When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Malibu 247 LSV Sunscape 2009 and the Malibu Wakesetter 247 LSV 2011 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?
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 555 hp, the Malibu Wakesetter 247 LSV 2011 has a 105-hp advantage over the Malibu 247 LSV Sunscape 2009's 450-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 87 gal and 84 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Malibu Wakesetter 247 LSV 2011 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Malibu 247 LSV Sunscape 2009 caps at 16. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Malibu Wakesetter 247 LSV 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Malibu Wakesetter 247 LSV 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 17 passengers and at 24,6 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Malibu 247 LSV Sunscape 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 16 that costs less to run day-to-day.