Malibu Boat Recall

[BoatCop]

I know the general consensus here is anti-wakeboard and ski boats, but I know there are closet skiers and lurkers here. There also might be a few ballers that have a ski boat, in addition to their performance boat, PWCs, pontoon boat, airplane, submarine, aircraft carrier, etc. Plus, if this issue has been found on Malibu bowrider ski-boats, it's likely that other open bow boats may come under scrutiny:

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Malibu Boats issued a safety alert regarding a seating hazard in bowriders it built from 1986 through 2014. In an incident involving a model-year 2000 Response LX, a passenger died when he was "washed out of the bow seating area during a bow swamping incident," according to Malibu.

The company said in a statement that it "now prohibits passengers in the bow area of similar boats while the boat is in motion. This reduces the boat capacity by two passengers. Malibu will provide updated capacity labels and warning stickers reflecting this new safety policy."

Owners of these models can enter the boat's information here, and the company will send warning stickers and an updated capacity plate. The company said it determined that the Response LX and similar models designed by Malibu Boats West could be susceptible to this type of incident. Malibu now prohibits passengers in the bow when underway for a number of models.
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See here for additional info: https://www.tradeonlytoday.com/manufacturers/malibu-issues-safety-alert

 

[stephenkatsea]

Wow! I can't even imagine how many open bow boats, of similar size, from various manufactures were built and sold from 1986 thru 2014.

 

[cofooter]

If you don't know how to drive these boat, and Malibu has to assume everyone is a novice, it is incredibly easy to stuff the nose under a big wakeboard wake. All manufacturers have this problem. Malibu is covering themselves but it is not necessarily the boat that is the problem!

 

[srttruck]

 

[Hammer]

View attachment 1283266 View attachment 1283267 View attachment 1283268

I know the general consensus here is anti-wakeboard and ski boats, but I know there are closet skiers and lurkers here. There also might be a few ballers that have a ski boat, in addition to their performance boat, PWCs, pontoon boat, airplane, submarine, aircraft carrier, etc. Plus, if this issue has been found on Malibu bowrider ski-boats, it's likely that other open bow boats may come under scrutiny:

----------
Malibu Boats issued a safety alert regarding a seating hazard in bowriders it built from 1986 through 2014. In an incident involving a model-year 2000 Response LX, a passenger died when he was "washed out of the bow seating area during a bow swamping incident," according to Malibu.

The company said in a statement that it "now prohibits passengers in the bow area of similar boats while the boat is in motion. This reduces the boat capacity by two passengers. Malibu will provide updated capacity labels and warning stickers reflecting this new safety policy."

Owners of these models can enter the boat's information here, and the company will send warning stickers and an updated capacity plate. The company said it determined that the Response LX and similar models designed by Malibu Boats West could be susceptible to this type of incident. Malibu now prohibits passengers in the bow when underway for a number of models.
----------

See here for additional info: https://www.tradeonlytoday.com/manufacturers/malibu-issues-safety-alert

View attachment 1283260

Wow! I can't even imagine how many open bow boats, of similar size, from various manufactures were built and sold from 1986 thru 2014.

Will you get a ticket for riding in the bow while under way? I'd never buy an open bow that I could not sit in....

 

[DWC]

Those early Tige’s were the same way. The front sat crazy low.

 

[HighVoltage329]

As we all know the water has changed due to wake surf boats. Boat operators have to be carful. Sad that someone was killed.

 

[Boatymcboatface]

I’ve been on the receiving end of a no way around it surf waves in Parker. Some sections get so bad especially when you got opposing surf boats and the waves start to make a double up situation. Soaked my entire boat! One of the many reasons I bought a closed bow tournament ski boat!

Now we pretty much park my boat after the morning session and take my brother in laws chaparral boat for the dinner and dam runs.

 

[BoatCop]

Will you get a ticket for riding in the bow while under way? I'd never buy an open bow that I could not sit in....

I suppose that they could write a ticket for Bow Riding/Negligent Operation. Most laws against bow riding state something like "unless the area is designed by the manufacturer for passenger seating AT ALL SPEEDS." There are so many open bow boats out there for police to worry about identifying and boarding only Malibu West RX boats of specific years. The only time it may come out would be in accident investigations, where a person allowed to be seated in an "unapproved" location is injured or is the proximate cause of the mishap.

If anyone owns one of these and puts the updated capacity plate and warning decals on, they better be damn sure that they don't allow anyone to be seated up there. Because if they do, and someone is injured or killed, they will be totally fucked in a civil injury or wrongful death proceeding. Direct knowledge of the risk elevates it from maybe mere negligence to solid recklessness.

But from a practical side, getting cited for someone being in bow seats on JUST these specific boats is unlikely. BUT.......... the chance is NEVER zero.

 

[Outdrive1]

I did it pulling someone wake surfing, he fell, I turned right around in my wake, swamped the boat. I had no clue it would come over the front. I’m used to pulling a skier and turning around, not waiting for your wake to pass to turn.

 

[Hammer]

I’ve been on the receiving end of a now way around it surf waves in Parker. Some sections get so bad especially when you got opposing surf boats and the waves start to make a double up situation. Soaked my entire boat! One of the many reasons I bought a closed bow tournament ski boat!

Now we pretty much park my boat after the morning session and take my brother in laws chaparral boat for the dinner and dam runs.

We don't go to Parker anymore because of this.. used to be my favorite place....

 

[Sharp Shooter]

If you don't know how to drive these boat, and Malibu has to assume everyone is a novice, it is incredibly easy to stuff the nose under a big wakeboard wake. All manufacturers have this problem. Malibu is covering themselves but it is not necessarily the boat that is the problem!

I think you’re right.

I spent 30 years dodging battleship wakes in my flatties. Compared to that the Ski Sanger seems easy.

Keep the bow up and you can go through anything.

 

[BajaT]

Just have warning label say "It's recommended to stay at the dock. Odds of serious injury or death is greatly reduced"

 

[boatnam2]

I have a 96 tige, real easy to wash someone in front, hell Lifeguard boat put a few waves over the back the other day in marine stadium 3-4 rollers came into boat.

 

[500bbc]

Not surprised..
No operator error involved...

Jury Awards $200 Million to Family of Boy Who Died in Boating Accident

A jury has awarded $200 million to the family of a little boy who died in a horrific boating incident. The Florida family and their lawyers called the verdict a major victory. A Georgia jury found Malibu Boats liable for failing to warn of a hazard posed by its 2000 Malibu Response LX, a boat...

www.nbcwashington.com

 

[Blackmagic94]

If you don't know how to drive these boat, and Malibu has to assume everyone is a novice, it is incredibly easy to stuff the nose under a big wakeboard wake. All manufacturers have this problem. Malibu is covering themselves but it is not necessarily the boat that is the problem!

No, roll bar boats are bad. Ban them all. Now.

 

[oldschool]

No, roll bar boats are bad. Ban them all. Now.

SO, more government involvement? Roll bar boats don’t kill people, the drivers do.

 

[4Waters]

I did it pulling someone wake surfing, he fell, I turned right around in my wake, swamped the boat. I had no clue it would come over the front. I’m used to pulling a skier and turning around, not waiting for your wake to pass to turn.

Yup, really easy to do with a wake boat and I figure that's exactly what happened in this incident

 

[oldschool]

Yup, really easy to do with a wake boat and I figure that's exactly what happened in this incident

And that’s exactly the wrong way to do it. Chop the throttle and idle back in your own wake.

 

[4Waters]

And that’s exactly the wrong way to do it. Chop the throttle and idle back in your own wake.

Oh I get that and most people figure it out when they take their own wake over the bow, unfortunately someone lost their life this time. I truly hope it was an accident and the captain wasn't trying to "have fun"

 

[rivermobster]

We don't go to Parker anymore because of this.. used to be my favorite place....

The weekends are nuts I've heard.

Weekdays? It's all good.

 

[BajaT]

Guess it's time for an extra 10% sales tax on all boats and boat gas!

 

[coolchange]

My son in laws uncle sued Tige many years ago. Don’t remember who was driving it but they bow swamped it hard just doing normal towing stuff.
Tige said operator error.
He said ya…NO. Design Error.
Don’t remember the outcome but he was not a guy to fool with.

 

[spectra3279]

Maybe if the bows didn't slope down and act like a scoop this wouldn't be needed

 

[stephenkatsea]

Open bow boats have particular difficulty in some of the FL inlets, not just Haulover.

 

[Blackmagic94]

SO, more government involvement? Roll bar boats don’t kill people, the drivers do.

Yawn. We outlawed 3 wheels. I hate toolbars so I’m ok with it.

 

[Hammer]

The weekends are nuts I've heard.

Weekdays? It's all good.

View attachment 1283345

I don't get the luxury of mid week boating on a regular basis.

 

[4Waters]

Maybe if the bows didn't slope down and act like a scoop this wouldn't be needed

^^^THIS^^^

 

[rivermobster]

I don't get the luxury of mid week boating on a regular basis.

You will.

 

[Hammer]

You will.

Oh I know! 25 years to go.....

 

[JB in so cal]

The weekends are nuts I've heard.

Weekdays? It's all good.

View attachment 1283345

Big Bend!

 

[lbhsbz]

Wondering how many are lining up trying to get outta their loans or depreciating "investment" claiming they bought it to seat XX people and now they can't take the whole family because they can only fit XX-4. This is gonna cost the open bow manufacturers a shit ton of money.

 

[Nosocks]

My Yamaha 242x had a ton of freeboard but I'd still get splashed sometimes when turning around to get a skier. Never stuffed the bow though.

 

[4Waters]

My Yamaha 242x had a ton of freeboard but I'd still get splashed sometimes when turning around to get a skier. Never stuffed the bow though.

I have only stuffed the bow 4 times. Once we were stopped talking to another boat and a wake boat wake came over the bow didn’t even see it coming. Two were a similar situation but I saw the wake last minute, hit the throttle to get the bow up, I was able to minimize the amount of water that came over at least. The fourth time was picking up a skier 22 years ago, I learned what not to do that day.

 

[grumpy88]

Wondering how many are lining up trying to get outta their loans or depreciating "investment" claiming they bought it to seat XX people and now they can't take the whole family because they can only fit XX-4. This is gonna cost the open bow manufacturers a shit ton of money.

What about the people who bought a boat and are just getting fucked ? I would be pissed .

 

[Sherpa]

Centurion falcon had a bow front that really dipped looooow… open bow, people infront,
Low bow, you do the math.

It was drive carefully, don’t be an ass. No problems.

Damn lawyers and idiot operators.

 

[stephenkatsea]

The vast majority of open bow boats of that size and vintage are not wake board boats. Where and how do they fit in this new regulation? I’m talking Commander, Carrera, Essex, Ultra, Cole, Eliminator, Caliber 1 etc etc. The list is nearly endless. There’s many many thousands of them. So if a Leo sees an open bow boat ‘moving’ with people seated in the bow, that’s now a violation? That should get interesting real quick. I assume, at this point, being seated in an ‘unapproved location’ is due only to the manufacture’s stipulation. At this point just Malibu. There are no laws stating such for all open bow vessels? At least, not yet . . . . WTF?!!

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

This won’t change anyone’s behavior, this is just the lawyers trying to cover Malibus butt.

We had a 2005 Wakesetter, which isn’t on this list, but even for a 23’ the nose was so low to the water it was unsettling when we first got it. I almost thought we were sinking a couple times if I only looked at the bow when idling.

And yeah, we scooped water several times with the bow. Once I let someone else drive and they submarined the nose, I had to yank the boat into reverse hard or we would have been a goner. Wound up with almost a foot of water in the boat which thankfully pumped out (we didn’t have any ballast tanks full at the time which may have helped).

Just had to drive it differently. And it’s really not just Malibus you can take a wave over the bow with almost any wake boat.

We only got rid of that boat this year. The replacement, a 24’ Axis is taller and seems marginally better.

That being said give me the Eliminator Eagle over any of these wake boats.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

The vast majority of open bow boats of that size and vintage are not wake board boats. Where and how do they fit in this new regulation? I’m talking Commander, Carrera, Essex, Ultra, Cole, Eliminator, Caliber 1 etc etc. The list is nearly endless. There’s many many thousands of them. So if a Leo sees an open bow boat ‘moving’ with people seated in the bow, that’s now a violation? That should get interesting real quick. I assume, at this point, being seated in an ‘unapproved location’ is due only to the manufacture’s stipulation. At this point just Malibu. There are no laws stating such for all open bow vessels? At least, not yet . . . . WTF?!!

Arrowhead has already banned kids in the bow without an adult. We already had a kid killed up here when an wakeboard boat operator made a hard turn and the kid alone in the bow went right out of the bow. Boat hit and killed him.

Arrowhead is a unique lake that can set its own rules but it’s amazingly busy and crowded for a lake of its size on weekends. You think Havasu feels crowded, Arrowhead is like a NYC sidewalk compared to Havasu.

 

[mash on it]

Open bow.
Bubble deck jet, '75 Saguaro.
Built long before Malibu open bows.
Haven't had a problem.

Dan'l

 

[EarpRider]

SO, more government involvement? Roll bar boats don’t kill people, the drivers do.

Nope

 

[EarpRider]

And that’s exactly the wrong way to do it. Chop the throttle and idle back in your own wake.

Hopefully no on coming boats that don't see you downed "wake surfer" while out super slow mo back to them and not swamp your own boat.

 

[EarpRider]

The open bow isn't the problem, the giant wakes that are being created by these wake surf boats are 100% the problem. And YES I live in Parker with an open bow.

 

[dezertrider]

We don't go to Parker anymore because of this.. used to be my favorite place....

Everyone should be as smart as you Hammer and stay away from Parker. Its Closed

 

[Hammer]

Everyone should be as smart as you Hammer and stay away from Parker. Its Closed

LOL!

 

[boatnam2]

It was horrible last week, 102 out, no wind, glass all day for days, open parking at Foxes all day, plenty of parking at sandbar, real friggin nightmare and just reminded me parker is done in my book.

 

[stingray11]

This will apply to any boat with an open bow never like them because of that problem. A skilled driver can prevent a bow stuffing but they will sell a boat to anybody!

 

[Singleton]

Wonder if anyone will file a lawsuit.
Purchase a boat for a reason and now the official capacity is reduced and manufacture states open bow is useless when moving, That would not sit well with me

 

[Malibuvride07]

This won’t change anyone’s behavior, this is just the lawyers trying to cover Malibus butt.

We had a 2005 Wakesetter, which isn’t on this list, but even for a 23’ the nose was so low to the water it was unsettling when we first got it. I almost thought we were sinking a couple times if I only looked at the bow when idling.

And yeah, we scooped water several times with the bow. Once I let someone else drive and they submarined the nose, I had to yank the boat into reverse hard or we would have been a goner. Wound up with almost a foot of water in the boat which thankfully pumped out (we didn’t have any ballast tanks full at the time which may have helped).

Just had to drive it differently. And it’s really not just Malibus you can take a wave over the bow with almost any wake boat.

We only got rid of that boat this year. The replacement, a 24’ Axis is taller and seems marginally better.

That being said give me the Eliminator Eagle over any of these wake boats.

I agree with this. Not going to change any behavior. It is surprising what boats are on that list and which are not though. Most of those are not vdrive their directs and not the diamond hull. As a closet 07 wakeboard boat owner with one person in the bow the no wake wind swell at Piru can swamp you. Just like any boat you learn what to do and what not to do.

As far all the other comments on this thread. Asshats on the strip is why I don’t even go anymore. Doesn’t matter brand or model asshats will be asshats. It’s always amusing how polarized everyone on these boards are toward wake boats and group us all the same

 

[OC Mike]

The jury did find the driver of the boat in Ryan's case 75% at fault, which reduces Malibu Boats' exposure to the damages regarding the full value of Ryan’s life and his pain and suffering. However, the company will be held liable for the entire amount of the $120 million in punitive damages levied against it.

Sounds like the driver is liabel for $150m????