Malibu USA

(peettee79) · (peettee79) **Join Date: Sep 2010** 10-05-2010, 4:59 AM

Im confused, here in Australia Malibu's finish looks very cheap, all the plastic chrome bling looks terrible after about a bit of use, starts peeling etc.

Dont get me wrong I like em, well, there wake any way, I personally wouldnt buy one.

Do we ( australians ) make them to a different standard of finish ( cheap ) ?
or are the US boats the same ? and the owners dont care or admit to it.

Not flaming Mal's here, just curious why they are so popular in the US.

(JamesPB22) · (JamesPB22) **Join Date: Mar 2010** 10-05-2010, 5:11 AM

I have a US imported 2006 Malibu in australia. I had to replace the chrome dash plate around the gauges b/c it was flaking and its never been in salt water. so i guess its just not an australian quality issue. not sure if the standard dash plate is billet steel, but the one i replaced it with is, so hopefully shouldnt have the same issue.

(peettee79) · (peettee79) **Join Date: Sep 2010** 10-05-2010, 5:24 AM

Sounds like there are now manufacturing Billet parts....hope this is for everthing not just dash bling, good to hear it worked out for ya.

(05mobiuslsv) · (05mobiuslsv) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 10-05-2010, 5:29 AM

Here in the US the fit and finish including materials are top notch and one of the best in the industry. I don't have a clue how they are made over there.

(peettee79) · (peettee79) **Join Date: Sep 2010** 10-05-2010, 5:37 AM

See above, from James, maybe they fixed there quality issue in 06.
But
Personally Ive seen 08's with flakey chrome dermetitis.

(05mobiuslsv) · (05mobiuslsv) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 10-05-2010, 5:42 AM

They were sourcing that stuff from a company called metcraft. They are no longer in business and malibu makes all that stuff themselves now. Shouldn't be an issue anymore.

(sp0tts) · (sp0tts) **Join Date: Jun 2004** 10-05-2010, 6:53 AM

I have flaking chrome on my '08 dash here in the US. The chrome around the instrument cluster is really bad and the glove box door is also starting to show signs of it. My boat has never been in salt water and is kept inside when it's not being used. Clearly a process error on the dipping. My dealer has been notified, hopefully Malibu will do right and repair these items under warranty. Everything else with the boat has been great for me.