'97 Malibu

(ramhouse) · (ramhouse) **Join Date: Apr 2004** 07-21-2007, 11:58 PM

Looked at different places but can't find info. Does a '97 Malibu have wood stringers and floor? And who has one and how do you like it?

(jeff359) · (jeff359) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 07-22-2007, 5:23 AM

No wood anywhere. which model, they had atleast 4 diffrent. Either sunsetter or sunsetter VLX, max out the weight, good wake. Response or Echelon, not much there - Wedge and alot of weight make them pretty good, but small compared to most offerings, as they were designed to slalom boats.

I owned an echelon, and have driven all four of those. Great boats, and miss mine.

(malibu_monkey)

I have a 97 VLX, wake is great with some weight. Boat is very reliable for the year, no major problems.

(97response) · (97response) **Join Date: Oct 2004** 07-23-2007, 12:58 PM

I have a 97 Response. I mostly slalom for which it has a great wake. When we do wakeboard, 400 lbs. on each side of the engine compartment will give you a good wake. Certainly will be able to do all intermediate and some advanced tricks.

Echelon and Response have the same hull that year (if I'm not mistaken).

(jeff359) · (jeff359) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 07-23-2007, 5:00 PM

They do have the same hull. Deck, interior, and gel coat colors(more colors on echelon)were diffrent

(monkey) · (monkey) **Join Date: Oct 2002** 07-23-2007, 5:46 PM

I have a '97 Malibu that will be for sale really cheap in 3 weeks:
http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/8/478313.html?1185049860

It's been a great boat, but yes, there is wood in some places. They use plywood backing plates to back some little nick nacks here and there, and, with mine, we actually used a special piece of treated wood to replace a fiberglass floor board that was starting to rot, because the wood was a better solution for that location. It's proven to be more resilient than the original floor board. Also, the swim platform is wood

I think that was a good idea too.