Malibu has had a 22 LSV in its range for some time, but this model is an all-new design and features some noticeable improvements in performance, technology and appearance.
The new 22 LSV has a progressive, edgy look and the hull is wider and considerably deeper, so it looks bigger on the water and on the trailer.
That depth is obvious inside, with generous storage under the hinged seats that can comfortably swallow skis, while wakeboards are stored in the tower racks.
Another new feature is the walk-through transom at the middle of the rear. Up front, instead of a slide-in wind block in the walk-through bow, there’s the option of a pop-up seat that doubles as a wind block.
The main cockpit is pure Malibu luxury, with enormous comfortable lounges made with high-grade marine materials. Reverse seating is available all the way through the boat, there’s a neat table set-up, and a new extended bimini that offers shade for the whole cockpit area. Also new are armrests in all the bow seats.
Total capacity is 14 people.
It’s easy to forget you’re in a large wakeboard boat, given how light and direct the steering and boat responsiveness are at all speeds.
The driving position is outstanding, with the seat offering good adjustability and excellent vision through the windscreen. The digital dash sits low and, while easy to view and interact with, doesn’t impede the view forward at all.
Carving through chop, the nose stays high even with two adults in the front, so there’s no issue with passing through other boat wakes or chop.
The hull features an extended vee at the forefoot, which allows the boat to slice through rougher water, while flattening at the rear to allow a good wake.
Top speed has been timed at 38 knots (70.3km/h) although the test boat, with the torque prop, is 31 knots (57.4km/h).
The digital dash has also been improved, features including GPS speed control, pre-sets on the dash for setting the boat up for skiing, wakeboarding and surfing, and easy readouts showing the status of ballast tanks, SurfGate and PowerWedge.
Features include an Android backend to the entertainment system, with Spotify capability, meaning you can download your music straight to the dash.
There’s also a high-resolution docking and transom camera, plus the ability to record videos and photos from the camera and save to your dash or external storage.
Malibu offers two hull designs: Wake Plus for enhanced wake performance (featured on our test boat), and Diamond Multi Sport Hull for better all-round performance with slalom wakes.
There are two ballast tanks in the rear, plus centre and forward tanks. Total maximum ballast, calculated by combining the weight of these tanks with an optional bow tank, plug-and-play bags and calculated effect of the optional Power Wedge III, is just under 2000kg.
“The feedback from our athletes is that they want a high volume of water within the wake, and then with the Power Wedge we can adjust the shape,” says Malibu’s Marketing and Events Manager, Thorry Heaney.
At the Wakeboard Victoria comp the day before this test, this boat towed everyone from Under-9 division to Open Pro riders.
“For Open Pro, you want the wake as big as possible and fairly aggressive, and for Under-9s we want it pretty mellow, because they’re not even jumping wake to wake. For a big boat, you can really dial it down if necessary.”
The surf wave is a noticeable improvement over previous Malibus in that it is almost symmetrical on the left and right sides – previously, the prop spin had a big effect on the shape.
The test boat was fitted with Malibu’s own 430hp Monsoon M6Di engine, with the M5Di (360hp) being standard in the 22 LSV.
It runs a big 17in diameter prop. The gearbox runs a ratio of 2:1, whereas the previous models ran ratios of either 1:1.5 or 1:1.76. The new configuration is said to be more effective and efficient for wakeboard and surf set-ups.
“It works better when you’re moving large amounts of water, as the big prop is offering so much more grip. There’s less fuel burn when surfing and wakeboarding, when you have a lot of weight in the boat,” Thorry adds.
“There’s also an oversized rudder, so when you have two tonnes of water and people onboard you can still steer this boat really well.”
Price correct as at April 2023.
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