When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Malibu 247 LSV Wakesetter 2009 and the Malibu Wakesetter VTX 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 450 hp, the Malibu 247 LSV Wakesetter 2009 has a 100-hp advantage over the Malibu Wakesetter VTX 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 Wakesetter 2009 carries 87 gallons versus 41 gallons in the Malibu Wakesetter VTX 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 Wakesetter 2009 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Malibu Wakesetter VTX 2012 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Malibu 247 LSV Wakesetter 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Malibu 247 LSV Wakesetter 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 16 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Malibu Wakesetter VTX 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 11 that costs less to run day-to-day.