WaterSki Magazine

WATERSKI Magazine
2009-11-20 15:23:01 | 671 views | 0 Comments

BOAT REVIEW
At only 20 feet long, the new Sunscape 20 LSV is the smallest boat in Malibu’s lineup. But this nimble V-drive makes the most of its size and has plenty to offer families looking to cross over from the I/O market to an easy-to-tow, easy-to-store inboard. With the newly designed Cut Diamond hull, the Sunscape 20 LSV offers the versatility to cater to both skiers and riders. It also features the luxurious fit and finish found on all of Malibu’s boats, plus cast-stainless-steel emblems studding the exterior and a custom 25th-anniversary-edition steering wheel and throttle knob.

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS
When the designers at Malibu began work on the two new 20-foot models, they set out to create tow boats that could stand up to anyone’s standards–be it a family who needed plenty of space and versatility, a lake community with size restrictions, a new boat owner with a smaller tow vehicle or a veteran familiar with Malibu’s superior fit and finish. One of the results of their mission is the Sunscape LSV, which works to satisfy a family looking for versatile V-drive performance in a manageable package.

It handles nimbly, both on and off the water, whether towing, storing or turning. In the V-drive category, it has one of the best skiing wakes because it features Malibu’s Cut Diamond hull. Get the optional four-tank ballast system for high-flying wakeboarding, and you have a crossover machine that will please even the toughest critic.

SPECS
Passengers: 9
Dry weight: 3,200 lb.
Draft: 22 in.
Load capacity: 1,650 lb.
Fuel capacity: 46 gal.
Storage capacity: 136 cu. ft.
Bow: 37 cu. ft.
Center: 64 cu. ft.
Rear: 35 cu. ft.
Platform: 13 sq. ft.
Interior gunwale height: 29 in.
Sun-pad area: 26 sq. ft.

STANDARDS
Base price: $46,660
Engine: Malibu LCR 5.7L, 320 hp
Prop: Acme 13.5 x 17.5 four-blade
Cruise: Malibu Precision Pro
Pylon: Retractable, swivel
Mirror: Windshield-mounted
Driver’s seat: Swivel, bolster, adjustable lumbar support
Dash: Hand-wrapped vinyl, billet aluminum insert, tilt steering wheel, 25th-
anniversary features
Gauges: 5-inch, Medallion plus LCD screen
Gas fill: Dual rear
Cooler: 60 qt., under side seating
Cup holders: 16, stainless steel
Rub rail: Stainless steel
Platform: Teak, removable
Table: Removable
Graphics: Sunscape series graphics with
cast-stainless-steel Malibu logo emblems
Colors: 21 colors, including breast-
cancer-awareness pink, in eight color ways

OPTIONS
Engine: Malibu Monsoon 5.7L, 340 hp; Indmar HammerHead 6.2L, 400 hp
Cruise: PerfectPass
Tower: Illusion X, Titan III
Racks: Swivel, clamp
Ballast: 1,250 lbs. total, LCD dash gauge
One bow tank: 350 lbs.
One center tank: 500 lbs.
Two rear tanks: 200 lbs. each
Wake shaper: On-the-fly or manually adjustable foil
Stereo: AM/FM/CD Sony deck with MP3 input and 1-gigabyte capacity, four Rockford Fosgate speakers, amp, subwoofer, transom remote, swivel tower speakers, XM satellite radio
Mirror: Tower-mounted
Platform: Fiberglass with rubber featuring 25th-anniversary logo, removable
Trailer: Single- or tandem-axle, disc brakes
Graphics: Core or Grudge package vinyl decals
Misc.: Heater, shower, bow filler cushion, Bimini top, driver’s seat heater

Phone: 209.383.7469
Web: malibuboats.com