The spec sheets list the Malibu Wakesetter 23 XTi 2006 as modified vee and the Malibu Wakesetter 247 RX 2008 as v25, so check how each hull rides in the conditions you use before you decide.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Malibu Wakesetter 23 XTi 2006 at 23,0 ft versus Malibu Wakesetter 247 RX 2008 at 24,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Malibu Wakesetter 247 RX 2008 tips the scales at 4 000 lbs - 300 lbs less than the Malibu Wakesetter 23 XTi 2006 at 3 700 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 450 hp, the Malibu Wakesetter 247 RX 2008 has a 50-hp advantage over the Malibu Wakesetter 23 XTi 2006's 400-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 47 gal and 46 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 RX 2008 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Malibu Wakesetter 23 XTi 2006 caps at 14. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Malibu Wakesetter 247 RX 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Malibu Wakesetter 247 RX 2008 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 23 XTi 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 14 that costs less to run day-to-day.