Mastercraft Enters Yacht Tender Market with Modified X23 for Mothership Lifting
Mastercraft is set to debut a custom X23 featuring factory-installed lifting points as it moves to offer its surf portfolio in the yacht tender market.
The company has engineered a new factory-integrated lifting solution designed to allow its boats to be transferred from the water to a mothership, making the possibility of lifting any boat in their portfolio aboard a larger ship a reality.
The new offering will debut on a modified MasterCraft X23 at the upcoming Monaco Yacht Show, taking place September 23-26 at Port Hercule.
At the centre of the system are factory-installed lifting points that can be custom configured to match the requirements of the yacht carrying the tender. Owners will be able to select single- or dual-point lifting setups based on how the boat is intended to be lifted onto its mothership.
Unlike most common lifting systems installed after a boat leaves the factory, MasterCraft says its system integrates the lifting points during the boat's manufacturing process, increasing overall stability, rigidity, and ease of movement. This also allows for yacht-specific considerations to be addressed during construction of the surf boat, rather than after the boat has completed the assembly process. This allows owners to arrange their Mastercraft to match their motherships lifting and storage configuration.
“Entering the yacht tender market is an exciting next step for MasterCraft and an opportunity to bring our experience building premium, purpose-built boats to a new application,” said Greg Miller, MasterCraft's senior vice president of global sales and commercial operations, in a press release. “By incorporating lifting points at the factory level, we can approach each tender with greater precision and ensure the boat is built with its intended configuration in mind from the start.”
The X23 as a Yacht Tender
The X23 will be the first model to showcase the new lifting setup as MasterCraft begins unveiling its redesigned 2027 X lineup.
The lifting-point option will be available throughout the X lineup and on other MasterCraft models, not only the X23.
For yachts with more specialized requirements, MasterCraft has also partnered with British boatbuilder Cockwells to customize the tenders to individual vessels, including arranging the lifting-points to specific yacht garages and storage spaces. MasterCraft describes the offering as a way to configure the boat around the yacht it will operate from, rather than trying to retrofit two incompatible shapes.
MasterCraft's new yacht tender website also mentions other customizable details like personalized finishes, a global delivery service, and crew training for those who add a Mastercraft to their vessel.
A New Application for the X Line
The X23 being used for the Monaco debut will come from MasterCraft's recently redesigned X series, which includes updated running surfaces, new interior layouts, new helm technology, and upgraded equipment options.
Mastercraft introduced its latest XStar models in 2025, including completely redesigned 23- and 25-foot versions of its flagship watersports line. Those boats incorporated features including MasterCraft's SurfStar system, a redesigned hull and ballast system, expanded audio technology and updated helm displays. They also added the all-new XT25 in 2024.
Most recently, MasterCraft Boat Holdings completed a massive expansion of its portfolio with the acquisition of Marine Products Corporation, adding Chaparral and Robalo alongside the company's existing MasterCraft, Crest and Balise brands. The transaction was valued at approximately $232.2 million USD.
Dealer Network & Support
MasterCraft says the yacht tender program will be supported by its network of 201 service dealers around the world, including 46 locations within 50 miles of a major coast.
The network will provide service support for yacht owners and crews looking to add a surf boat, with or without lifting capability.
The yacht tender program will officially debut at the Monaco Yacht Show this coming September 23 with a display featuring the modified X23.
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