Starcraft may call the MVX 230 Surf a deck boat, but it’s got the unmistakable look and feel of today’s hottest wake-sports models. A trendy gray and black hull, with choice of a red, blue or tan accent, is bolder and darker than the typical Starcraft offering, with colors carrying seamlessly into the interior. A powered overhead tow-sports tower includes board racks and speakers. The Taylor Made tempered-glass windshield sports a sculpted black frame. Add a flip-over backrest ready for a portside spotter to turn and watch the action in the boat’s wake, MarineMat flooring ready to comfort bare feet, and backrests that ratchet upward from the sun pad, and you’re ready for everything, from a surfin’ safari to chilling out at Ski Beach.
While the MVX will prove equally adept at towing tubes and skis, it has surf in its name, so you better believe surf is in its game. MerCruiser’s Bravo Four S drive offers the benefits of a sterndrive but positions the prop forward to keep that all-important surf zone clear. A trio of ballast bags, tucked into port and starboard storage compartments and a ski locker, don’t sacrifice cargo space when empty. They pair with hard tanks forward for a total of 2,400 pounds of water ballast. Wake Worx surf tabs on the transom put the fine touches on the wake on a surfer’s preferred side.
Control of all these features is integrated into one of two Simrad GO9 touchscreens at the helm. Dedicate one to engine data and functions, then dial in speed, ballast, wake position and shape on the other. Individual rider profiles can be saved in convenient presets to simplify subsequent ride sessions.
Starcraft pairs the surf-friendly Bravo Four S drive with a single-engine choice, MerCruiser’s 300 hp 6.2-liter. The combo pushed our test boat onto plane in 4 seconds before topping out at 47.3 mph. Unlike comparable V-drives, the Bravo Four can be trimmed to lift the bow and achieve faster top-end speed, as well as offer a softer ride in rough water. The positioning of props also quickens the boat’s response, giving it a fun, agile feel.
High Points
- Port console has a sink, glove box and storage.
- Standard port and helm heaters warm early-morning or late-season sessions.
- CZone digital switching automates functions and allows keyless ignition. Vroom!
How We Tested
- Engine: Mercury MerCruiser 6.2L V-8
- Drive/Prop: Bravo Four S drive/21-pitch counter-rotating stainless-steel propset
- Gear Ratio: 2.00:1 Fuel Load: 26 gal. Crew Weight: 155 lb.
Pricing and Specs
| MSRP: | $116,245 (with MerCruiser 6.2L V-8) |
| LOA: | 20’10” |
| Beam: | 8’6″ |
| Draft (max): | NA |
| Dry Weight: | 3,435 lb. |
| Seat/Weight Capacity: | 12/1,700 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 60 gal. |
Starcraft Marine – New Paris, Indiana; 574-831-2950; starcraftmarine.com
