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At the beginning of June we brought you the first unofficial pictures of 2009 Malibu Wakesetter VLX. Now Malibu has released a few shots of the completely new model on the water, and we have to say, it’s a hansom looking update.

Based on the brief preview we posted early, the 2009 Wakesetter VLX looks pretty much like we thought it would. This latest round of pictures of the boat in it’s natural setting do a much better job of showcasing the lines of the new boat.

Check out our summary of the major changes after the break.

Gallery: 2009 Malibu Wakesetter VLX Official Pictures

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With comparisons between another major manufacturer, and reader opinions running rampant, we’ve finally got some information on Tigé’s line of boats for 2009. It looks like it’s been a pretty busy year for the R&D department and their OEM suppliers, as Tigé has made a number of substantial changes. Read on as we outline the 2009 Tigé model year changes.

Gallery: 2009 Tigé Boats Model Details

It’s that time of year, with the majority of the boat manufacturers making the change to the 2009 model year in the next the weeks, expect a lot of wakeboard boat related news. If boats don’t do it for you, just skip this post, otherwise read on.

With a new Wakesetter VLX on the way for 2009, Malibu chose to use the same plan that worked so well in 2005, recycling the previous generation VLX into the new vRide. The brand new 2009 21 vRide is the first ‘09 model Malibu has released shots of, and if the rest of the 2009 model news follows this lead, it should be an exciting year for Malibu enthusiasts. Based on the 2005-2008 Wakesetter VLX, the 2009 21 vRide represents an impressive upgrade from the original vRide. Measuring in at 21′ 6″ in length with a 98″ beam, the new 21 vRide gains 6″ in each dimension over it’s predecessor.

Check out the gallery below for the first official shots of the brand new 2009 Malibu 21 vRide.

Gallery: 2009 Malibu 21 vRide

At first glance you might think this is a new model Malibu is developing for 2009 or beyond, but you’d be wrong. it’s actually Tigé’s 2009 24Vé, featuring a new tower design that some might say is a dead ringer for Malibu’s Illusion X wakeboard tower. Everything, right down to the accessories, apes the tower Malibu first offered in 2004.

Sure, Malibu has introduced their new Illusion XS wakeboard tower, which will be available on all of their models for 2009, but we doubt they’re too excited about Tigé’s new tower design. The forward sweeping look has been a Malibu trademark up until now, so they definitely won’t be too excited about sharing that look on the water.

More than that, we’re just disappointed to see the lack of creativity and ingenuity on Tigé’s part. They’ve been struggling to corporate identity when it comes to tower design, introducing a new look seemingly every year. Rather than come up with something that is both functional and attractive on their own, they decided to take the easy way out.

As they say though, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, which means Malibu should probably be feeling pretty good right now. Something tells me they’re experiencing another emotion right now.

Check out a side-by-side comparison of Tigé’s 2009 24Vé and Malibu’s 2005 Wakesetter VLX after the break.

We’re fast approaching the release of the 2009 model year boats from every major manufacture, which is an exciting time for anyone that gets excited for the newest wakeboarding toys. It will probably be a few weeks until manufactures start to release official pictures of their new product, but we’ve got the first shots of the 2009 Malibu Wakesetter VLX here, along with some additional information about Malibu’s new flagship wakeboarding boat.

Check out the information we’ve gathered, along with additional pictures after the break.

Update: Sorry everyone, Malibu is throwing their weight around and forcing people to remove any images that are posted ahead of the official unveiling. Hopefully we’ll have press quality images from Malibu soon.

Update #2: Pictures are back up. Official product pics will be releases shortly, and the pictures shown here do not represent the final product, so the production version of the 2009 Wakesetter VLX may be even better than what’s shown here.

MasterCraft wants to take you on the Ride of a Lifetime!

Just imagine waking up to go snowboarding with Oakley Pros on Mt. Hood every morning. And then coming down to hop behind an X-Star to ride with MasterCraft Pros Andrew Adkison, Zane Schwenk, and Jack Blodgett every afternoon. Now you know why this trip is called the Ride of a Lifetime.

Check out a video with details at:
WakeboardNorthwest.com

Thanks to the resourcefulness of one forum member, a group of Malibu owners over at TheMalibuCrew.com have come up with a custom billet aluminum remote mount that includes a specific slot for Wet Sound’s new WS420 EQ. Designed to replace the factory remote bracket, the custom designed mount holds the factory Sony XM-RM55 remote, along with the aforementioned EQ, and optionally an additional switch like those used on the dash.

While this modification is specific to Malibus it shows what some creative thinking can accomplish. And thanks to the efforts of forum member liljohn, Malibu owners can have easy access to their Wet Sounds WS420 for on the fly adjustments of the tower speakers, sub and cockpit speakers.

Check out some more pics after the jump.

[Source: TheMalibuCrew.com]

Correct Craft and their longtime power partner, Pleasurecraft Marine Engines, have teamed up to bring catalyzed marine engines to the Nautique line for 2008. Although their claims of a “green” marine engine seem slightly contradictory to us, there’s no denying that the current crop of catalyzed marine engines are much better for the environment than their predecessors. Like Indmar’s ETX/CAT introduced last year, PCM’s new Catanium system combines the exhaust manifold with a solid-state catalyst that promotes the combustion of harmful components in the engines exhaust. These systems are very similar to those that have been installed in our cars for the last 20 years, with the necessary advancements to be used in the marine setting.

In addition to the cleaner emissions, PCM’s new line of Catanium equipped engines also features better fuel economy and enhanced power thanks to the more advanced engine control modules required by the exhaust catalyst system. Overall, it’s a win-win for everyone, the water we like to play in will be a little cleaner, and we’ll save money by using less gas while wakeboarding.

You can read the full details in Correct Craft’s press release after the jump.

For 2008 Malibu added a new optional stereo system that features integrated control for Apple’s popular iPod MP3 player. Manufactured by JBL marine systems, the new headunit features a nondescript black module that is remotely mounted, and is controlled entire from the integrated LCD switch plates and available wired remote controls.

Recently though, a problem has appeared with the stereo system that severly impacts its functionality. The issue is related to the iPod interface, which, to put it bluntly, does not work. There are varying reports from 2008 model year owners, some stating that their older iPods work, while some claim that it the problem is related to the capacity of the iPod in quesion. Independent of which models are effected, the problem seems to prevent connected iPods from being accessible by the headunit at all, which not only means that the iPod won’t be charged when connected, but also that you can forget about listening to any music loaded onto it.

Regardless of what the problem actually ends up being, Malibu has stated they are aware of the problem, and are working diligently with JBL to develop an update for Malibu dealers to correct their customer’s boats. The solution should be available sometime this summer, and you can contact Malibu Boats or your local dealer for additional information if you are having issues with the stereo in your 2008 Malibu.

For the past few years Malibu dealers across the country have teamed up to provide on water demos of their latest models on the same day. This year, on April 26th, dealers across the country will have 2008 model Malibu boats available to drive, ride, ski and explore. If you’re in the market for a new boat, and Malibu is on your list, this is a great opportunity to compare Malibu’s most popular models on the water to determine which one is best for you.

Many dealers throughout the nation are participating, so there’s a good chance one near you will have boats on the water and ready for you to experience first hand. Unfortunately, we doubt any dealers will have the 2008 Malibu Corvette Limited Edition available to demo, but the brand new Wakesetter 23 LSV should serve as a nice substitute.

Visit Malibu’s National Demo Site to find your nearest participating dealer.

You can read the full press release after the jump.