management-led buyouts and growth capital financing of middle-market companies. The firm typically invests $50 million to $250 million of equity per transaction in com ...
and Transportation Resource Partners (affiliated with
Roger Penske
Roger Searle Penske (born February 20, 1937) is an American businessman and entrepreneur involved in professional auto racing and a retired professional auto racing driver. He is most famous for his ownership of Team Penske, DJR Team Penske, t ...
). In 2010, the company was recapitalized by Wayzata Investment Partners.
In May 2015, MasterCraft filed for an IPO to raise $100M.
On July 17, 2015, Nasdaq announced that trading of MCBC Holdings Inc., operator of MasterCraft Boat Company, commenced on The Nasdaq Stock Market trading as (Nasdaq:MCFT).
Brands
MasterCraft Boat Company
MasterCraft Boat Company is the flagship subsidiary of MasterCraft holdings. MasterCraft focuses on building premier towboats for water skiing, wakeboarding, and wake surfing.
NauticStar Boats
NauticStar is a Mississippi based manufacturer building a variety of fishing boats and deck boats.
Crest
Crest builds pontoon boats which compete at the upper end of the market out of their Owosso, Michigan plant.
Aviara
Aviara specializes in building premium luxury day boats with a modern design. Aviara's manufacturing facility is in Merritt Island, Florida.
Series
ProStar Series
The ProStar series is the iconic line of MasterCraft's water ski tow boats known for their small wakes and performance. The ProStar series featured tournament ski boats, family ski boats, and price point ski boats over the years, Although most of the ProStar models used a direct drive propulsion system, there were a few V-Drive ProStar models produced. While the lineage of the ProStar series dates back to the original competition ski boats built by MasterCraft beginning in 1968, the first boat to bear the ProStar name was the ProStar 190 introduced for the 1987 model year. With the rising popularity of wake surfing, MasterCraft begun producing only their flagship competition ski boat under the ProStar name beginning in 2014.
X Series
The genesis of the X Series began in 1997 with the introduction of the X-Star. These boats are Mastercraft’s top of the line luxury boats with a focus on wakeboarding and wake surfing.
The current model line up is: X-Star, X-Star S, X26, X24 and X22.
XT Series
Introduced in 2017. This model line is the “crossover” focused designs. They can create world class wakeboard and surf wakes, while also being able to produce an “open water” slalom ski wake.
The current XT Series consists of five models: XT20, XT22, XT22T, XT23, and XT24. The XT22T and XT23 are traditional bow boats, whereas the rest of the XT line are pickle fork designs.
NXT Series
The NXT Series was introduced in 2015 with the NXT 20 to bring more affordable offerings to the market without sacrificing build quality and construction. In 2016
MasterCraft launched the NXT 22 to add to its line of entry level towboats. For 2020, MasterCraft redesigned both the NXT 20 and 22 using design cues from the X Series and XT Series. The second generation NXTs has a redesigned dash, factory profiles, and better ergonomics in the interior.
MasterCraft expanded the NXT series once again in 2021 with the introduction of the NXT 24.
The current NXT series consists of three models: NXT20, NXT22, and NXT24
CSX Series
The CSX (Cross Sport Xtreme) Series was designed to offer versatile boats suited for a variety of activities. These boats utilized a direct drive propulsion system with a center mounted engine and offered features designed for skiing, wakeboarding, fishing, diving, and other on water activities.
The CSX Series was discontinued after the 2011 model year.
MariStar Series
The MariStar Series was created in 1989 to compete in the luxury runabout segment.
TriStar Series
Notable Innovations
Swim Platform
1976 - MasterCraft introduced the first swim platform on a ski boat.
PowerSlot
1980 - MasterCraft introduced the optional PowerSlot 1.5:1 gear reduction transmission for increased acceleration.
Stringers
1983
WearGuard Pylon
1989 - MasterCraft introduced their patented WearGuard pylon which featured a plastic insert at the tow point in order to reduce rope wear.
EFI
1992 - MasterCraft brought the first fuel injected ski boat to the market with the Corvette LT1 engine marinated by Indmar.
Taglines
In Pursuit of Perfection (1987)
Inboards Beyond Imagination (1988)
Nothing Else Even Comes Close (1989-1993)
The Leader. And Pulling Farther Ahead. (1993-2003)
Held to a Higher Standard (2004-2010)
Team MasterCraft
Ski
* Taylor Garcia
* Freddy Krueger
* Stephen Neveu
* Karen Truelove
* Freddie Winter
Wake
* Parks Bonifay
* Harley Clifford
* Meagan Ethell
* Tyler Higham
* Steel Lafferty
Surf
* Ashley Kidd
* Austin Keen
References
External links
* {{official website, http://www.mastercraft.com
Manufacturing companies based in Tennessee
American boat builders
Private equity portfolio companies
1968 establishments in Tennessee
Water sports equipment manufacturers
Sporting goods manufacturers of the United States
Manufacturing companies established in 1968
American companies established in 1968