Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV Review

The all-new Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV puts a modern twist on a timeless classic, thanks to a number of tech and design upgrades.

As any boat builder will attest, it’s not easy to come out with a winning design – much less one that goes on to define its category and become the model to which all others are compared. Tougher still is knowing when it’s time to give that winning formula a refresh. While wisdom says you don’t mess with success, it’s equally important to stay ahead of the pack and make those updates before your design begins to look stale.

That’s the situation Malibu Boats recently found itself in when the company decided to update the iconic Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV. Already Malibu’s best-selling boat and widely considered among the best designs in its class, it would be easy to argue that the company didn’t need to give it an update just yet. But true to its commitment to remain ahead of the pack, Malibu put its 23 LSV back on the drawing board and reviewed opportunities to improve.

The resulting, all-new Wakesetter benefits from a number of technological upgrades and design updates that give the boat greater comfort and overall usability. Drivers will appreciate the completely redesigned helm console, highlighted by a new steering wheel and shifter. Up on the dash there’s now a massive 12-inch touchscreen display that provides controls of all primary functions, with a second seven-inch auxiliary screen offset to starboard. Even so, a full complement of multi-function rotary switches provide redundant secondary controls for all settings independent of the touchscreens, which is a big plus on those days when a low sun shining right on the console can make it tough to see everything on the screen.

Wrap-around, hot tub-style seating and soft-touch flooring give the big Wakesetter plenty of creature comfort after a spin on the wakeboard. Note the abundance of drink holders and stereo speakers!

Driver upgrades continue in the form of an all-new helm seat that provides greater comfort both while underway and when spun sideways to watch forward progress while keeping an eye on anyone out back on the wakeboard. All-new upholstery throughout the cockpit on the new Wakesetter offers a softer feel and a more contemporary look. With seating for up to 15 people, the Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV is deceptively spacious.

An all-new digital dash with GPS control makes precision tow work easy, even for novice drivers.

Because most of those passengers will likely bring their phones with them, new USB outlets in the cockpit make recharging electronics a snap, while a larger phone holder and new phone profiles via Bluetooth speak to Malibu’s advanced level of electronic integration in the redesigned Wakesetter.

Also new is a subtle redesign of the windshield for improved visibility, as well as deeper storage compartments throughout. Of course there are new graphics, while new Malibu-branded drop-in Igloo coolers for drinks and snacks are a nice touch. You’ll find new colour options for the G3.2 tower hoop as well.

Wake-View seating can fold flat for use as a sun pad, or prop upright for rear-facing comfort.

The other big changes to the new Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV are found on its option list, which allows buyers to personalize the boat to their own specific taste. This now includes luxuries like a new hydraulic Surf Gate that works with Malibu’s Surf Band wristwatch-style remote control, allowing riders to fine-tune the wake exactly as they like in real time, right from the board. A new WakeView back-up camera, and action camera mounts on the transom, are popular upgrades, along with a power-adjustable helm seat, soft-grip flooring and a useful 115v AC power inverter.

Rich upholstery work and plenty of room to stretch out make the bow seats an ideal spot to enjoy the sun. Note the pull-down arm rests.

What hasn’t changed is the core performance that has made the Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV the iconic watersports boat. For starters, it retains Malibu’s innovative Wedge, a transom-mounted fin that swings down like flaps on an airplane to pull the stern lower in the water and create a long, luxurious wall of water that’s ideal for wakeboarding. The updated LSV gains Malibu’s next-generation Power Wedge II that offers more surface area than the original for even greater effectiveness.

Aft-facing transom seats and a substantial swim platform speak to this boat’s wake surfing credentials.

In addition, no less than four ballast tanks below the cockpit decking add an additional 1,000 pounds in weight, driving the stern deeper and producing an even bigger wake. Malibu’s Surf Gate lets you position the wave riding surface from one side of the boat to the other without adjusting the ballast. Beyond that, Surf Gate brings the ability to shape the wake at the touch of the 12-inch dashboard display, so you no longer have to pump ballast or ask passengers to shift from one side of the boat to the other.

Wake surfing, or wake boarding – the big Malibu kicks up massive, crisp, luxurious waves that let riders take watersports to a whole new level.

Surf Gate plays a further role on the Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV by making it easy to adjust the wake for surfing. Subtle adjustments form the wake to perfection, while the quick response of the Surf Gate makes it easy to set up for either regular and goofy-footed riders. Surf Gate further allows you to swap the wake from one side of the boat to the other in as little as two seconds, giving riders a challenge and more experienced riders the opportunity to try new tricks. Optional tower lights and an audible signal can be turned on to indicate when the wake is about to shift sides.

The original Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV is widely held as one of the most iconic watersports boats ever produced. With its thoughtful upgrades and savvy refinements, the all-new Wakesetter 23 LSV will likely hold that position for some time to come.