Why buy a nautique instead of a Malibu?

**Flamingturbo** · 09-18-2011, 04:19 AM

I am trying to figure out which brand to buy for our new boat Malibu or Nautique. That thread on themalibucrew sort of put me off them and I was seriously considering a Nautique, then I saw the thread below.
http://www.planetnautique.com/vb3/sh...nautique-owner!
Might just keep the old boat I have (1997 Response), nothing really wrong with it just getting a bit old.

Seems pretty poor to me that these new boats (that cost in excess of 100K here in Australia) can be so unreliable.

**wawasee** · 09-18-2011, 06:26 AM

We have a house on Lake Wawasee in northern Indiana. On Lake Wawasee, everybody has a Nautique. It has been that way for years. Sure there is a Malibu dealer on the water and a Mastercraft dealer in town, but they may sell two or three new boats a year. Really if you don't have a Nautique on our lake you have a pontoon boat or a Rinker. My father bought a brand new 1991 Sport Nautique that was the best boat every made. We lost it in a fire that distroyed to boat. The next day without hesitation we went to Wawasee Boat Co. and bought a brand new 2006 SV211 off the showroom floor. We were not going to shop or test drive any other brand. I think you guys would be very happy to join the Nautique family. Sure boats have issues from time to time, that is boating, but Nautiques are just the best and we all know it. Good luck with your decision on buying a new boat.

**ccs** · 09-18-2011, 08:11 AM

I was a competitive water skier from age 8 and have had the opportunity to be around every brand of ski boat there is -- if you really want to understand why buy a Nautique - just go find a mastercraft, Malibu, centurian, moomba or any other non Nautique brand boat with 500 or more hours on it and take a good long ride ---- then jump in a similar hour Nautique and do the same--- you will then see the difference.

The Nautique will Likely have less rattles, squeaks and noises- it will seem tighter and just an all round better built boat.

This is all of course just one persons opinion, but our family's ride next summer is yet another Nautique - a 2012 SAN 230 scheduled for may 2012 delivery.

**TxJole** · 09-18-2011, 08:26 AM

A lot of good boats out there. To me the long term fit and finish of a Correct Craft is un matched. But mastercraft is great too. Shopping is hard work, good luck.

**Flamingturbo** · 09-18-2011, 04:04 PM

Thanks for the Feedback, I am going to have a look and hopefully a run in a 2011 SAN 210 Team this weekend. There may be a couple of 2012 models available for delivery in October.
You may be interested to know that the Nautiques we get in Australia are built in the US and shipped out, the Malibus are built here and the waiting list is around 4 months

**ccs** · 09-18-2011, 04:36 PM

Why a 210 instead of a 230 ? (no sarcasm meant at all - just curious) - I see alot of 210 owners and am curious why the 210 ? Price ? Wake ? Configuration ? Size ?

**Flamingturbo** · 09-18-2011, 04:52 PM

We tend to do a bit of everything,, ski, kneeboard, a little barefooting but more wakeboarding than the rest, after talking to the dealer it just seemed that the 210 would better suit our needs.
The other reason is that he had a couple of new 210s coming so we would have one for beginning of our season, (earliest I could get a Malibu is January).
While I still like the Malibus I am really warming to the Nautiques, they have some great features that Malibu just don't have.

**Nautiques_NZ** · 09-18-2011, 10:26 PM

The 210 is the way to go. The Nautique will be a far superior boat to an aussie assembled Bu.

**DaveP** · 09-19-2011, 05:39 AM

Originally posted by dmfreier View Post

I was a huge Malibu fan until I bought my 09 Malibu vlx there are certain things I love about the boat but that being said I have never been let down so much in my life! I missed all summer this year due to computer failures .The two previous years before that the boat was in the shop only for half the summers for a variety of things.The customer service rep at the factory could care less how My family and I feel .They have no accountability .There are three families with nautique's on our lake that have had no issues what so ever in all the years I have known them and I think that speaks for itself. I am currently looking at the super air 230 .I think this will be a great boat.If you need further information on making a choice between a Malibu or a nautique please check my posts on www.themalibucrew.com and search my username dmfreier .you will find tons of other posts with the same issues! Thanks and my next post will be about how much I love my new 230!

I looked seriously at both. I've heard that Malibu has had a few more issues, possibly related to new management etc. I like both brands. In the end, we bought a 2011 SANTE and have to say we love it. The ONLY issue we had all summer was a small split in the seam of the drivers seat, but we left it alone and they will fix it when I take it in for storage. LINC worked great. I have heard of issues, but we didn't have any.

**AllianceBJJ** · 09-19-2011, 07:36 AM

Go look at little things on the mailibu....spaces between pieces (especially in the bow), loose cupholder attachments, sloppy stitching, carpet on things that will unravel (wall next to the helm at the top), cheap glove box lid....I could probably go on all day, but I won't because I think you get the picture...

I spent weeks making a decision between a 2011 23 LSV and a 230 this spring...Mulitple trips to the dealer to crawl around in, water test, etc....I was almost to the signing paperwork point on the 23 LSV....Spent one last hour looking through the boat and noticed all of the things above....I really wanted that LSV too....It was significantly less $$$ too...Just didnt feel comfortable....Ended up back at Buxton w/a 230 though...

**bamabonners** · 09-19-2011, 09:29 AM

I went through the same decision this year. I was between Nautique and Malibu. I went with the Malibu VLX because it was several thousand cheaper in price. I believe that Nautique makes a terrific product and I am still a big fan of Nautiques.

Not to take up for Malibu, but I just don't like that DMFREIER has decided to come on this board and air his laundry. His case is the exception to the norm. If you want to move to another brand, then just do so - no need to crap in the door as you leave. Yes, there are some malibus that have had issues with malivue blinking and freezing, but I have not heard of another owner that has had near as many problems as he has. Usually, they are resolved by the dealer either upgrading the software or replacing the viper module. I have not had any problems with my Malibu and my die hard MC fans have even commented on how great the fit and finish looks on my boat. People forget that these boats are made on an assembly line. Things get missed and things are not perfect 100% of the time. Go pick any of the top three and you will see flaws, but on average MC, CC, and Malibu are the best at what they do.

Sorry for the hijack, I am off my soap box. Now, lets go get in our respective boats and do some skiing before the water gets cold!

**BroncoSki** · 09-19-2011, 10:03 AM

Why are you on a CC website if you own a malibu? Malibu boats are cheap imitations of Mastercrafts. I like how Malibu folks think its the big three. Its not. Its Mastercraft and CC at the top. Malibu is second tier

**bamabonners** · 09-19-2011, 12:24 PM

Bronco,
I created an account on here when I was in the process of deciding which boat I wanted. Now, I come on here because I love watersports and boating. I enjoy going to other forums besides malibucrew and wakeworld and reading the discussions. You are welcome to come join the conversations at malibucrew - the more the merrier!

**Kenv** · 09-19-2011, 12:56 PM

Bama,
Glad to see you decided on a boat that made you comfortable. I know you asked me quite a few questions about the 226 when you were shopping. Bronco...in my opinion, I don't think Malibu is second tier. Spent alot of years in and behind a 98 Sunsetter and this is one tight boat still in great shape and running strong. I look at it more like this. There is Ford, Chevy and Dodge....there is Mastercraft, Nautique and Malibu. Those tiers just change position based on the conversation and who owns what. We are lucky to have those three choices and a few others to pick from.

Why buy a nautique instead of a Malibu?

Why buy a nautique instead of a Malibu?

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