If you are in the market for a new ride to carry you through your next seafaring adventure, Malibu Boats is an American manufacturer that should definitely be at the top of your list. Malibu Boats, a company founded in Merced, California in 1982 and presently headquartered in Loudon, Tennessee, is the world’s largest manufacturer of watersports towboats. In their short history, they have achieved a meteoric rise in the boat industry. If you want speed, safety, and style, you can hardly go wrong with Malibu.
We want you to have the best time possible the next time you head out to sea, and the only way to make that happen is to have a dependable, cool boat you do not need to fret over. That is why we have written this article, to share our list of the 10 best Malibu Boats on the market. We will provide you with an overview of each boat, going over both positive and negative features. Then, we will reveal the boat we consider to be the best of the best. By the end of this review, you will have plenty of information to guide you in the purchase that will change your life.
Product FAQ
1. What Are the Benefits of Owning a Boat?
For many people, especially those with some money to burn, the coolness factor is enough to sway them toward buying a boat. Believe it or not, though, there is so much more to gain from owning your own boat.
First things first, owning a boat opens up a world of opportunity in terms of recreational activities you can enjoy with family and friends. The average person does not spend a great deal of time out at sea, so most people in your circle are sure to jump at the chance to join you on your next aquatic adventure. If you are looking for ways to spend quality time with your loved ones, teach your children some new skills, introduce your friends to a new and exciting activity, or catch some fish, getting your own boat is a fantastic idea.
Secondly, having a boat is sure to inspire and satisfy the explorer in you. When you have ready access to deeper waters, there are countless new locations to explore. If your life is in dire need of excitement, a boat may be just the thing you need to harness your adventurer’s spirit.
Third, if you play your cards right, you can use your boat to make some extra cash. Most people are not willing to take the plunge and buy their own boat, and understandably so. They would much rather rent one and save themselves the hassle of needing to maintain it in between voyages. If you own a boat and put in the necessary legwork to get the word out, you can make a considerable amount of money.
2. Is Owning a Boat Difficult?
Many people fantasize about owning a boat but fail to recognize that it is not without its own share of difficulties. Here are a few of the challenges you can expect when you get your new boat.
First, you should consider where you live and how accommodating your climate is. If you live in a region where temperatures are always low then, well, you are not likely to get very much mileage on your boat. Cruising over icy water can be dangerous and damage your boat.
Second, keep in mind that boats require a significant amount of maintenance. Keeping your boat in good condition will not only take time but money as well. Before you get a boat, you will need to make sure you have sufficient funds to pay for storage. When you do finally get your boat, you will have to clean it, make repairs (or pay a specialized mechanic to do it for you), and check up on different parts to ensure the boat does not die in the middle of the ocean.
Third, be aware that accessories and spare parts can sometimes be difficult to find and expensive. In some cases, people excitedly buy a boat, only to realize that the accessories add enough to the cost that the entire venture is no longer feasible. Do your research beforehand to make sure you have the time and money to handle this.
3. What Does Boat Maintenance Entail?
In general, there are three major parts to proper boat maintenance.
The first is cleaning. You will need to wash your boat regularly, especially if you boat in saltwater. Saltwater leaves a residue of, well, salt. Salt is great on food, but not on boats. It corrodes metal, fasteners, and other important bits of hardware. It can also damage your boat’s gel coat. To avoid this, you must wash your boat with fresh water every time you return to land. Use a boat brush with a long handle and soft bristles as well as soap and marine boat wash. Failing that, car wash soap, or even laundry soap, can get the job done.
The second regular task is the oil change. The frequency will vary model to model, but in general, expect to change your boat’s oil every 100 hours of use (for most boaters, this ends up being around once a year). You can take your boat to a local dealer and have them do it for you, but as you can probably imagine, this is a huge hassle when you account for the necessary towing and so forth. We recommend that you learn how to change the oil in your boat’s engine yourself, which, fortunately, is a fairly simple chore.
The third task of maintenance is checking the propeller and keeping it clear of objects like discarded fishing lines. Leaving these sorts of objects caught in your propeller for long can cause major damage. As often as you can, you must remove the propeller, make sure it is intact and undamaged.
4. Where Can You Buy Malibu Boats?
You can buy a Malibu boat from your local dealer. You can also get them directly from Malibu’s website.
5. What Sets Malibu Boats Apart from Other Boat Manufacturers?
Malibu Boats is a manufacturer with a stellar track record for creating trustworthy, high-performance boats. They use a number of unique technologies to design their boats, including the famous “Surf Gate” technology.
How We Reviewed the Following Malibu Boats
The following products were reviewed based on the following parameters Features, Pros & Cons, Price, Where to Buy, and Warranty. We settled on these 5 parameters because we wanted to provide our readers with a holistic and fair overview of each of these 10 boats. We want our readers to know everything they need to know before they make their purchase.
Overall Price Range of This Product (and Similar Products)
Malibu Boats range from $50,000 to $200,000. The main price determinants include size, fuel capacity, weight capacity, and technologies included.
What We Reviewed
- Malibu 23 Ride
- Malibu Wakesetter 25 LSV
- Malibu Wakesetter 24 MXZ
- Malibu M235
- Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV
- Malibu Response TXI OPen Bow
- Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV
- Malibu 247 Wakesetter LSV
- Malibu Wakesetter 22 MXZ
- Malibu 20 VTX
Comparisons
1. Malibu 23 Ride
Features
The Malibu 23 Ride is an affordable entry point into boating. It has a length of 23′, a beam of 8’4″, a max draft of 27″, and a weight of 3,900 pounds. It has a variable dead rise, and at full capacity, it carries 56 gallons of fuel.
PROS
- The Malibu 23 Ride is among the more affordable Malibu Boats
- It has a comfy, carpeted interior
- It has a playpen setup in the bow
- It has plenty of seating
CONS
- The cockpit is a bit plain in terms of features, but it still has everything you need
Price
This product can be found at a dealership for around $50,000.
Warranty
You can request it via customer service.
2. Malibu Wakesetter 25 LSV
Features
The Malibu Wakesetter 25 LSV is an ultra premium offering, measuring 25′ lengthwise with a beam of 8’6″. Its draft is 2’3″, and it has a displacement of 5,600 pounds. At full capacity, it holds 77 gallons of fuel.
PROS
- It can hold up to 19 people
- It features Malibu’s Command Center, a pair of touchscreen displays
- It has a Power Wedge to keep the bow low
- It has a high-definition rearview transom camera
CONS
- It is quite expensive at around $200,000
Price
This product can be found at a dealer for around $200,000.
Warranty
You can request it via customer service.
3. Malibu Wakesetter 24 MXZ
Features
The Malibu Wakesetter 24 MXZ is a sleek boat with an impressive length of 24’5″ and a beam measuring 8’6″. Its dry weight is 5,500 pounds, and it can seat as many as 18 people. It can carry 77 gallons of fuel.
PROS
- It features Malibu Boat’s signature Surf Gate system
- With the Surf Band, you can control the Power Wedge and boat speed from the water
- It can seat 18 people
CONS
- We could not find any major flaws with the Wakesetter 24 MXZ
Price
This product can be found at a dealer for about $100,000.
Warranty
You can request it via customer service.
4. Malibu M235
Features
The Malibu M235 has a length of 23’6″ with a beam measuring 8’6″. Its fuel capacity is 73 gallons, and it features an Indmar Monsoon 575 engine. It comes equipped with the Viper 2 Command Center, drop-in Yeti coolers, and pop-up cleats.
PROS
- Delivers best-in-class luxury and performance
- Most customized and extreme wake and wave-creation capabilities bar none.
- Fit and finish is probably deserving of the price tag.
- The electronics are perfect. Love the sport dash knob, the touch screen, go pro mount.
CONS
- This is obvious, but frankly important, it’s expensive.
Price
This product can be found at a dealership for around $150,000.
Warranty
You can request it via customer service.
5. Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV
Features
The Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV has a length of 23′ and a beam measuring 8’6″. Its dry weight is 4,500 pounds, and at full capacity, it can hold 67 gallons. It is capable of reaching a max horsepower of 555.
PROS
- The bow is large enough for two adults
- It has a fantastic red color scheme
- The interior is plush
- It can generate some serious power
- It is one of Malibu’s more affordable boats
CONS
- Bow rise when fully weighted is significant
- The touchscreen buttons are small
Price
This product can be found at a dealership for around $50,000.
Warranty
You can request it via customer service.
6. Malibu Response TXI Open Bow
Features
The Malibu Response TXI measures 20’6″ lengthwise and has a beam measuring 7’11”. It weighs 3,100 pounds, and it seats 5. It holds 40 gallons of fuel.
PROS
- Smooth, passable, barely-there wakes come straight from the factory.
- Zero Off GPS speed control and billet aluminum accents.
- The performance of the T-Cut Diamond Hull ™ on the TXi is undeniable.
- With 12 world records under its belt,
CONS
- Can accomodate up to 5 seats capacity.
Price
This product can be found at a dealership for around $80,000.
Warranty
You can request it via customer service.
7. Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV
Features
The Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV measures 25′ lengthwise and has a beam of 8’6″. Its dry weight is 5,600 pounds, and it seats as many as 19 people. It carries 77 gallons of fuel.
PROS
- It comes with Malibu’s convenient Command Center system
- The Power Wedge II keeps the bow low for quick planing
CONS
- Some may find the design to be boring
Price
This product can be found at a dealership for around $160,000.
Warranty
You can request it via customer service.
8. Malibu 247 Wakesetter LSV
Features
This boat has a length of 24’7″ and a beam of 102″. It can carry as many as 17 people, and at full capacity, it holds 78 gallons of fuel. It comes equipped with the Monsoon 410 hp 409/L96 6.0 L CAT engine.
PROS
- It is incredibly spacious
- It has a luxurious interior
- Turns are fantastically smooth
CONS
- It is best suited for large parties. It may be unwieldy to use alone or in small groups.
Price
This product can be found at a dealership for around $80,000.
Warranty
You can request it via customer service.
9. Wakesetter 22 MXZ
Features
The Wakesetter 22 MXZ measures 22’5″ lengthwise and 8’6 along the beam. It has a dry weight of 4,850 pounds, and at full capacity, it can hold 15 people or 2,115 pounds. It holds 48 gallons of fuel.
PROS
- The MaxBallast system bolsters the wake by making precise measurements
- It comes with a number of unique technologies, including Surf Gate, Power Wedge, and Surf Band
CONS
- The exterior design is somewhat drab
Price
This product can be found at a dealership for around $100,000.
Warranty
You can request it via customer service.
10. Malibu 20 VTX
Features
The Malibu 20 VTX measures 20′ lengthwise and has a beam of 8’2″. It weighs 3,500 pounds, and it seats 11 people. It has a fuel capacity of 38 gallons.
PROS
- You have the option of getting the Integrated Surf Platform, which includes Power Wedge, Surf Gate, and Surf Band
- It has ski pylon mounts to keep the pivot point at the boat’s center
CONS
- It is best suited for smaller parties
Price
This product can be found at a dealership for around $100,000.
Warranty
You can request it via customer service.
The Verdict
In the end, we decided the best of the best among Malibu Boats is the Wakesetter 24 MXZ, which sells for around $100,000 (price rating: $$). It offers an excellent compromise between price and performance. It comes chock full of Malibu’s signature technologies, and it is spacious enough to hold a whopping 18 people.
