Boat Test: 2025 Mystic Powerboats M5200XL

Overview

Punch the throttles at the helm of the Mystic M5200XL, and the acceleration feels so smooth and effortless that you don’t realize how quickly you’re gaining speed or even how fast you’re actually going. That is, until you glance to one side and notice the houses and channel markers along the waterway start to blur. Then you feel like a pilot flying a private jet on a ­bluebird day, experiencing nothing but pure speed in a luxury setting.

Founded in 1996 by John Cosker, Mystic has had a hand in both the offshore-racing and recreational-boating sectors since that time. On the rec side, Mystic has gained a reputation for building opulent speedsters, which is fully evident when you step aboard the M5200XL. The boat is highly customizable, so no two are exactly alike, but our test model had a total of eight helm-style seats—two rows of four—under the hardtop, each with its own flip-up bolster, so everyone can adjust independently to their own comfort level. Step aft to the transom for a wraparound lounge featuring an electrically actuated teak table that can be converted to a sun pad with the add-on cushions. Just aft of the helm stadium seating, there’s a summer kitchen with a sink, grill, and a cooler that slides in and out at the push of a button.

Interior and Accessories

Coaming bolsters adorn the inwales from stem to stern, and the wide walkways to either side of the console provide easy passage to the spacious bow lounge. With 40 inches of freeboard, moving around this boat feels safe and secure. Just forward of the console, Mystic installed three forward-facing lounges with their own cup holders and armrests. The wraparound seating in the bow is ergonomically designed for comfort. Two electrically actuated tables can be deployed to rise from the deck and create another social space. Our tester had a Garmin display, synced to the helm, ­flush-mounted into the bow, so passengers can keep tabs on where the captain is going.

Step belowdecks into a cabin with 6 feet, 4 inches of headroom and a V-berth that converts to a dinette. The head has a vanity with a mounted bowl sink, as well as a VacuFlush ­toilet—all separated from the shower by a full-length glass door. Our test boat had the summer kitchen in the main cockpit rather than a galley belowdecks, but owners can add one ­below if desired. Crank up the air conditioning on a hot summer night to sleep or hang out in climate-controlled comfort. All of it adds up to a boat that’s more than capable of meeting your needs for an overnight cruise.

Engines

But if you’re interested in the Mystic M5200, No. 1 on your checklist is going to be how this boat performs, and on our test day, it came up aces. With four Mercury 600 Verado V-12s on the transom, this 13-ton boat climbed onto plane in an astounding 3.1 seconds and hit the 30 mph mark in just 7.5 seconds en route to a near 80 mph top end. What’s more, our running angle never climbed over 2 degrees on our clinometer, confirming what we already knew—the boat did not squat or hesitate coming out of the hole. That’s important when commanding a boat of this size and speed, so you can always keep your eyes connected to what’s ­happening on the water in front of you. The double-stepped hull ran with a level attitude and felt predictable throughout the speed range.

Handling proved as smooth as silk during hard-over turns at 30 mph, and our view of the water and surrounding area was never compromised. The tall wraparound windshield kept us protected from the wind at speed, and the twin flush-mounted 27-inch ­Garmin displays were easy to read from behind the wheel. Our test boat also featured Garmin’s Surround View, providing a ­360-degree ­video feed of the entire boat. All of that gives the captain an extra level of awareness while operating at high speeds. Mystic ­prerigs its M5200s for a Seakeeper 6 gyrostabilizer—80 percent of its ­customers opt for one—but it’s such a wide, stable boat that it handles well in a beam sea without a gyro.

There aren’t many builders making performance-based 50-footers, but another luxurious choice to consider is the Formula 500 S­uper Sport Crossover, which lists for $3,625,520 with the same quad Mercury 600 Verado ­package. Nor-Tech also offers a 500 Sport that lists for $2,100,000 (starting price).

While every Mystic is highly ­customizable, our test boat had some cool added features that are worth pointing out. The electric ­sliding hardtop lets you bathe the cockpit in natural light and get some natural ventilation on the right day. There’s also an electric sunshade that can be deployed from the hardtop to cover the cockpit aft of the hardtop, and a canvas sunshade that can cover the bow lounge. The extended swim platform helps with boarding at the dock or taking a swim while anchored near the sandbar.

After spending the day running the ­Mystic M5200XL, doing everything from flat-out speed runs to running at idle in no-wake zones to docking it in a current using the joystick controls, there’s no doubt that this boat can satisfy your need for speed while also keeping your crew safe, comfortable and entertained.

Read Next: Mystic M4200

How We Tested

• Engines: Quad Mercury 600 Verado outboards
• Drive/Props: Outboard/Verado 12 16.5″ x 37″ 4-blade stainless steel (outer); Verado 12 16.5″ x 37″ 3-blade stainless steel (inner)
• Gear Ratio: 2.50:1 Fuel Load: 231 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 600 lb.

High Points 

• With 40-inch gunwale height, the freeboard is securely taller than waist-high from stem to stern.
• Carbon-fiber windshield frame and hardtop shaves 300 pounds in weight compared with a fiberglass hardtop.
• Eight helm seats with independent flip-up bolsters means everyone has a plush place to stand or sit under the hardtop.

Low Point

• Bow lounge jumpseat backrest on our test boat didn’t recline enough; Mystic is changing the design starting with the next build.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation