Both the Malibu 23 LSV Wakesetter 2009 and the Malibu 23 RIDE 2013 are modified-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 450 hp for the Malibu 23 LSV Wakesetter 2009 and 450 hp for the Malibu 23 RIDE 2013. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 55 gal and 56 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Malibu 23 RIDE 2013 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Malibu 23 LSV Wakesetter 2009 caps at 13. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Malibu 23 RIDE 2013 could be the deciding factor.