Malibu Wakesetter VLX

Name: Malibu Wakesetter VLX
Brand: MALIBU

The name suggests another import to our shores but nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, it has many imported components but the only thing not Aussie about the build of this boat is its tag!

LIKES

- Incredibly swish to drive
- Low ambient noise levels
- Great backup from an Aussie company

DISLIKES

- With so many compartments, standard supplied ice box storage to suit would be ideal.

OVERVIEW

- Built here for our market.

When it comes to turning heads, the Malibu Wakesetter is up there with the very best of them. These boats are built in Albury Australia under licence to their US counterparts. Hulls are laid up in the factory there and anything that is brought in for inclusion in the build is Australian-ised to cope with our market trends, demands and environment.

Of interest is the fact that Malibu’s aftersales service is probably second to none. Even boats manufactured before the year 2000 can have any parts replaced as long as you have a hull serial number to quote. That includes windscreens, panels and upholstery so keeping your pride and joy in good nick is going to be a whole lot easier with one of these boats.

As those of the tow-rope fraternity evolve out of skiing into the various styles of boarding, some manufacturers have gone with the flow and built their boats around these relatively new-found trends. Malibu has done just that and done it well.

It is big, and roomy enough to be used as the base and tow boat for big days out on the water with more than just a few passengers.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

- Plenty of options available.

The base price for the Wakesetter is $84,278. On the reviewed boat, the EFI Monsoon engine had been upgraded to include ETX-CAT manifolds. Also the hinged transom walk-over is an optional extra, as is the sports dash shroud. The turned-down exhaust tips were an added extra and so too was the MaliView multifunction dashboard computer and Wet Tek fibreglass deck construction and clip in coverings.

The stainless-steel Power Wedge, ballast tanks, docking and underwater lights, hot and cold shower, two heater outlets and saltwater anodes were also additions. Add to that the tower-mounted speakers and non-slip surfaces on the trailer and the total package comes to $112,099.

LAYOUT

- Clever features.

This Malibu is rated to carry 14, yes 14. And looking at the seating available that doesn't look like it'd be a problem.

In the bow-riding section, the cushions are very plush with a snug wrap-around back rest in each aft corner next to the companionway that passes through the centre of the windscreen. The grab handles for the passengers here and elsewhere in the boat are crafted from stainless steel and kept at a low profile for maximum shoulder comfort for the occupants experiencing inertia, and they are flush to the liner with rebates behind so as not to intrude on available space.

Rebates in this liner below the handles lead into the void between it and the hull and drink holders are found here in the fore and aft sections along with stowage space for personal items. The usual stowage spaces are found under this seating.

The rear cockpit has a three-sided lounge system mounted on bulkheads that offer further stowage under the cushions.

Typical swivel seats serve the helm and passenger. The helm area is very tricked up with soft upholstering the fascias and flat tops of the dash. The windscreen is also ‘racy’ being tinted, wrap around and with vent slots in its corner frames to allow a breeze through to those seated here. The raking lines here compliment those of the wake board tower and bimini top.

Cushions atop the engine box lid offer some ‘at rest’ sunning areas and they are divided by the transom walk over which is a hinged, non-slip rubber pathway for people to utilise rather than have them trample over upholstery. The latter, whilst plush, is of heavy-duty material so that it holds together under stress.

The walkover hinges toward the aft while the cushioned engine-box hatches fold to port and starboard revealing a removable warming tray on which wet clothes may be stowed above the engine. With the tray lifted out, one has access down onto the top of the V8 for routine maintenance and checking.
A compartment features port and starboard of the engine and these are carpet lined and quite spacious.

MECHANICAL AND HULL

- Plenty of tanks to trim where you want.

The Wakesetter VLX features the Diamond hull which is slightly wider in the chines and sports deeper strakes than its sister model, the Ride hull. It is often referred to as the 3D hull in that it is designed specifically for three water sport disciplines being wake-surf, wake board and ski.

It has four ballast tanks which is one more than the standard fit. Two are 90 litres apiece in the aft of the hull while there is a 220-litre amidships and a 140 litre in the bow below decks.

The upgraded optional quad speakers are attached to the standard fit aluminium and stainless steel G3 Illusion tower with spin away board racks which make storing or removing boards easy in the cockpit rather than leaning out over the water to achieve this albeit uncomfortably.

There’s a brace of standard fit stereo speakers mounted in the upholstered liners about the boat as well.

The large swim platform on the transom is removable by manipulating a couple of locking nuts and this combined with a swing-away draw bar on the trailer will make storing this boat in tight garages and carports that much easier.

The power plant is a 350hp Monsoon engine with a displacement of 5.7 litres connected to a gearbox using electronic shifting and a V-drive.

The steering is a push pullcable rack-and-pinion style and features a counter balance on the top of the rudder that takes any shudders out of the system such as those from water pressure beating against it. No vibration what so ever was experienced when we took this boat for a run and as mentioned it is a fun boat to drive.

Sound-deadening material is laid into the hull during its layup and was effective for both water noise transmitted through the hull and engine noise reverberating in the voids under deck.

And if the early morning chill is getting to you, there is fan-driven heating under the dash for the skipper and a telescopic heating tube pulls out of the bulkhead in the companionway so that it may be directed to parts of the body or put under wet clothes and the like. That was a little different to say the least!

ON THE WATER

- Set it up for what you want

Firstly, we were amazed at how nice this boat handles. It runs with a very flat attitude and its steering is one of the easiest on the arms that we have experienced, including any of those hydraulic. There’s every chance that the biggest rush when getting to the water is going to be by the many that will happily tuck themselves into the helm seat for the day and leave the boarding to the others.

It has an incredible amount of torque throughout its rev range and will max out at just under 80kmh at WOT of 6000.

Manoeuvrability was impeccable and off the plane more responsive to the helm than many boats we have reviewed with a variety of steerage and the gear shifting and throttle was silky smooth to operate.

The dealer quotes a fuel burn when wake boarding in the vicinity of 20 to 22lph which is very acceptable and that being the case its 182l fuel tank would be more than enough for a big day out with a couple of families.

It features a pop-up tow pole in the engine box bulkhead which is constructed with a bearing race inside. Being low profile, it is suited to towing toys such as biscuits around whilst that on the top of the tower is ideal for what we were using it for on the day.

Generating the ideal wake has never been so systematic, thorough and accurate. Ballast tanks may be monitored and altered at the touch of a button and likewise the Power Wedge which, along with the ballast tanks, helps set up the various styles of wake.

The MaliView multi-function computer will likely tickle the fancy of the technical geeks. Individual rider’s specifications including preferred ballast levels, speeds and style of wave can all be factored in and recalled simply by another push of a button. You can even download into the unit a photograph of the said boarder!

In a sign of the times, there are no longer CD players on board boats of this calibre; rather, ipod devices may be docked via the standard fittings included in the price and there are two connection points; one handy to the skipper and the other in a glove compartment in front of the seated passenger.

Whatever you may be looking for in a tow boat rest assured the Malibu will have it and lots to boot!

It is one classy machine, designed for piling a heap of people on board with all the supplies and heading off to a quiet stretch of water for an entire day. No longer will one need to beach some of the crew to free up space on board. The Malibu is the wake boarding base with difference.

RATINGS

Overall rating: 4.9/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.8/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.9/5.0
On the water performance: 5.0/5.0
Value for money: 4.9/5.0
X-factor: 5.0/5.0

Specifications

Length overall: 6.55m
Beam: 2.53m
Weight: 1587kg approx
Fuel: 182l
Tow weight: 2200kg
Max people: 14 day trip
Engine: 350hp 5.7-litre Monsoon V8

Supplied by

Northside Marine
Tel: (07) 3265 8042
Email: chrisy@northsidemarine.com.au
Web: www.northsidemarine.com.au

Malibu Wakesetter VLX

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