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MasterCraft XT vs Heyday WT-Surf: Choosing Your Perfect Wakeboat

Feb. 28 2024 Buy New vs Used Boats By Brooke Wallace

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Welcome to Laken Water Sports, where the thrill of wakeboarding and wakesurfing meets the beauty of Phoenix, AZ. If you're in the market for a new wakeboat, you're likely considering the MasterCraft XT series and the Heyday WT-Surf. Both are exceptional in their own right, but which one will serve your needs best? Let's dive into a detailed comparison based on price, performance, features, technology, and wakesurfing capabilities.


Heyday WT-Surf

Heyday WT-Surf is a great wakeboat that is known for it’s affordability without compromising performance or design. 

Bow Design and Space

The Heyday WT-Surf features a distinctive bow design that immediately catches the eye due to its spaciousness and comfort. The area is designed with a wide layout, including a removable center cushion and flip-down armrests, creating an inviting space for lounging or cruising. This focus on maximizing space and comfort in the bow area highlights Heyday's commitment to providing a versatile and user-friendly experience.

heyday wakeboats

Heyday WT-Surf's Hangout Zone Seats

Heyday boats are known for their “Hangout Zone” and it’s easy to see why. These features are designed with both comfort and functionality in mind, making the WT-Surf a standout choice for families and wake sports enthusiasts alike. Here's a closer look at the benefits of these innovative seats:


  • Socializing and Comfort: The WT-Surf is built for socializing, with its layout including removable backrests, flexible seating, and ample space for gathering in the bow, cockpit, and stern. The "Heyday Hangout Zone" seats, located near the stern, are specifically designed to foster a social environment where passengers can comfortably interact, watch wake sports up close, or simply enjoy the ride.

  • Easy Access to Swim Platform: Positioned between the "Heyday Hangout Zone" seats, a walkthrough provides convenient and easy access to the swim platform. This feature is particularly useful for wakeboarders and surfers, allowing them to move seamlessly between the boat's interior and the water, enhancing the overall user experience.

  • Enhanced Viewing Experience: The unique positioning of the "Hangout Zone" seats allows passengers to get closer to the action than ever before. Whether someone is wake surfing or wakeboarding behind the boat, these seats offer an unparalleled view, making it more enjoyable for those onboard to watch their friends and family ride.

  • Additional Storage: Beneath the "Hangout Zone" seats, there is additional storage space available. This clever design ensures that the boat remains clutter-free while providing ample room for all the necessary gear, from life jackets to wakeboards, without sacrificing passenger space.

  • Comfort and Safety: The new upholstery introduced in the 2023 model adds another layer of comfort to the "Hangout Zone" seats, ensuring that passengers can relax in style. The higher freeboard design not only contributes to the comfort but also enhances safety by keeping passengers dry and secure within the boat.

  • Legal and Safe Seating: Unlike some unconventional seating arrangements that may not be legal or safe while the boat is in motion, the "Hangout Zone" seats are designed to be both legal and safe for use when the boat is underway, facing either forward or backward. This ensures that passengers can enjoy the excitement of being close to the water sports action without compromising on safety.

In summary, the "Hangout Zone" seats in the Heyday WT-Surf offer a unique blend of social engagement, comfort, functionality, and safety. These features collectively enhance the boating experience, making the WT-Surf an attractive option for those looking to enjoy water sports and leisure activities with friends and family.

Console Features and Technology

The console of the Heyday WT-Surf is equipped with simple yet effective controls, including toggle switches for managing the boat's systems like bilge pumps, lights, and ballast levels. It features digital readouts for ballast levels, a straightforward stereo interface, and analog gauges for RPM and speed, complemented by a customizable touchscreen in the center.  This setup reflects Heyday's philosophy of keeping things uncomplicated while still offering essential functionalities for all types of users. The inclusion of Mercury Smart Tow technology enhances the boating experience by allowing for customizable rider acceleration, showcasing Heyday's integration of thoughtful, user-centric technology.

heyday boat seating

Cabin and Seating

The cabin area of the WT-Surf is designed with traditional wraparound seating that offers flexibility, including a convertible spotter seat that can face forwards or backwards. This adaptability is a testament to Heyday's focus on socializing and comfort. The boat also features a large ski locker for storage, speakers integrated into the floors and tower, and pivoting board racks for easy access to gear. The WT-Surf's capacity to accommodate up to 17 people, combined with new upholstery for 2023, ensures a comfortable and enjoyable day on the water for friends and family.


Setting Up the Boat for Surfing and Wakeboarding

The WT-Surf offers versatile setup options for both surfing and wakeboarding, catering to different rider preferences and skill levels. For wake surfing, the boat can be listed to one side by adjusting the ballast tanks, or all ballasts can be filled and complemented with a standard Wake shaper for a clean wave. For wakeboarding, filling all ballasts, including an additional 650 pounds of Plug and Play ballast, maximizes the wake. This flexibility in setup allows users to customize the wake to their liking, accommodating everyone from beginners to pro riders.


Transom Features and Walk-Through

The transom area of the WT-Surf includes a padded walk-through for easy access to the swim step without stepping on the upholstery, enhancing the boat's practicality and maintenance. The recessed seating area with cup holders and a stereo remote control emphasizes Heyday's attention to creating enjoyable lounging spots. The unique "hangout zone" seats near the engine compartment offer an unparalleled view of the action on the water, allowing passengers to be part of the wake surfing experience in a way that's closer than most other boats can provide.


In summary, the Heyday WT-Surf stands out for its thoughtful design that prioritizes space, comfort, and user-friendly features, making it an attractive option for families and watersports enthusiasts looking for a versatile and accessible wakeboat.

heyday boat console

Mastercraft XT vs Heyday WT-Surf: Side-By-Side Comparison

Price: Affordability vs. Premium Branding

  • Heyday WT-Surf: Known for its affordability, Heyday boats like the WT-Surf are designed to provide great wakes and waves at prices approved by everyone. The Heyday H22, a similar model, starts around $75,000 to $94,985, indicating that the WT-Surf would be in a comparable range.
  • MasterCraft XT Series: The XT series, including the XT20, is a premium brand with a starting price just under $100,000. It's one of the more accessible options within the MasterCraft lineup, but still reflects the luxury and quality associated with the brand..

Performance: Engine Power and Wake Creation

  • Heyday WT-Surf: While specific engine details for the WT-Surf aren't provided, it's designed to create significant wakes and waves for wake sports, similar to the H22 which features a Mercury 6.2L 370 HP engine and a built-in hardtank subfloor ballast of 2,950 lbs.
  • MasterCraft XT Series: The XT series boats, such as the XT20, are powered by Ilmor engines known for reliable and robust performance. They come with the GEN2 Surf System, which includes wake-shaping tabs controlled by the touchscreen at the helm with preset surf profiles.

Features: Comfort, Convenience, and Style

  • Heyday WT-Surf: Heyday focuses on essential features that enhance the wake sports experience, such as intuitive controls, ample seating, and a user-friendly layout. The H22, for example, offers an intuitive Simrad touch screen, collapsible wake tower with swivel board racks, and convertible transom seating.
  • MasterCraft XT Series: The XT series boasts features like a ZFT Tower with spinning board racks and a center cockpit seat that converts to face aft. It also includes a touchscreen control system for easy manipulation of wake settings and boat functions..

Technology: User Experience and Control

  • Heyday WT-Surf: Heyday boats are equipped with the necessary technology to ensure a great time on the water, focusing on simplicity and functionality. The H22's Simrad touch screen and multi-function display screen for engine data and rider profiles are examples of Heyday's approach to technology.
  • MasterCraft XT Series: The XT series features advanced technology such as the SurfStar system for precise control over the wake and wave shape, a 12.1" center screen, and a 10.1" touchscreen dash with integrated GoPro control, offering a more high-tech experience..

Wakesurfing Capabilities: Wave Quality and Customization

  • Heyday WT-Surf: The WT-Surf's wakesurfing capabilities are likely enhanced by its hull design and integrated ballast tanks, similar to the H22, which creates a massive wake and clean curl without the need for external wake-shaping devices.
  • MasterCraft XT Series: The XT series boats feature the SurfStar system, which provides precise control over the wake and wave shape, allowing for a customizable wakesurfing experience. This technology is designed to cater to riders of different skill levels.

heyday wakeboat

Final Thoughts

In the end, whether you're drawn to the premium features and wake customization of the MasterCraft XT series or the affordability and user-friendly design of the Heyday WT-Surf, both wakeboats promise to deliver unforgettable experiences on the water. The Heyday WT-Surf, with its spacious bow, innovative "Hangout Zone" seats, and versatile performance, offers a fantastic value for families and watersports enthusiasts. If you're ready to make waves and create memories, we invite you to call or come into Laken Water Sports in Phoenix, AZ, to see these exceptional boats for yourself. Let our experts help you choose the perfect wakeboat to fit your lifestyle and have endless fun on the water.