Malibu Wakesetter 22 MXZ

But the bit that shines through is the bit that, well, you can’t see. Beneath the sparkling gelcoat and beaming brightwork exists a lot of pride of workmanship from the Malibu Australia crew.

Based in Albury, the yard uses special US boatbuilding equipment, fittings and materials, engines and laminate schedules. But as any chef will tell you, the result is in the application and baking. We will add, Australian-built Malibu boats really hold their value well and are considered premium products.

Enter the new-for-2012 Wakesetter 22 MXZ. While the boat will officially make its debut at this weekend’s Melbourne Boat Show and Sydney International Boat Show thereafter, we got an early drive on the home waters of Lake Hume. It was winter, mind you, so we didn’t don the rubber and dip the toes.

Furthermore, we must be up front in saying the boat we drove was a demonstrator and plug boat, which don’t usually warrant a proper test. But our review nevertheless revealed a lot of good things about the 22 MXZ and Malibu Australia.

Among the standout standard inclusions are an Illusion 3 tower with twin racks, upon which our demonstrator had four speakers linked to a substantial Rockford stereo upgrade. In fact, all stereo items are options.

Dash-mounted ballast system, stainless gauge panel, keyless ignition and cool Isotta Vista steering wheel are bundled at the helm, where the Silent Ride mufflers still allow you to carry on conversation with the V8 purring astern. You can get an optional saltwater package on the engine, with enclosed cooling and stainless exhaust if you intend to do lots of estuarine work.

But you just wouldn’t have this boat without the optional 6.5in MaliView electronic tow management system fitted to the demonstrator. It offers rider preset default modes from beginner to pro, as well as custom profiles.

There is also a wake surfing mode (note: wake surfing is subject to state waterways laws in Australia) where the boat fills just its port (natural footed) or starboard (goofy footed) ballast tanks to create a wave that you can ride, after having ditched the tow rope, on a dedicated small trick board.

The bimini is optional, as are snap-out carpets preferred for saltwater work, as is the bow-mounted ballast tanks fitted to the demonstrator, in addition to the standard amidships and rear-mounted ballast tanks.

Suffice to say, from a base price of $89,034, excluding dealer delivery, you can easily spec-up a 22 MXZ to $110,000 or more. We phoned a Sydney dealer, GRE Marine, which has the MXZ priced driveway from $91,500 on trailer.

In short, you get a lot more storage and seating space with a wide pickle-fork bow that resembles a trident with webbed feet rather than tapering mono form. As you can see from the photos hereabouts, when you add an infill you make a handy sunpad/daybed.

Drink holders and personal storage exists nearby, we like the mini anchor locker under the handy fold-down boarding ladder -- perfect when doing a picnic ashore -- and ordinarily there would be storage under the seats. The demo had the optional forward ballast tanks instead.

Banks of triple stainless-steel drink holders, grab rails and signature bi- and tri-density foam seating on plastic backing panels with drains underscore the boat’s saltwater-boating application. As ever, the signature upholstery is a highlight. The stainless steel boy-racer engine vent grills look cool, too.

A wind-dam or drop-in Perspex door helped keep the brisk Albury air at bay during our Lake Hume test drive, while the windscreen was a cool black alloy number with opening centre section (of course), stainless steel struts (not plastic) and mullions with cut-outs to reduce their bulk and the blind spot.

With a nice big rear-view mirror, we enjoyed views in all directions. Meanwhile, the low-glare matt-grey dash and brow above the engine gauges reduced reflection in the windscreen and small nooks for personal effects and a glove box were at hand here and there.

I wouldn’t be inclined to put the carrying capacity of 15 people to the test, but we must comment on the surround cockpit seating. The C-shaped layout could accommodate as many people as there are drink holders, which I counted to 10.

As this was a company demonstrator and plug boat, the underseat areas weren’t quite to the standard of finish as a full-production boat and I’d expect by now, when you look in the ski/board and storage locker ahead of the observer’s backrest, that you’d see a neater finish.

That said, storage is most definitely a highlight thanks also to the optional tower with quad speakers and racks, bimini and more. A table stowed under the engine bay lid can be assembled in the cockpit. Thanks to a second tier on the aft sun bed, you can sit facing out yonder and enjoy a casual bite to eat.

Then it’s back to business and those outlaw moves. Malibu has provided a nice deep platform for donning your chosen ride equipment and slipping into the water without fuss. Pickle bow to accommodating stern, the 22 MXZ is a thoroughbred wake and party boat.

We start in the weather-protected, heated mould room, where cleanliness is key, move to watch a special American-made gelcoat spraying machine in action, then note a layup schedule that includes sound-insulation material and composite in high-load areas.

A fit-looking local crew moves with haste, as is necessary when working with fibreglass. After curing, the plug-and-play wiring looms are located in such a way that there’s no risk of chafe. Hull and deck are joined as one, then the boat is tipped on its side to facilitate fitting the running gear including bronze fins and rudder.

The Indmar (a GM brand) engine is lowered into place and bolted to a special load-spreading ‘chassis’ (80-100 of the engines are held in stock at any one time) while stainless steel deck fittings, windscreen and internal fitout occurs later.

Malibu Australia says it uses only the very best stainless steel and aluminium coating for its towers. I witnessed the upholstery team using steamers to soften and stretch thick vinyl over dual and triple density foam seat cushions and dash panels. A lady busily sews in the background.

We should add, there is absolutely no timber in a Malibu boat. Thus, no rot.

Finally, after about four weeks and a spit and polish, it’s time for final scrutiny. There’s a 65-point checklist and water test of every boat on Lake Hume. Cue to our run in the fading afternoon light.

Viewing the all-important wake with full tanks and wedge down reveals steep, long, clean unbroken wave faces for getting maximum air. No-one will be disappointed and just about anyone can do it.

With Maliview, an electronic rider preset default system, you can tailor the wake and tow speed, much like cruise control on a car, to suit individual needs. Little Johnny might prefer 17mph on his board while a pro is more likely to ride around 23-25mph.

Meanwhile, plush seating and an impressive sound system with dash controls help set the mood, while vision from the helm seat remains clear, as the boat completes banks flat through the turns.

There’s a special wake-surf mode, however, wake surfing breaches the distance-off towing laws in NSW. So grab your wakeboard instead. It’s then that we catch glimpses of the snow-capped mountains behind Falls Creek from our position mid-lake.

Our guide, champion competitive boardrider and marketing man at Malibu, David “Thorpey” Thorpe, can’t be convinced to take to the water today. But Malibu is an interesting good story in a chilly market nonetheless.

The boat handled sweetly, in typical inboard fashion you could rip it around as hard as you like to the point torque wound up and you lost speed. With just the right amount of wheel, it maintains high performance turns that will thrill watersports riders.

Additionally, the brand stands out for its quality, perhaps even more so when made in Albury than Tennessee or Cali. What’s more, our watersports competitors can take it tow-to-toe with the best in the world. The sport of wakeboarding is growing Down Under albeit, despite the hype, not yet to its full potential due to economic constraints.

Meanwhile, a summer of heavy rain has delivered a windfall for Malibu Australia. The lakes and dams like Eildon or Lake Hume - which is five times the size of Sydney Harbour - are full and big rivers like the Hawkesbury have been flushed out of blue-green algae.

Before you know it, summer will come around again and, we’re betting, you see plenty more 22 MXZs on the water this season. Hey, we might even wing it back to Albury for a drive and ride.