Additional Links:
Sunscape 23 LSV Web Site
23 LSV Flickr.com Gallery
LSV VS I/O
Sunscape 23 LSV Spinning Video
Luxury Sport-V Series Video
Sunscape 23 LSV Virtual Test Drive

Sunscape 23 LSV
Length: 23'
Width: 102"
Draft: 27"
People: 14 persons
Weight: 3800 lbs.
Fuel: 55 gallons
Standard HP: 340
Max HP: 450 

Sunscape 23 LSV Dash

Sunscape 23 LSV Transom Step

Sunscape 23 LSV Lounge

Sunscape 23 LSV

The 2008 Sunscape 23 LSV from Malibu Boats represents an evolutionary breakthrough in boat design. The deck and newly tooled Diamond hull were modeled from scratch in a 3D environment. All shapes and angles were rethought with the goal of perfect handling and smooth ride in mind. The result is a 23-foot boat that welcomes rough water, intuitively responds to a touch of the steering wheel and hosts luxurious amenities.

The exterior follows the sharp look of the intimidating 247 LSV with the addition of the new Frameless-Vented Windshield. But the advanced hull design of the Sunscape 23 LSV offers performance, all its own.

Malibu engineers have found that sweet spot among ride, handling and performance. This was accomplished not with a simple strake or chine change, but by tweaking the hull transitions between the keel and the strakes. They shaped these compound curves to dissipate the shock and noise of choppy water without a handling compromise. The best riding hulls in the industry have reached a new level of performance with the introduction of the new 23 LSV.

But performance isn’t the only area where the Sunscape 23 LSV excels. Technology and luxury are giving performance a run for its money in this Malibu. The 23 LSV benefits from well-placed hand covered elements that add to the luxury of this model and complete the one-of-a-kind look. The rear seat lean-back is designed with such an element as well as an available rear LCD switch panel. This option controls theater-style interior lighting, the new Malibu-Rockford Fosgate® Sound System, available heaters and new Malibu Factory and Custom Presets. Passengers in the lounge can now share in a level of control only previously afforded the driver.

“This is a real statement for a family-friendly boat that has a luxury feel, skiable wakes and lots of wakeboarding potential,” wrote the test team from WaterSki Magazine.

The 23 LSV is a water sports boat. It shares blood lines with industry’s most popular wakeboard boat and for that reason exudes tons of big wake potential. Deploy the optional Power Wedge and fill the available Malibu Launch System. The wakes go from tame to torrential. Fitted with Malibu’s Diamond Hull, the Sunscape 23 LSV creates flat soft slalom wakes at skiing speeds and carves up walls of water at slower wakeboard speeds. It is truly a multi-dimensional family boat.

“This luxury 23-footer has a lot of upside for riding.” WaterSki Magazine

What are some of the things you can do yourself before you take your boat all the way in to the dealership?

My boat won't start. 1.) Make sure you have enough fuel. 2.) Make sure your electrical system is charge. 3.) Check to see if your ignition breaker is popped out. 4.) Make sure your throttle is in the upright locked neutral position.

My bilge is full of water. 1.) Make sure your plugs are installed securely. 2.) Make sure your shaft packing is not leaking excessively. 3.) Make sure the hoses to your ballast tanks are securely fastened.

My boat is vibrating when I drive. 1.) Check the prop and make sure it is not dinged or bent. 2.) Make sure there is a not a rope or excessive weeds wrapped around the prop shaft. 3.) If you are still feeling a vibration, take your boat in for service and have the dealer check the alignment.

My boat is overheating. 1.) Check your impeller. They can become dry and cracked over time. 2.) Make sure there is nothing clogging the transmission cooler. This can be done by disconnecting the water hoses near the transmission. 3.) Check the water intake for debris. Sometimes weeds or a plastic bag can be sucked up by the intake.

With proper care and maintenance your Malibu Boat will provide generations of fun for you and your family. Enjoy the Malibu Difference.

Visit the Malibu Boats YouTube Channel to learn more about troubleshooting.

"I spent a lot of time going form dealer to dealer, pulling out different boats and doing head-to-head comparisons on the lake." Recalled Chuck.

To listen to a Podcast of this interview visit the Malibu Boats iTunes Channel. Or play the MP3 here.

Amy > I was recently introduced to Chuck Farrell from Santa Clara, CA. He came down and visited our California Malibu facilities to take a plant tour and to see how his boat was doing in production. He ordered a 2008 Wakesetter 23 LSV. He came down to visit his boat as well as visit us and learn a little more about the production process. I was lucky enough to get to talk with Chuck about why he chose Malibu and why he chose the Wakesetter 23 LSV, specifically.

Amy > So what brought you here today?

Chuck > I wanted to walk through the factory and see how the boats were put together and kind of experience it firsthand.

Amy > So your boat is in production right now… what kind of a boat is that?

Chuck > A 2008 Wakesetter 23 LSV

Amy > Sweet… What color?

Chuck > It’s Rueben and black. It’s different. I picked the Reuben color because the Regal boat is a standard order for my dealer.

Amy > So you won’t have somebody looking exactly like you on the lake?

Chuck > Exactly.

Amy > Now, who is your dealer?

Chuck > Ultimate Watersports.

Amy > Ok which one?

Chuck > In San Jose.

Amy > Alright, who did you deal with down there?

Chuck > Jeff, of course by the time I got done I was pretty much dealing with everybody down there. Great bunch of guys!

Amy > You were telling me how much research you did before your purchase and I’m really interested in that because it sounds like you covered every single base possible. Can you tell me a little bit about what you did before you ended up choosing Malibu.

Chuck > I spent a lot of time going form dealer to dealer, pulling out different boats and doing head-to-head comparisons on the lake. And I also went around to a lot of dealers and looked at their service departments. I had them show me older boats to see how well they held up year after year. Of the Malibu boats that were in there, their interiors still looked nice and their gel coat was holding up. I looked at some older Mastercraft and Four Winns boats, but they just didn’t seem to hold up as well.

Amy > When you were doing these head-to-head evaluations, you would actually go to the dealer and ask them to bring a competitor in? How would you do that?

Chuck > Every Saturday I would have a different dealer bring boats out and we would go out to either Calero [Calero Lake] or Anderson [Anderson Lake] and we’d put the boat side by side on the water and then we would take them out.

Amy > And how many times did you do this?

Chuck > Six time.

Amy > You’re kidding me?

Chuck > No.

Amy > So how did you determine which models you wanted to compare?

Chuck > I did a lot different comparisons with different models of boats. Each dealer said well if you’re comparing against that, then I have a boat that is better that would match that better. And so we would meet back out there the following weekend and we’d run it again. At one point we had four boats that we were doing head-to-head in the same weekend. Which was kind of fun because people would see all of these boats pulling in and it was like… how many boats does this guy have? It was a blast! We just kept dropping more boats in the water and dropping them at the dock. At this time of the year there’s hardly anybody out on the water so it is a great time to test boats.

Amy > So how did you end up choosing Malibu? It was probably a combination of factors, but in the head-to-heads how did you realize…

Chuck > Well I kept doing head-to-heads. I was picking boats on my own. Finding different dealers around the area. The boat that really came out on top against all of the competitors, before I tested the Malibu, was a Correct Craft, the Ski Nautique 22-footer. It was a 220. It was that dealer who said, “The only boat that really holds a candle to us and is good competition, is the Malibu.” I figured if that was the one that was real competition for them, I wanted to drive that boat. So we did the head-to-head and put those two boats side by side. It was clearly a choice for Malibu.

Amy > That’s really cool! And it’s very strange that it was a competing dealer who brought it up.

Chuck > The Mastercraft demo, when I did that, it seemed like the whole time I was on the boat, he [the MC salesman] seemed to be talking more about Malibu than he was about Mastercraft. He said, “I hate to sound like I am preaching about Malibu, but I seem to be.” He knew before we had even put that boat back on the trailer that he had lost the sale. Even he could see that the Malibu was superior.

Amy > That’s interesting. Well you definitely got a good cross section of boats to judge from, it sounds like.

Talk is cheap. First-hand knowledge is invaluable. Join us at Malibu’s dealer National Demo Day and get your hands on the boats you most want to test drive. Experience for yourself the acceleration, responsive handling and pulse-quickening power. Dial your custom wake with Rider Presets and meet the massive wakes kicked up by the Patented Power Wedge. Take the ride of your life and absorb the Malibu difference that has garnered Best Boat of the Year awards for six consecutive years.

More on the National Demo Day.

The supercharged boats, distinguished athletes and world record performances will come together, July 18-20, in Michigan. Pontiac Lake will host this water sports double-header featuring not only the Malibu Open but a premier hydroplane event, Quake on the Lake. On top of all that, proceeds from this fund-raiser will directly benefit a local children’s charity.

More on 2008 Malibu Open.

Now that we have entered into spring it is time to breakout cooler attire. Malibu Boats is kicking off the Spring boating season with his and hers vests designed to keep you comfortable in this transitional time of year. Offered in two distinct styles for men and women, these vests are branded by Malibu and created to accentuate your boating experience.

Visit Malibu Boats Gear.