XStar 23 or G23 Paragon: which premium 23-footer should you choose?

At this level, nobody wonders anymore whether the boat will throw a good wave. The question becomes: which of the two approaches suits you? MasterCraft and Nautique have each packed their best technology into a 23-foot format, more compact than their 25-foot flagships, without stripping out any equipment.

As an official Nautique dealer and exclusive MasterCraft importer for France, Motor Boat 74 sells both boats. Here is what really sets them apart, backed by manufacturer figures, and what it means for an owner on an Alpine lake.

XStar 23 or G23 Paragon: the numbers side by side

The MasterCraft XStar 23 carries over the “pickle-fork” bow that defines the XStar family, the power Z100 tower and the standard supercharged Ilmor V8. The Nautique G23 Paragon is the most luxurious version of the G23 platform, with its telescoping tower, its two 15-inch LINC Panoray screens and a hull bottom with a configurable running surface.

Sources: mastercraft.com and nautique.com, figures collected in October 2026. The XStar 23 figures are identical to those of the 2026 model year. Nautique ballast consists of 1,134 kg (2,500 lb) standard and 544 kg (1,200 lb) optional. Always check the exact configuration on your quote.

Two gaps stand out. In its base version, the XStar 23 carries nearly 600 kg more ballast than the G23 Paragon, and 77 more liters of fuel, or about 30% more range. The G23 Paragon, for its part, takes 136 kg more load and offers a diesel engine that MasterCraft does not.

Ballast and wave: two ways to tune the same ambition

MasterCraft: standard weight first, then profiles

MasterCraft delivers the XStar 23 with 1,712 kg of factory ballast, filled by the FastFill system, and leaves the wave shape to SurfStar. The manufacturer highlights saved profiles that let you go from a beginner rider to an advanced one, at different speeds and wave sizes. The benefit is tangible: even with a small crew, the boat has plenty of weight from the start to dig a deep wave.

Nautique: a hull bottom that moves and a graduated wave

Nautique starts from lighter standard ballast and relies more on the hull bottom. The NCRS, a movable surface extending the hull, deploys and retracts automatically depending on the chosen activity: it changes the wake shape, helps the boat get on plane and corrects its trim. The WavePlate directs water as it leaves the transom; the driver sets the wave on a 0 to 10 scale shown on the screen, and the surfer switches sides without anyone moving in the boat.

Nautique owners know the downside: with a small crew, the wave sometimes lacks mass. That is exactly what the extra ballast option is for: two tanks under the floor in the center of the boat, adding 544 kg to make up for missing passengers.

Driving, screens and life aboard

Both boats come standard with a stern thruster for docking: MasterCraft's stern thruster and Nautique Steering Assist, which gets a control integrated into the throttle for 2027. For visibility, the XStar 23 has four cameras, the G23 Paragon a wide-angle rear camera that deploys at startup.

The helm reflects two philosophies. MasterCraft pairs a dual touchscreen with the MyDrive system, wireless charging and seven separately adjustable audio zones. Nautique fits two 15-inch LINC Panoray screens, a JL Audio system with two 12-inch subwoofers facing the rider, and for 2027 a swim step that slides out from under the platform at the push of a button.

Aboard, the difference is mainly at the bow and the tower. The XStar 23's pickle-fork bow offers a deep lounge that converts into a sun pad with an optional cushion. The Paragon's telescoping tower raises and lowers while passengers stay seated, with an intermediate position to set the height. MasterCraft also lists 2.78 m³ of storage, a figure Nautique does not publish.

What changes compared with the 25-footers

If you are weighing the larger models, our comparison of the G25 Paragon and the XStar 25 covers that matchup in detail. Going down to 23 feet saves about 60 cm in length and 300 to 360 kg dry: the XStar 25 and the G25 Paragon are both listed at about 3,810 kg. In return, you lose two to three rated seats (16 instead of 18 and 19).

What the 23-foot format does not change is the beam. All four boats measure 2.59 m, beyond the 2.55 m limit above which road transport in France becomes an oversize load. And at more than 3.4 metric tons dry, the boat, fuel and trailer combined exceed the 3,500 kg allowed with a European BE car-and-trailer license and the towing capacity of most cars. An XStar 23 or a G23 Paragon is therefore rarely towed behind the family car: plan instead on professional boat transport and a fixed berth for the season.

Which one should you choose for the way you boat?

The general brand comparison in our article on the differences between MasterCraft and Nautique applies here too: both builders deliver top-level waves, each with its own character. The criteria below are meant to guide your test drive, not replace it.

Choose the XStar 23 if…

• you often go out with a small group and want plenty of ballast without options;
• you string together long days on the water and appreciate 325 liters of fuel;
• you want a choice of four gas engines, from 373 to 630 hp;
• the pickle-fork bow lounge and the Z100 tower win you over.

Choose the G23 Paragon if…

• several surfers take turns and you want to adjust the wave step by step, side included, without moving the crew;
• you wakeboard as much as you wakesurf and the configurable hull bottom appeals to you;
• a diesel engine is on your list of requirements;
• you often have a full crew aboard, which naturally adds the weight the standard ballast does not provide.

Our verdict

Neither one outclasses the other. The XStar 23 is the more self-sufficient choice: more factory ballast, more fuel, more engine options. The G23 Paragon is the more adjustable choice: a graduated wave, a hull bottom that adapts and very refined comfort features for 2027. Between the two, the wave your surfer prefers and how the boat feels in your hands should decide.

Our team knows both boats inside out and can help you configure the one that suits your crew.

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