As previously mentioned, MasterCraft’s X-25 took home the National Marine Manufacturers Association Innovation Award in the Runabouts & Fishing Craft to 24′ category. Following the announcement last Thursday evening in Miami, I spent some time on Friday getting to know the boat.

Turns out one of the reasons it’s innovative is that it basically takes some of the best features of other models, and combines them all into one strong and versatile package. From the much-touted wakeboarding and wakesurfing hull of the CSX crossover model, to the cockpit of a V-drive ski boat, MasterCraft has looked to what works, what is popular with their customers, and produced a greatest hits package in a very popular size range. To that combination it has added something new — a versatile seating arrangement at the stern.

MasterCraft’s Director of Sales Parker Stair personally walked me through the X-25. Check out the boat NMMA judges found worthy of the innovation crown in Miami…

Written by: Jeff Hemmel
Jeff Hemmel writes for boats.com, Boating, PersonalWatercraft.com, and Powersports Business. The former Senior Editor at Watercraft World, Jeff is a multi-time award winner as well as a 2008 inductee into the IJSBA Hall of Fame. His first book, "The Anti-Pirate Potato Cannon...and 101 Other Things For Young Mariners To Try, Do, & Build On the Water," received a bronze medal in the 2010 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards.