Both the Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2011 and the Malibu Wakesetter 247 LSV 2013 are modified-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Malibu Wakesetter 247 LSV 2013 measures 24,6 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 4,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2011 at 20,0 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Malibu Wakesetter 247 LSV 2013 tips the scales at 4 200 lbs - 1 000 lbs less than the Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2011 at 3 200 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 555 hp, the Malibu Wakesetter 247 LSV 2013 has a 145-hp advantage over the Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2011's 410-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 Wakesetter 247 LSV 2013 carries 78 gallons versus 48 gallons in the Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2011. 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 Wakesetter 247 LSV 2013 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2011 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Malibu Wakesetter 247 LSV 2013 could be the deciding factor.