![]() So no longer will drivers have to bail on a dock because it’s on the “wrong” side. But in just a few minutes I was able to make it back up in a perfectly straight line - and even to port. ![]() I put the drive-by-wire shift on the XT-23 in reverse and promptly oversteered it, which most drivers will do, until I learned to make small corrections. So how well does it work? The first test was trying to back it in a straight line - an impossible maneuver on a standard direct-drive ski boat, due to prop torque. The builder has applied for a patent for the system. ![]() On tugboats, the aft rudder(s) and fore rudders don’t act at the same time, but MasterCraft’s designers found a way for all three rudders to act in concert to enhance steering in all maneuvers. There is, however, a big difference between the old school flanking rudders and DockStar’s setup. One of the only downsides is the $12,500 price tag, which on a smaller boat is proportionally quite a bit. Five minutes of practice will have any driver feeling confident making any maneuver, including easing over to downed skiers. But it works as advertised and has a very short learning curve. While the force provided by the main engine is in proportion to how far one tilts or twists the joystick, the thrusters are on/off only, which makes fine adjustments slightly more difficult. Interestingly, the JPI system can use bow and stern thrusters built by Vetus or Side-Power to help it maneuver. To switch control back to the boat’s standard control system, put the boat in gear and the lights go off. Twisting it spins the boat in its own length, and the lights rotate in that direction. The light show continues when the driver presses the joystick in a direction and the color on that side turns to amber. A green ring of lights around the joystick activates, to let the driver know the system is engaged. The JPI system activates when the boat is put in neutral. What makes JPI work is a computer system that coordinates the MerCruiser engine with bow and stern thrusters, making virtually any desired maneuver achievable, even walking the boat directly sideways. It was first seen on a Sea Ray 230 SLX-W, a wakesurfing-capable watersports boat powered by a MerCruiser 370 hp 6.2L with a V-drive propulsion system. But never has this technology extended to single primary engine operation, until the unveiling of the JPI system. Mercury has had a decade of joystick experience, starting in 2007 with the Zeus diesel/pod system, followed by Axius for gas sterndrives in 2008. At the 2017 Miami International Boat Show in February, boat builders and an engine manufacturer introduced two new systems that make docking a direct-drive ski boat really easy, even for rookies. Forget backing in a straight line or pulling up to a portside dock with any semblance of grace. Just approach the dock at a 45-degree angle and when the bow gets close to the dock, put the boat in neutral, spin the wheel to the right and gently engage reverse, which will suck the stern against the dock and straighten the boat to parallel … if it’s done exactly right. Virtually all inboard ski boats have a left-hand prop, so in reverse their prop torque will pull to starboard, which is great for pulling up to a dock on the right side of the boat. Sterndrives and outboards allow drivers to move the direction of thrust, which allows them far greater flexibility in docking situations. What makes it different from sterndrive- or outboard-powered boats is that the prop stays fixed in one direction and relies on a rudder - positioned behind the prop - for directional control. Plush comfort and a flexible, ultra-functional seating layout with industry-leading storage and the available DockStar Handling System for easier control in tight spaces.For the uninitiated, docking a direct-drive ski boat can be a humbling experience. Prevailing offshore breeze powered by the next generation of Ilmor engines.įor the win, the XT23 features the legendary MasterCraft fit and finish. Reliable, rapidly deployed and packed with features like an integrated Bimini top, board racks and gorgeous speaker cans. Make waves with Gen 2 Surf and a substantial 2600 pounds of ballast, then tow it all using the optional ZFT7 Power Tower. This is where the classic traditional bow meets progressive style lines, wrapped around a completely redesigned hull. This is the crossover MasterCraft for a lifestyle that knows no limits. Live it up and let it fly in the XT23-built to bring stoke everywhere it goes, whatever it tows.
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