Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 vs Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 or the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021?

The Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 is the longer of the two at 23,0 feet overall. The Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 comes in at 23,0 feet, making it roughly 0,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 has a documented max rating of 400 hp. Engine specifications for the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 13 passengers, while the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 is certified for 7. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Are the Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 and Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 and the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 are built by Malibu. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 vs Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021

Malibu

Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009

2009

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Malibu

Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021

2021

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 vs Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 vs Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

The Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 carries a rated maximum of 400 hp. Engine data for the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 23,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeMalibu

Makenot available

Model23 vRIDE

Modelnot available

Model Year2009

Model Yearnot available

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam100 in

Beamnot available

Beam - Meters2.54

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Inches1

Beam - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail27 in

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.69

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches27

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Length - Feet23

Length overall - Detail23 ft

Length overall - Detail23.00 ft

Length overall - Meters7.01

Length overall - Inches276

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeMalibu 320 LCR - EFI-MPI

Engine makeMALIBU

Fuel tank capacity - Detail55 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters208.2

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal55

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Horsepower320 hp

Horsepowernot available

Engine max400 hp

Engine maxnot available

Operational Info

Maximum people13

Maximum peoplenot available

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 vs Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 or the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021?

The Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 is the longer of the two at 23,0 feet overall. The Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 comes in at 23,0 feet, making it roughly 0,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 has a documented max rating of 400 hp. Engine specifications for the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 13 passengers, while the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 is certified for 7. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Are the Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 and Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 and the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 are built by Malibu. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Malibu 23 vRIDE 2009 full specs ← Malibu Boats Wakesetter 23 MXZ 2021 full specs