The Joy of Owning A Malibu

Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) receives great owner stories throughout the year, but some of the most passionate seem to come during Malibu Boat Show Season. We met Gene Haldeman at the Hartford, Connecticut Boat Show in Malibu Boats' Dealer Candlewood East Marine's booth. After scrolling through tons of water skiing and boating photos of her family friends we asked Gene to send us some of the pics to post online. We had no idea she would send us this great story! Thank you, Gene!

It all started in the summer of 2000, when my husband and I bought our first ski boat. It was an entry-level MasterCraft, and (unfortunately) we were not pleased with it for long. By summer's end we were looking for something classier (sorry, MasterCraft!) and after some research realized that we should look into Malibu. We were at that time living on the Seacoast of NH, and went to see the nearest Malibu dealer - East Coast Flightcraft in Middleton, MA, to see the boats there. We found the perfect replacement - a 2000 black & tan Response LX. The dealer had this boat in their showroom under the lights, beautifully detailed after about 80 hours of demo use, and we fell in love with it immediately.

In the Fall of 2003 we moved to CT, but had no boating friends yet. The following April I was out driving and saw a Malibu out in front of an auto repair place. I stopped, met the owner, and looked over the boat - a 2003 Response LXi. At the same time I met a friend of the LXi's owner, who was new to boating but had always wanted to own a boat and water ski. He was so proud of his new I/O, just purchased (without his friend's advice). We all boated and skied together that summer, mostly on the 2 Malibus. By the end of that summer I so admired the LXi that I decided to look around and found one I liked advertised online by a dealer in NY. My I/O friend and I went to see it - another demonstrator with lots of extras and about 80 hours on it. We took an in-water ride and I fell in love with it - a blue & white 2004 Response LXi. What followed was a domino effect - I bought the blue & white, my friend bought my black & tan, and finally sold the I/O. I also acquired a Shetland Sheepdog puppy - Sammy - that summer; she became our boating mascot. Sammy goes out with us every boating day. Her little head can be seen on the blue & white, at the rear of the boat.

So now we have 2 fine Malibus in our little "fleet", both of which I have lovingly owned and maintained. For me, Malibu is the very definition of quality, style, design excellence and elegance on the water. As long as I continue to ski, Malibu is the only boat I will ever own - I was an admirer at first sight and my opinion has not changed as the years go by. I follow Malibu's technological and design advances that come along each year with great interest, but my '04 blue & white Response LXi continues to be the perfect boat for me, absolutely the best in its class for 2004. The only changes I made over the years were adding a Titan II stainless tower and a Scarpa plate.

In closing, I cannot begin to describe the pride and joy this fine machine brings to my summers. I only wish I had more summer in my life - might have to move away from New England to get it!

Tags: Malibu Boats | Malibu Owner | Gene Haldeman | Response LX | Response LXi | Candlewood East | Malibu Dealer | Hartford CT | East Coast Flightcraft | ski boats | water skiing

Owner Designs Truck After Malibu Boat

We received some cool photos of, Malibu Response LX owner, Dave Deacon's truck and boat the other day. At first glance these pics look like the typical rig shots, but on closure examination you'll notice some atypical similarities. Dave had his new truck striped to match the hull graphics design on his ski boat. Most people order a boat to match their tow vehicle, not Dave. According him to he started with the most important part, the Malibu boat, and then customized his truck to match. Here's a copy of the email Dave sent to us along with his rig shots.

I bought my Response LX new from TNT Watersports in Tennessee. It was the last boat that the late Sherman Cairns of Nashville Inboard Watersports took delivery of before he died.

I drove a number of different boats as a driver at some INT tournaments. With that experience, there was no question when it came time to replace my ’91 MasterCraft, my next boat would be a Malibu. It’s a basic Response LX ski boat with PerfectPass, just what I need for pulling skiers through the Old Hickory Lake Ski Club course. The only thing I’ve added is a bimini for the hot summer days.

Since I don’t have a regular ski partner, most everyone in the club has driven the boat at one time or another. I’m now skiing in an area of Mississippi where there aren’t many slalom course skiers so I’m training friends and coworkers how to drive it as well.

Due to a career change I live (and ski) in both Mississippi and Tennessee. A new truck was in order to make the haul back and forth. It seemed only natural to have it striped to match the boat. The work was done by the Sign Shop in Columbus, Mississippi. Plenty of people get to see in on the 560 mile round trip between homes.

Thanks for the email and the photos, Dave. Your truck is an awesome tribute to a great looking boat and the pair looks perfect together. Take care on those long trips back and forth.

Tags: Malibu Boats | Dave Deacon | Response LX | ski boat | ski lake | ski club | Mississippi | Tennessee | truck | stripes | TNT Watersports