When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Malibu 247 LSV Sunscape 2010 and the Malibu Sunscape 23 LSV 2012 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 505 hp, the Malibu 247 LSV Sunscape 2010 has a 155-hp advantage over the Malibu Sunscape 23 LSV 2012's 350-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Malibu 247 LSV Sunscape 2010 carries 87 gallons versus 53 gallons in the Malibu Sunscape 23 LSV 2012. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Malibu 247 LSV Sunscape 2010 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Malibu Sunscape 23 LSV 2012 caps at 15. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Malibu 247 LSV Sunscape 2010 could be the deciding factor.