MC X9 or Malibu Lxi

Help, I'm a skier and love small wakes... My boys are wakeboarders and want a big wake! I have a MC205 today. Which should I buy and why?

You should keep your 205 and put some weight in it for your boys. 205's are one of the best crossover boats ever made. However, I sold my 99 205 and absolutely love the room & features of the X-9. Nice big DD that handles well and throws a nice wake. Can't comment on the skiing wake behind one though.

B

which lxi? sunsetter or response?

response - the best ski wakes, crappier[to mediocre] board wakes.
sunsetter - bigger ski wakes, bigger board wakes.

if you're looking at malibu, there are many things to consider because they come out with new hulls regularly(as opposed to many other leading mfgs) and there are different hulls for skiing and boarding.

try www.themalibucrew.com - more info than you could possibly fathom.

not too into mc, but they use the same hulls for both and has excellent results in both areas.



(Message edited by madchild1 on September 14, 2005)

I started out looking at the response, but was converted to the Sunsetter with the ski hull. Does it need balast? the local dealer doesn't order them that way. I would think it needs both.

Can anyone comment on the ski wake of the X9. The Malibu dealer called it a suburban...

The ski wake is marginal and so is the wake board wake. I too went from a 205 to the PS209/X9. If I could go back I would look at the X-2 or X-1. The 209 is a huge boat and requires a ton of weight to throw a decent wakeboard wake. Here are a few pics of the wake....

I did a side by side. I give Mailbu Sunsetter a higher score on the board wake with no ballast and just the wedge.... I give it the advantage on the ski wake. But the X9 was SO MUCH NICER of a boat. Very solid, quiet, better seats, better finishes, etc. There was a clear quality difference in the interior. I only wish MC would buy Malibu hull designs!

I'm staying with MC

that X-9 wake looks SWEET, super clean back to what... 80 feet? 1500 lbs isn't THAT much ballast... how does the old 205 compare to the new 209?

The X-9 is a pig, it takes a tonne of weight to make the wake big. Just my opinion.

I love my X-9. I also do love that whole wedge thing that malibu has going. Who wouldn't like to save gas and time filling sacs. A couple of big reasons I like the X-9 is because of the large bow and open storage behind the driver. I can leave my life jacket out and also have another cooler with out being in the way. The factory stock ballast is pretty good too. I just bought the fat seat so I can't help you on what the wake feels like now. I had to watch my friends ride while I sat in the boat. Pretty impressive pop. Stupid cast.

I know its not on your list of options but you might want to consider the Launch 20 from Supra. It is a new boat that a lot of people don't know about yet. Great crossover boat.

I love my 02 Prostar 209-it came with all the X series options-(click on my user profile)...except of course the graphics...
it has factory 500lb fatty in the back under the back seat.and a 350lb up the middle in the front...with a full tank of gas and a 4 person crew the boat is fantastic for riding and slalom, best part..more people, the wake is even better for riding...The slalom wakes are great I ski @ 34-26 mph and even @ 28-32 off the wakes are clean and nice--of course not as small as my brothers 197..but when she slows down for the wake baord sets..this is where the versatility of this boat really shines!
I ride between my 209 and a buddies 04 X star..of course the X star has a fantastic wake everytime, but the versatility of the 209/x9 for slalom pays off and when properly weighted, it has the same style of wake, and the DD immediate power gives you a larger "pull off the top" of your pop so you are not lacking any hang time.
I notised the new 209/x9's have a smaller rear ballast compartment than the one I have, that can be changed by putting a couple even dipersion lead plates or addition weight in the back compartment..anymore questions..let me know!

I love my 02 Prostar 209-it came with all the X series options-(click on my user profile)...except of course the graphics...
it has factory 500lb fatty in the back under the back seat.and a 350lb up the middle in the front...with a full tank of gas and a 4 person crew the boat is fantastic for riding and slalom, best part..more people, the wake is even better for riding...The slalom wakes are great I ski @ 34-36 mph and even @ 28-32 off the wakes are clean and nice--of course not as small as my brothers 197..but when she slows down for the wake baord sets..this is where the versatility of this boat really shines!
I ride between my 209 and a buddies 04 X star..of course the X star has a fantastic wake everytime, but the versatility of the 209/x9 for slalom pays off and when properly weighted, it has the same style of wake, and the DD immediate power gives you a larger "pull off the top" of your pop so you are not lacking any hang time.
I notised the new 209/x9's have a smaller rear ballast compartment than the one I have, that can be changed by putting a couple even dipersion lead plates or addition weight in the back compartment..anymore questions..let me know!

I love my X9 and I think it has a better wake then my 03 X10. The ski wake is great for a bidder boat... you will have no problem running the course. Extra weight is required for surfing though.

I owned a '96 205 and loved the boat
sold it when our 1st kiddo came along
just bought an '05 21 XTi....LOVE IT!
if your are any kind of a slolom skier, you wont even notice the wake
not near as flat as the response, but flat enough not to disrupt you in the course

also, a great board boat!
knee, wake and surf!

and...no one else has as nice a looking tower
the illusion x is just a genius design

will never go back to a one event boat