Malibu Sets Record With 5th Boat Of The Year Award
(Miami, FL) – Malibu Boats earned their 5th consecutive Boat of the Year Award from PowerBoat Magazine on April 22nd, in Miami, FL. The awards were selected after the magazine's rigorous Performance Trials conducted in Parker, Ariz., Sarasota, Fla., and San Diego, Cal. More than 45 performance boats were evaluated independently by two teams.
"Every builder who earned an award this year is in elite company," said Gregg Mansfield, Powerboat's editor. "The competition was as tough as it has ever been. “ Malibu’s fifth consecutive Boat of the Year Award was granted for the new 2006 Wakesetter 247 LSV.
Pride in Excellence: This latest honor makes Malibu the only boat company in the history of PowerBoat Magazine to have earned five Boat of the Year Awards in a row. Robert Alkema, President and CEO, Danny Gasper, Director of Research & Development, and John Sisson, VP of Tennessee Operations were in Miami to accept the award.
Since its inception, the employee-owned Malibu Boats has netted recognition throughout the industry. All told, the company has accumulated 16 Boat of the Year Awards and 23 Product Excellence awards. Yet, the restless spirit and motivation for perfection never stops.
As Paul Singer, VP of Sales and Marketing explains: "I have said it before.. These awards are a great pat on the back for us, but as soon as the high fives are spent, we get right back at it. There are so many more innovations that our engineers are working to perfect. They are competitive by nature and these awards just push them to develop that next industry first."
The Boat: The 2006 Wakesetter 247 LSV was delivered to the testers with innovations sure to delight the most demanding of drivers and riders, including the new Power Wedge wake-boosting hydrofoil, which is controlled at the dash. Coupled with the customization of Malibu’s push-button ballast or Malibu Launch System, riders find themselves able to create exactly the wake profile they prefer.
With a spacious, U-shaped lounge, the 247 LSV, Illusion X wakeboard tower and all-new Precision Pro Speed Control prove Malibu’s dedication to excellence.
Testers, who included Powerboat’s chief test driver Bob Teague, revered throttleman John Tomlinson and Unlimited hydroplane drive Steve David, lauded both the performance and workmanship of the 247 LSV: “A rocket out of the hole with or without a rider, the nimble Wakesetter 247 LSV came on plane in 3.2 seconds and topped out at 48.3 mph. Those were strong numbers for a tow boat, even one with a 450-horsepower engine under the hatch. Equally strong was the boat’s workmanship, which included custom-quality gelcoat and immaculate rigging.” In the co-pilot seat were editors Gregg Mansfield, Matt Trulio and Jason Johnson.
In print, the test team confessed: “Truth be told, we took as much joy in testing the Wakesetter 247 LSV as we believe Malibu did in creating it.” The Boat of the Year Award winners are profiled in Powerboat's special June issue.
Since Malibu’s inception in 1982 President/CEO Robert Alkema’s mission has been very simple even if the evolution of design and engineering has become increasingly complex. “Build the best boat possible. Enjoy your workplace. Give Malibu owners the best value.” This is an oath and a standard that the people of Malibu Boats believe they are bound to uphold. They build the best boat and have fun doing it and that dedication bleeds over into everything that wears the Malibu brand.
