Malibu Sunscape 21lSV Bowrider

There are plenty of instances where less is more: Christmas lunch, beer-drinking games and ironing are good examples.

Conversely, the Malibu Sunscape 21LSV puts a strong case forward for more being more. With an upgraded 340hp petrol Monsoon inboard engine from Indmar with ZF Hurth vee-drive, you get a 6.55m boat that's as big as a seven-metre model.

A multipurpose bowrider that caters for the rebounding interest in waterskiing, the Sunscape 21LSV has high sides, a wide beam and an interior that's deep, safe and accommodating, rated to carry up to 12 passengers. The bow seating and buoyancy is such that adults can stretch their legs up front, with deep freeboard so you don't have to worry about water slopping aboard on a busy waterway like Sydney Harbour, the Broadwater or Port Phillip Bay.

To better handle saltwater use, Malibu designers have fine-tuned the boats over the years at the behest of the Australian manufacturer. The licensed plant in Albury builds more than 300 boats a year, claiming more than 30 per cent of the local trailerable watersports market. With stainless steel used wherever possible, no timber in features like seat bases, and a hull that meets the American company's strict standards, the boats have strong resale value.

The so-called SV25 Diamond-Vee hull has a modified-vee running surface with deadrise from 25 degrees in the bow to 10 degrees at the transom. There are pronounced reverse chines and deep lips on the lifting strakes. The boat was keen to get cracking with the upgraded 340hp Monsoon motor, as opposed to the standard-issue 320hp model. The 176lt fuel tank should cater for a big day of skiing and cruising.

Construction comprises GRP with a mix of chopped strand and numerous types of handlaid woven rovings in the high-load areas. There's also a sound-suppression layer, GRP stringers bonded to the hull for stiffness, and a composite floor and rear engine-bay covers that don't warp when you tread on them.

In the water and on the trailer, the Sunscape 21LSV looks big. Compared with the 2004 model, it's 15cm longer and 18cm wider, with about 10cm more freeboard. Supplied on a custom galvanised tandem Ezy Tow trailer with electric brakes, the rig tips the scales to 2200kg and measures 7.5m long; but with the clip-off teak boarding platform and folding drawbar you can get the garaging length down to 6.80m.

 By the time you read this review the new 2006 model Sunscape LSV will be hitting the water. What are the differences? New deck tape, chrome dash inserts housing a new multifunction LCD screen, a drive-by-wire throttle and a new push-button PrecisionPro speed control system as standard. New options include driver's seat heater, a PowerWedge electric/hydraulic remotely-operated foil for bigger wakes, and a chrome billet glove box door.

But that's pretty much it, so you can take this review as being applicable to the new release but for some largely cosmetic surgery and the speed control unit.

DEVIL IN THE DETAIL
Besides the upgraded engine, the demo boat boasted optional halogen docking lights and trick stainless-steel exhaust tips. Stainless-steel fittings were evident from the windscreen frame to its support struts, the rubrail to the grabrails in the bow, and on the trick navigation light.

The bow pit, which can be sealed off from the cockpit using the supplied wind dam, is deep with adult-length seats, but only small sidepockets for stowing personals and nylon carpet that lines the sides and underseat storage areas. The seat bases are vented and, with the supplied infill, you can turn the bow into a second sunpad.

Anchor storage is best dealt with using a loose tub kept in, say, the spare storage area beside the motor. The pillar-less three-piece windscreen, which vents through subfloor stringers to the engine room, is an absolute beauty, with clear vision when seated.

Storage pockets line the companionway between bow and cockpit, with more storage in sidepockets, each of which includes a moulded insert with drinkholders and a speaker. There are stainless-steel grabrails here so the ski observer has something to hold onto when powering through the turns, which is something this boat - and this writer - revelled in.

SOCIAL LAYOUT
Seating is everything in the Sunscape 21LSV. Virtually the entire cockpit is given over to a U-shaped lounge tracing the peripheries of the boat. Swivel the helm seat - with mechanical lumber support and flip-up bolster - to face aft and six or more adults can sit around the lift-out lunch table.

 The cockpit has a veritable catacomb of storage. Besides the aforesaid sidepockets there's a deep lockable glovebox and a huge cavern ahead of the co-pilot or ski observer, plus loads of space under the cockpit lounges. The port side lounge storage area is one long four-metre compartment running back to the transom, while the starboard lounge harbours a lined icebox that drains to the bilge and more lengthy storage room.

More storage exists in the lined underfloor ski locker. The lockable engine bay and aft sunpad lids have storage nets on their underside, so you can dry your swimmers, plus dedicated recesses for stowing the lunch table. I'd chuck everything from picnic settings to towels and ski ropes in here.

Among the details that impressed were the three 12V outlets for phones and video dotted about the cockpit; the trick folding arm rest on the rear lounge that includes drinkholders; the pop-up aluminium ski pole with swivel top to prevent tow-rope chafe; and the aft sunpad. The teak swim platform is at a convenient height so you can easily clamber back aboard after a ski run. Twin fuel fillers let you can grab whatever slot is vacant at the servo.

The sunpad lid over the engine bay lifts on gas struts to reveal removable side service engine panels. There was a Silent Rider wet exhaust - this was a quiet boat - and a freshwater flush system. Freshwater cooling is an option. The dipsticks are easy to access. Engineering includes a 1.125in shaft, ZF Hurth 1:1 FNR gearbox and Walter 1.46:1 vee-drive.

Running gear ranged from an adjustable bronze rudder on twin cutless bearings, which means 2000h service intervals, and optional wedge in case you want more wake, to twin Gorilla fins for snappy turning and, ordinarily, a four-blade 13.5in x 17.5in CNC-cut Acme prop. The test boat had a lower-geared 13.5in x 16in Wakesetter prop for hauling ballast.

DRIVE TIME
The graphics combo of the Sunscape 21LSV demo boat is pretty timeless - not too contemporary, but slimming and smart. There are some 20 other gelcoat colour choices. As ever with this badge, I found plenty of eye candy at the helm, not least being an Italian leather-bound Issotta steering wheel and matching throttle knob on a Morse shift.

The dash had trick Medallion instruments relaying oil pressure, fuel level, volts, speed, and revs. A switchable LCD display reports on air and water temperature, engine hours, and time of day. A depth sounder is optional.

Ergonomically, this boat has what I consider a model helm and I dropped into the deep bucket seat with a sense of belonging. At whatever speed, the wind was pleasantly out of my eyes, and there was no spray to talk of.

The boat planned at 10.7kt at 2200rpm. It ran flatter at trick ski and wakeboard speed of about 20.1kt at 2700rpm to fast ski of 29.2kt at 3700rpm. Maximum cruise was 32.5kt at 4300rpm, but this and the top speed of 38.1kt at 5300rpm can be boosted to 35kt and 40kt respectively with the standard prop, says Simon Hill from Malibu.

 Two things stood out about the drive: how quiet the boat was at all speeds, allowing you to hold a conversation without shouting; and how tightly it cornered without letting go. I've been aboard smoother-riding boats through the chop, but this 21-footer was a competent summer conveyance with plenty of comfort.

It didn't surprise me to discover the Sunscape 21LSV is a popular choice for slalom skiing, as the wake was flat and obliging; but it will be just as adept with a couple of young families, a carry-on cooler, a picnic setting and a program that involves getting wet. The more the merrier on this big-hearted social skiboat.

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