Rider's Chose Illusion G3 Tower as Innovation of the Year

The Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) Illusion G3 continues to tower above competitor wakeboard tower offerings even according to riders themselves. The G3 weightless fold-down tower was voted Rider’s Choice Innovation of the Year on WakeWorld.com. Malibu Boats signature forward swept design; stout stainless steel tube and billet build, standard swivel combo racks and in-house construction make this wakeboard boat tower unique. What throws it into the “Innovative” category is weightless fold-down to standard garage height. Awards like WakeWorld.com’s Rider’s Choice mean a lot to the Malibu Boats Family. Customer satisfaction is why they continue to push the limits of design and function every year, which is what they have done for 2011.

The 10th annual WakeWorld Riders Choice Awards presented by CWB Board Co. was the biggest ever. For the 10th consecutive year WakeWorld gave riders the opportunity to share their opinions on Pro Riders and wake sport products. Participants visited WakeWorld.com and cast their votes during the entire month of August. In addition to being voted Rider’s Choice Boat of the Year, Malibu Boats took home Innovation of the Year for the Illusion G3 wakeboard boat tower.

Dave Williams, Editor of WakeWorld.com, wrote, “The Innovation of the Year brought another win for Malibu Boats as their new Illusion G3 tower topped the voting.”

The Illusion G3 can be collapsed in seconds with little instruction. The gas spring assisted design of the G3 tower allows for weightless fold-down. A single person can collapse this tower and does not have to be strong to do it. The Illusion G3 is so light, even with optional accessories like two pairs of Malibu Titan Alpha II speakers and an extra set of Titan Slide-of Spinner racks installed the tower can be folded with fingertips.

The Illusion G3 takes tower design and you to new heights with hybrid construction that marries the strength of all weather coated billet aluminum with the resilience and beauty of 3” stainless steel tubing. The billet tower bases and wings add another unique element of strength and style to this exclusive tower. The first tower to combine these two materials, the Illusion G3 is as much a product of strong components as it is a precision built Malibu wakeboard boat feature. The Illusion G3 is also the only wakeboards boat manufacturer built tower in the industry, which allows Malibu to control quality and cost.

When asked about the Illusion G3 being voted Rider’s Choice Innovation of the Year, Paul Singer, VP of Sales and Marketing for Malibu Boats, had this to say. “An award like this means more to us than just about any other because it is determined by the end user. There’s no better high-five for the Malibu Boats Family than an award like WakeWorld’s Rider’s Choice. We are grateful to all who voted and we will keep working hard to continue to push limits!”

Malibu Boats was extremely honored to have the Illusion G3 voted Rider’s Choice innovation of the Year on WakeWorld.com, but that recognition doesn’t mean the innovation stops. For 2011 Malibu Boats has pushed the limits of tower design even farther by offering this award-winning tower in white. Other 2011 G3 tower advancements include the available Flow-cam Rear View Rider Camera system, Wet Sounds Alpha II speakers as well as more wakeboard rack options. Malibu’s Illusion innovation continues.

Visit your local Malibu Boats dealer to experience the 2011 Malibu boats with the award-winning Illusion G3.

Tags: Malibu Boats | Illusion G3 | wakeboard tower | WakeWorld | Rider's Choice | award | Innovation of the Year | wakeboard boat | wakeboard boats | wakeboarding | board racks | Flo Cam

Malibu Boats Pushing Limits with 2011 Model Line-up

Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) unveils new innovations in the form of 2011 models, features and options.

2011 might be Malibu Boats’ most groundbreaking model year to date. From subtle details to huge industry-altering developments, Malibu engineers have just kept pushing when it comes to their wakeboard and water ski boats. When others were throttling back Malibu was dropping the hammer on more performance, technology and innovation. The result is a pair of new water sports boats, new features that obsolete the word “standard” and new options that push Malibu boat customization past the limit.

Don't just take our word for it... Check out the 2011 Model reaction on WakeWorld.com and on TheMalibuCrew.com.

New Wakesetter & Sunscape 247 LSV
Malibu Boats put even more stretch into these limos with room for 17. The Wakestter and Sunscape 247 LSVs have been redesigned inside and out. A new helm offers the driver a performance car look and feel while the new transom seating adds another fun place to hangout with more swimstep accessible wet storage. Get customize for no extra charge choosing between the WetTek floor with snap-out carpet and the Mantex floor with hull-to-hull carpeting. Lined with more hand-covered parts, the new interior features LED-lit stainless emblems and has the ability to accept new optional 8” Rockford Fosgate Full-range speakers. A new MH2 frameless windshield and special fresh air vents work with the new lines of the 247s to create a look as incredible as their performance. Performance that kicks-up monstrous wakes at wakeboarding and wakesurfing speeds, gives you great recreational skiing at slalom speeds and handling that rivals a much smaller water sports boat.

Paul Singer, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Malibu Boats, had this to say about the new model year introductions. "We're not going to lie, we like to keep everyone playing catch up but our real joy comes from giving our customer our very best." Singer explained, "You see at some point, the force of innovation overtakes the laws of convention. In the 2010 Malibu line that point was near the center deck in the form of the G3 Tower. The first ever forward swept tower received the first-ever gas assisted shocks for easy fold-down. In the 2011 Malibu line that point is on the dash featuring the first ever 6.5" touch screen for control of a myriad of safety and performance systems. We call it MTC or Malibu Touch Command but we think you will call it amazing."

New Malibu Touch Command (MTC)
The new Malibu Touch Command (MTC) is amazing on so many different levels; what it is, what it does and the fact that it is standard on all Wakesetters and Sunscapes. Made with Projective Capacitive Touch Technology typically reserved for high-end personal digital devices, you won’t find a feature like MTC in a high performance car let alone anywhere else in the boating industry. Malibu Boats is way ahead of the game with touch-sensitive switching based on intuitive hi-res graphical menus of the boat’s functions. Command ballast control, Wedge adjustment, interior lighting, coded keyless ignition, available GPS navigation and more through Malibu Touch Command.

New Coded Keyless Ignition
Forget the keys. Go ahead. You won’t need them in a 2011 Malibu boat. All Malibu Wakesetter and Sunscape models have keyless ignition standard. Type in your code, touch the “Start Engine” icon and motor. No more worries about getting to the lake and forgetting the keys. Malibu’s got you covered.

New Dash & Components
Performance aside, the 2011 dash looks bad in a good way! You’ve never seen a dash like the one you’ll find in a 2011 Malibu boat. The MTC projective capacitive touch screen combined with the new Italian-made Isotta Vista Steering Wheel, the available MaliView Dash System and Rockford Fosgate Stereo touch pad; let it all sink in. Now consider the functionality housed in this dash and it’s almost unbelievable. MaliView and the Rockford Fosgate Sound System have even been upgraded for 2011 to include USB video playback and increased iPod/iPhone control. Just when you think boat design has been taken as far as it can go, Malibu Boats does it one better.

New Power LSA & L96
The new L96 6.0L (410 HP) pulls every water sport you’re into with 400 foot-pounds of torque. Low-end power or top-end speed, the L96’s Variable Valve Timing (VVT) automatically adjusts giving you the absolute best performance in either situation. And because Malibu powers boats with standard engines that are built specific and anything but standard, this one makes its home in the new 247 LSVs. The Supercharged LSA 6.2L (550 HP) tops Malibu’s list of engine options as the first production supercharged Gen-IV small block engine the marine industry has ever seen. With 545 ft-lb of torque the LSA doesn’t mess around and is available in all 23-247 foot Wakesetters and Sunscapes.

New White Illusion G3 Tower & Accessories
The G3 tower set 2010 on fire with insane popularity for durability, function and design. The Illusion G3 Gas Spring Assisted Tower follows the lines of a Malibu boat so well you can now get it in black or white. To finish the custom look, Malibu Titan Tower accessories like lights and speakers can be colored to match.

New Flo-cam Rear View Rider Camera System
The Malibu Boats Flo-cam Rear View Rider Camera System pushes the limits of typical action sports cameras way outside the box. This smooth swiveling camera follows the athlete in tow with fluid motion. The Flo-cam can be adjusted to your water sport of choice and is viewable live or recorded through the MaliView Dash System. Captured footage is easily editable and the camera itself can be used in any number of action sports situations thanks to its multi-dimensional design. Watch yourself reach new heights behind a 2011 Malibu boat.

Check out photos of the entire 2011 model line-up on the Malibu Boats Flickr Channel.

Visit your local Malibu Boats dealer to experience the 2011 models, features and options that are pushing limits in the wakeboard and ski boat industry.

Tags: Malibu Boats | 2011 | Model Line-up | wakeboard boats | ski boats | Wakesetter 247 LSV | Sunscape 247 LSV | Malibu Touch Command | MTC | touch screen | projective capacitive touch | keyless ignition | MaliView | video | white Illusion G3 | Rockford Fosgate | Flo-cam

The New Malibu Flo-cam on Video

Check out Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) new Flo-cam Rear View Rider Camera System on video. This 2-minute clip will school you on the innovation behind this action sports camera and show you first hand just what it can do.

Flo-cam Rear View Rider Camera System pushes the limits of typical action sports camera way outside the box. This smooth swiveling camera follows the athlete in tow with fluid motion. The Flo-cam can be adjusted to your water sport of choice and is viewable live or recorded through the MaliView Dash System. Captured footage is easily editable and the camera itself can be used in any number of action sports situations thanks to its multi-dimensional design. Watch yourself reach new heights behind a Malibu boat.

Learn more about the new Flo-cam on the Malibu Boats Blog.

Contact your local Malibu Boats dealer for detailed pricing and availability.

Tags: Malibu Boats | Flo-cam | rider camera | helmet camera | VIO | MaliView | SD Card | Swivel Head Pylon | action sports camera | wakeboarding | wakesurfing | water skiing | wakeboard boat | ski boat | video | YouTube

Watch Yourself Reach New Heights with Flo-cam

The Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) Flo-cam Rear View Rider Camera System pushes the limits of typical action sports camera way outside the box. This smooth swiveling camera follows the athlete in tow with fluid motion. The Flo-cam can be adjusted to your water sport of choice and is viewable live or recorded through the MaliView Dash System. Captured footage is easily editable and the camera itself can be used in any number of action sports situations thanks to its multi-dimensional design. Watch yourself reach new heights behind a Malibu boat.

Check out the Malibu Boats Flo-cam Flickr set for more images.
Check out the Flo-cam video on the Malibu Boats YouTube Channel.

The secret behind camera innovation is the Patented Swivel Head Pylon mount. The Flo-cam enclosure is based on the smooth action of Malibu’s award-winning pylon head. Built with a needle bearing core, the swivel head pylon rotates the Flo-cam with the rope to capture the rider’s performance minus the jerky motion you get from other camera options on the market.

Malibu Boats has also built an angle adjustment into this camera system that allows the camera to capture action near the back of boat for disciplines like wakesurfing as well as a Team Malibu rider wakeboarding with a long line.

When those personal bests are preserved and ready for playback head to the dash for a look at MaliView. The Flo-cam is wired to Malibu’s 6.5-inch full color dash system for high quality playback even in full sun. For another view take a look at the Flo-cam drive in the glove box. It has a small screen for viewing too.

When your wake talents are spent and you’re ready to make the magic you made behind the boat into a movie get to it. Grab the 2 gig SD card and head for your machine. Captured footage can be edited on MAC or PC with a variety of software.

In addition to all of this function on the water, the Malibu Boats Flo-cam will go where you go to capture you in action. Take it out of the boat and mount it to your helmet or whatever other apparatus you use for extreme sport. The Flo-cam can capture your personal best no matter where they may be.

Contact your local Malibu Boats dealer for detailed pricing and availability.

Tags: Malibu Boats | Flo-cam | rider camera | helmet camera | VIO | MaliView | SD Card | Swivel Head Pylon | action sports camera | wakeboarding | wakesurfing | water skiing | wakeboard boat | ski boat