When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Malibu 23 RIDE 2013 and the Malibu Wakesetter LSV 2005 are modified vee designs with fiberglass construction — 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Malibu 23 RIDE 2013 at 23,0 ft versus Malibu Wakesetter LSV 2005 at 23,0 ft. At 39 lbs and 39 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 450 hp for the Malibu 23 RIDE 2013 and 450 hp for the Malibu Wakesetter LSV 2005. 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 — 56 gal and 55 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 Wakesetter LSV 2005 caps at 14. 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Malibu 23 RIDE 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 23,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Malibu Wakesetter LSV 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 14 that costs less to run day-to-day.