Malibu Wakesitter VLX 2005

In the world of wakeboarding, the Malibu name is as well-recognised as Nike is in athletics, Tommy Hilfiger in fashion or Ferrari in motorsport. The American company builds one of, if not the biggest-selling, and therefore most popular, watersports boats in the world. Here in Australia, where the marque is built under licence by Albury-based Malibu Australia, the brand is pretty much the top of the heap. Want evidence? Head on down to any of the boat ramps around Echuca, Lake Eildon, the Hume reservoir or the Hawkesbury River and do a quick trailer poll. Chances are you'll spot more Malibus than most other brands.

The are a few reasons for this: Malibu boats have towed 11 wakeboard riders into the world record books, so you can be sure the wake is nothing to be sneezed at; the company has bagged 12 Boat of the Year Awards in the US, so quality, performance and value for money are all above average; and the boat enjoys the winning combination of being an object of desire for trendy 20- and 30-somethings because it can boast of both substance and style. The boats aren't obscenely expensive and they hold their resale value very well. They deliver tsunami-sized perfectly-shaped wakes and provide a scintillating drive. They offer excellent passenger comfort and are built to last.

While Malibu isn't the only wakeboarding boatbuilder to deliver ticks in all of these criteria boxes, sometimes choice is instinctual: you go with a brand you can trust. And Malibu does offer some crucial points of difference which may well sway a potential buyer.

NEW YEAR, NEW MODEL
This year the Wakesetter VLX received a completely new computer-designed and engineered hull and deck. Measuring 6.55m (21ft 6in) with a massive carriage of 2.49m (tow without a permit in Australia), the internal volume of this boat belies the figures on paper. Very high sides and wide shoulders means there's an Olympic-sized pool of space inside, and the rear-mounted V8 inboard motor linked to a V-Drive train and a four-blade bronze prop in no way compromises cockpit space. A thickly-padded lounge sits above the engine for the ladies to soak up some sun in between runs in total comfort.

The massive volume of the boat has also allowed for a new 500kg water ballast system to be included.

 The boat can seat 11, and while this might be a little too cozy for some, there's ample room for a party of half a dozen. And storage enough to secret all the gear that ends up aboard when you're heading out for a full day on the water.

BUILD QUALITY
Malibu Boats use no timber in the hull construction or anywhere else for that matter, so there's no chance of it rotting away over time. Instead, the hull shell is laid-up using computer-milled moulds which are stored undercover so they don't get dirty and affect the hull once it's popped out. Multi-layers of bi- and tri-axial ceramic core fibreglass wovings are used in the lay-up and a complex fibreglass stringer system is bonded to the hull using weld-on fusion adhesives, making the joins stronger than the material itself. Because of the accurate moulds, the top deck and floor piece fits perfectly onto the hull and is weld-on fusion adhesives are used again here to bond it together along with through-bolted stainless fittings. The result of this is an incredibly stiff, strong and rigid boat.

Malibu Australia head honcho Simon Hill took Trailer Boat through the factory - and pleasingly, he encourages serious potential customers to do the same - and it was an impressive experience. At every stage of production, each hull is subjected to a strict quality control assessment. The standard of workmanship is outstanding; all the components fitted are of excellent quality. Cheap parts are frowned upon, and Malibu goes to some trouble to source components that last and are functional without blowing the cost of the package into the stratosphere.

While all electrical and mechanical systems are thoroughly tested at the time of installation, there is one point of difference makes Malibu stand out from the crowd. Each and every boat is thoroughly water-tested before dealer delivery, and often tested again by the dealer to make sure nothing's rattled free during transportation.

The in-house upholstery shop stitches the 40oz G&T marine-grade vinyl, and there's acres of it covering high-density foam over the horseshoe-shaped lounge, driver's seat, sundeck and bowpit lounges. It's triple-stitched, overlocked, and the bases are fitted with breather holes. The quality is excellent: Tsubi or Diesel jeans compared with your bog-standard K-Mart acid-wash numbers.

And, I can report, the results are of a quality that makes you fell like you're driving a luxury car. The comfort is impressive, as is the style. Colour options are seemingly limitless.

The cockpit sole is topped with top-quality nylon weave easy-clean carpet and feels pleasant under bare feet.

 The exterior paint job and decal looks sensational too.

Everything about the boat is installed properly, braced strongly and is marine ready - so a run out onto Sydney Harbour won't leave the boat looking sadder than a pair of 20-year-old Dunlop Volleys. All this adds up to an unarguably spectacular finish, inside and out. The boat is smooth, coherent and polished to perfection.

ON THE MOVE
The stiff hull helps give this boat its startlingly good handling. That and the running surfaces with plenty of vee in the bow, a prominent keel for grip, strakes, planing plank, flat run aft and a pair of pronounced reverse-angle chines with ghost chines above which sit flush with the water when the boat's at rest. Yes, it's rock-solid stable.

Two large Gorilla fins also to contribute to direct handling, and to peddle a well-worn boating cliché, deliver a drive approaching a train on rails. No matter how fast you throw this boat into a full-lock turn, it tracks through it without fuss, making for quick pick-ups so your rider is back up and running in no time flat.

Through-bolted engine mounts prevent the standard LCR 320hp EFI engine from moving (test boat had optional 340hp Monsoon model, or you can go up to the 400hp Hammerhead if you aren't shy of a dollar). Vibration is simply non-existent, the shift silk-smooth and the throttle response instantaneous. The hole-shot is as flat as a tack, and Malibu's sound suppression technology kills noise like the mute button kills those awful rug commercials on TV. Again, the materials used in the construction and the level of engineering spell a smooth, comfortable, sure-footed ride. The vee in the bow also tames other boat wakes and chop, so trans-bay crossings are a doddle.

Steering? Feather light. Vision? Clear and unobstructed at all times. Driver comfort? Supportive and secure (and there's a flip-up bolster on the helm chair, too, plus it slides and swivels). The dash is sexy with chrome billet aluminium gauge panel with servo analogue gauges in mph and rpm so you can easily maintain tow speeds, and the wheel is a work of art.

Details about the boat are too numerous to mention: suffice to say that the pricetag is more than justified by passenger comfort and usability. Storage is everywhere you look, from a two-cubic-foot glove compartment to insulated icebox, cavernous wet/ski lockers, sidepockets, sub-floor and under-lounge-base bins. There are six different Clarion sound systems available, so your stereo can be as big as your pocketbook will allow, all fitted at the factory.

If the devil's in the detail, then this boat is the Dark Lord personified. It has everything, and surprisingly, a great deal of it is included in the standard price. Compare specs sheets, look at the numbers and see for yourself.

WAKEBOARDING BITS
The test boat sported a modern "Illusion X" tower which can carry everything up to a rack of SAMS. It can accomodate four wakeboard racks, speakers and lights, all of which are optional. If it's not your style, you can opt for the stainless steel "Titan" tower, which can also option up.

The ballast system helps deliver that curvaceously obese wake. Standard are twin 90kg hard tanks plus a central 160kg hard tank, all installed sub-floor. Option up with a 140kg tank in the bows, or just use the standard Wedge Pro for 450kg more wake-producing downforce.

And best of all, the whole ballast system is fed and drained with high-flow pumps, and you can view ballast status on an LCD readout incorporated into the Medallion gauges. Fill and drain takes just minutes.

This boat has a wake which will suit everyone from intermediate riders to tournament competitors. The tournament wins do the talking when it comes to describing the ramp. Our demo rider gave the 1.30pm Canberra–Melbourne flight a scare.

There's a removable timber boarding platform gracing the stern, which can be optioned up to fibreglass, and you can lay your board across it when getting it on while reaching into the wet lockers either side of the mill.

GET SOME AIR
While the boat is very well appointed from its starting point, there's more options on the list to keep you tossing and turning into the early hours, and an Internet page devoted to choosing a colour scheme for when you give up sleeping altogether.

The rig rolls on the ski industry's leading trailer supplier, Easy Tow, and is custom-designed and backed by a long warranty, although according to Simon Hill, the company is not troubled by warranty claims, such is the standard of build.

Malibu boats have got style, make a statement, are eminently desirable and deliver unadulterated driving pleasure which is rivaled only by their performance and a tow boat.

Where do I sign?

PERFORMANCE FIGURES