CLOSE
Sign up to get news on contests, pro events, new products and special offers.
KristinBoat Review
NMMA Certified
Length: 24’7”
Beam: 8’6”
Load capacity: 16 / 2,400 lb.
Fuel capacity: 87 gal.
Dry weight: 4,000 lb.
Maximum HP: 450
Base price: $71,905
Features
Construction: In our tests and factory tours, we have been consistently amazed with Malibu’s superior construction and industry-leading fit and finish. Credit goes to the patented Fiberglass Engine Chassis System that anchors the soft ride, as well as everything from Malibu’s in-house machine shop that forges the swivel pylons and Wedge to its on-the-water designers who craft the tournament-quality hulls.
Dash: This is one of the plushest dashes anywhere. We’ve seen the technicians hand-wrap the vinyl that envelops this sweet console with huge billet insert. In addition to the exceptional LCD dash display that can be seen in direct sunlight, Malibu for ’08 has added LCD switches to control aspects such as the ballast, the lighting and new rider presets for Wedge position, speed and ballast levels.
Seating: The Malibu Wakesetter 247 RX has a seating arrangement we rarely see outside of Malibu’s XTi models. Rather than allow the center-mounted engine box to just sit in the middle of the interior, Malibu designers have incorporated it into a midship sun pad, with a seating area fore and aft. We highly recommend it for families to create basically a “kids table” area.
Bow: Like the rest of the Wakesetter 247 RX, the bow is wrapped in some of the best upholstery we’ve seen, with new Duraguard stain protection and foam that’s supportive without being too stiff or too beanbag-esque. Gunwale-mounted stainless-steel grab rails add to the security of the ride.
Main cabin: The 247 RX doesn’t have a main cabin so much as two separate mini-lounges. We’ll always remember sitting in the rearmost angled seat looking back toward the front of the boat and thinking the observer’s seat seemed a looong way away, let alone the bow. This is a huge boat.
Storage: With its direct-drive engine, the 247 RX gives up some storage — about 20 cubic feet — compared to the V-drive 247 LSV. Rather than two rear trunks, there’s one to the port side of the center engine box. There’s also room in the in-floor locker if you don’t opt for the bow ballast tank.
Ballast: The 247 RX has a unique ballast configuration because of its unique interior. The total available capacity is 900 pounds. We like what Malibu did with the rear tanks, making the port side 200 pounds and the starboard side 350. That’s to offset passenger weight, with almost everyone having to sit on the port side.
Stereo: As soon as our test team got a first glimpse of the new USB port in the optional Rockford Fosgate sound system, the iPod shuffle was plugged in and cranking. With Malibu’s new LCD controls, we could control the iPod at the dash, the bow walk-through and the transom remote. Even if we had forgotten the iPod, Malibu includes a 1-gig pocket drive and 1-gig built-in hard drive.
Engine: This 247 RX comes standard with the Indmar Hammerhead 6.2-liter with 400 horsepower and new ETX catalytic converter. It’s rare in this market to have a boat come with so powerful an engine standard, even at this size. The 8.1-liter Indmar 8100 is the available upgrade to 450 horsepower.
Tower: Our test model sported the new Illusion XS tower. Most striking with this cast-aluminum, forward-leaning design are the sawlike serrated lines along the back edge. That gave this boat a profile we could easily recognize halfway across the lake, while it offered the driver full visibility thanks to only two mounting points situated well behind the windshield.
Graphics: The new “M” design for Malibu and the “Wakesetter” lettering had us thinking “Transformers” during our test trip. There’s definitely a techy, edgy feel to the logo. The choice of 22 gelcoat colors really makes that graphic pop.
More features: The Power Wedge is very easy to raise and lower, with the gauge reading showing when the wake shape is increasing as up to 1,200 pounds of displacement is deployed. We lit up the night one evening with Malibu’s new LED docking lights, 18 in all.
Test analysis
Location: Lake Tulloch, California
Elevation: 520 feet
Air temp.: 73°
Water temp.: 72°
Humidity: 44%
Wakes
500 lb. factory ballast and wake shaper, 21.8 mph
We dialed in the best wake for us at 70 feet and 21.8 mph. That was something worth storing in the new rider presets controlled at the dash. Overall, the optional Power Wedge can help with the wake shape, but the size is better suited for beginning to intermediate riders with the 500-pound ballast system.
Overall: A direct-drive ready to get people stoked on riding.
Acceleration
With 340 hp engine (320 hp standard) and Acme 13×12 three-blade prop
To 30 mph: 5.8 sec., 142.3 ft.
To 36 mph: 7.8 sec., 242.5 ft.
Top speed: 44.1 mph, 4900 rpm
Handling
Bow rise: 20.2 degrees during typical acceleration. The visibility seemed good over the dash.
Tracking: The 21 XTi is like a direct-drive in V-drive clothing, so it’s easy to forget that this can hold a line so well.
Turns: We appreciated the very tight cornering we found as we cruised across the lake.
Max G-force crossing wake at 22 mph: 1.58
Vibration
The 21 XTi took the double-up well with no rattling.
Test measurements
Bow: 16 sq. ft.
Floor to tower: 6 ft. 7 in.
Gunwale height: 2 ft. 6 in.
Lounges: 61 sq. ft.
Sun pad: 16 sq. ft.
Platform: 12 sq. ft.
Wake Detail
500 lb. factory ballast and wake shaper, 21.8 mph
We dialed in the best wake for us at 70 feet and 21.8 mph. That was something worth storing in the new rider presets controlled at the dash. Overall, the optional Power Wedge can help with the wake shape, but the size is better suited for beginning to intermediate riders with the 500-pound ballast system.
Overall: A direct-drive ready to get people stoked on riding.
STANDARDS
Engine Indmar LCR 5.7L, 320 hp
Prop Acme 13 x 12 3-blade
Cruise Malibu Precision Pro
Ballast 500 lb. center tank
Tower Illusion XS with quick-pin release
Wake shaper Option only
Mirror Windshield-mounted
Driver’s Seat Swivel, bolster, adjustable lumbar support
Dash Hand-wrapped vinyl, billet aluminum insert
Gauges 5-inch Medallion plus LCD
Stereo Option only
Gas Fill Dual rear
Cooler 60 qt., under rear lounge
Cup Holders 22, stainless steel
Platform Teak, removable
Trailer Option only
Graphics Core Shield exterior decals
Colors 22 colors in seven color ways
OPTIONS
Engine Indmar Monsoon 5.7L, 340 hp; Hammerhead 6.2L, 400 hp
Cruise Standard
Ballast Standard
Tower Titan III, swivel racks
Wake shaper On-the-fly or manually adjustable foil
Stereo Rockford Fosgate unit with USB port and 1-gig hard drive, 1-gig USB pocket drive, up to six Rockford Fosgate speakers, amp, subwoofer, transom remote, swivel tower speakers, satellite radio-ready
Platform Fiberglass with rubber, removable
Trailer Single- or tandem-axle
Misc. Heater, shower
