Mastercraft's Maristar 245 SS

Mastercraft's Maristar 245 SS is a luxury watersports platform built for - surprise! - saltwater running.

November 1, 2005

Salt water can be found everywhere on the surface of the earth ' in the oceans, in rivers and in saltwater ponds. In fact, about 71 percent of the earth is covered with salt water. For boaters, venturing out from fresh water to salt water opens up a variety of enticing possibilities.

These possibilities are fresh on your mind, despite the early morning hour, as you push away from the dock aboard MasterCraft's new Maristar 245 SS (Saltwater Series). Just sitting at the helm and soaking it all in is enough to get you excited. The flip-up captain's seat is first-class all the way, wider than normal and plenty comfortable. The aluminum-stainless-steel dash is a real eye-catcher, housed in bullet-shaped canisters that make the gauges stand out from the crowd.

Pushing the throttle forward, you hear the engine roar to life. The test boat is powered by a 375-hp, 6.0L Crusader GM Vortec V8 engine designed to handle the rigors of a saltwater environment. It's freshwater-cooled, protected with premium non-corrosive paint and comes with composite motor mounts. The 375-hp Crusader is the middle option offered by MasterCraft, sandwiched between a 330-hp Crusader and a 425-hp Crusader, and it feels like a good match for the boat. With a nearly full tank of gas (80 gallons out of a possible 90), the boat accelerates from 0 to 30 in 11.2 seconds en route to a top speed of 44.8 mph. It corners solidly, handles respectably in the little bit of chop being stirred up that day, and feels comfortable to drive.

Aside from the engine, the 245 SS has a plethora of other features geared toward bluewater protection. Stainless-steel gas shocks abound and are designed to enhance corrosion resistance. Sealed and waterproofed wiring connectors are built to prevent salty water from invading components and corroding parts. And sacrificial anodes are attached to underwater steel and bronze components. The anodes slowly release ions with the goal of preventing galvanic corrosion.

Hydraulic steering aims to provide added longevity and reliability, and should help avoid the tendency of some tradi-tional steering systems to 'seize up' on you as a result of saline corrosion. And a raw-water strainer puts an extra barrier between debris and your boat's heat exchanger, protecting your engine and potentially decreasing maintenance.

So what's all the fuss about salt water, anyway? MasterCraft is aiming its saltwater series at watersports enthusiasts located closer to coastal markets and those looking to expand their boating with outings such as an occasional intracoastal sunset cruise. Typical saltwater boats aren't built for watersports, so enter the SS line (MasterCraft also builds a 280 SS model). Although only time will tell how the boats hold up in a saltwater environment, the fact that these models share the same attention to detail and luxurious feel consistent with the MasterCraft heritage bodes well.

Speaking of luxury, the 245 SS ' like its freshwater sibling, the 245 VRS ' has an abundance of great features throughout the boat. Looking to check them out, you head to the bow, where your first discovery is the bow boarding ladder (great for beaching your boat) and anchor locker. The 245 boasts a pickle-fork design, inspired by the feel of catamarans, which results in more room in the boat's 'Superfly' bow. Cool. Other notable features up front include a draining cooler under the bow, comfy Rotocast seats with a smooth opening hatch, some snazzy cupholders and snap-in carpeting.

The luxury continues in the cockpit area, with a Plexiglas full windscreen providing total wind protection. Diamond-shaped styling makes for an aesthetically pleasing glove box, which proves as functional as it is easy on the eyes. There's tons of storage and a cooler under the seats to port, and more storage under the stern seating to starboard. The center stern seat comes off for a convenient walk through and easy access. A roomy sunpad and oversized swim platform ' the test boat has the optional, sharp-looking teak version ' round out this area of the boat.

Of course, MasterCraft is all about the watersports, and here again the 245 SS doesn't disappoint. A beefy ski locker in the cockpit looks impressive; the MasterCraft rep on board reports that it can hold six or seven combo skis. There's a removable pylon for getting the games rolling. And the test boat has the optional wakeboard tower (not pictured) with speakers on one side, lights on the other. The unique swiveling board rack is yet another example of the top-notch feel of this boat. Looking up, you gaze wistfully at the tower, wishing there was time for watersports today.

But unfortunately, it's back to the docks. Make no mistake, the 245 SS is a head turner ' but at a price, with the test boat running $73,500 and the base package coming in at $68,370. For the money, you get a top-tier, first-class boat with outstanding fit and finish, a solid ride, good watersports attributes and plenty of room to bring along friends. And now, you can enjoy all these attributes with the added benefits of bluewater boating.