The Malibu 23 vRIDE 2011 vs Malibu Boats Wakesetter 22 LSV 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Malibu 23 vRIDE 2011 at 23,0 ft versus Malibu Boats Wakesetter 22 LSV 2021 at 21,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 22 LSV 2021 tips the scales at 5 100 lbs — 5 061 lbs less than the Malibu 23 vRIDE 2011 at 39 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 410 hp for the Malibu 23 vRIDE 2011 and 430 hp for the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 22 LSV 2021. 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 58 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Malibu 23 vRIDE 2011 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 22 LSV 2021 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Malibu 23 vRIDE 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Malibu 23 vRIDE 2011 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 Boats Wakesetter 22 LSV 2021 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.