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I would also check/replace all the idle air control valve and throttle position sensor. Does it run a little fast when going into gear? I had a similar sounding issue and replacing these fixed it. Below is my favorite post to repost from @formulaben

I have bought out of state two times, never sold though. For a sales transaction, I would handle it the same way whether local or not. Certified check for full amount to be delivered at time boat is picked up, whether by a shipper or buyer. Bill of sale would be emailed to buyer for signing and titles signed over at the time of pickup, would accompany boat on the trip or be overnighted depending on buyer's wish. I tried to purchase a boat that was 1000 miles away and I looked into delivery and picking it up over a long weekend. Shipping would have cost about 3X what it would cost me to drive out and back, but ultimately decided that if I was buying that boat, I'd have had the trailer gone through wherever the boat was at including repack bearings, bleed brakes, and replace tires before making the trip. Turns out, the dealer couldn't locate the trailer (it was a racked boat) so I would have been buying a trailer and that added lead time just kind of made up my mind for me. In the end, I bought boats 80 miles from my house and just stopped a couple times to make sure that the trailer wheels were not overheating or tires coming apart for that first trip home.

What is the ballast set up on this boat?

Have you checked timing?

My source told me that Malibu has dealers set up for each location. Final paperwork, etc has to be finished up. They are also working with some local repair shops in areas to get customers taken care of.

I know everyone’s experience is probably different, but @NorCalSurfer keep those skins in the garage for the season or until this gets sorted out and put the surfgate actuator on yourself . Not sure how close you are to the Tommy’s deal ships, but an actuator replacement isn’t that difficult. it’s been my experience that taking my previous boats to the Stockton dealership for service /warranty wasn’t the greatest experience. troubleshooting and fixing your own boat is a skill more owners should have as it can limit downtime during the months you want to use it.

The former lead SP mechanic was pretty good. It's unfortunate that they lost him.

Doesn't look like it, still in front of port windshield.

I bought a boat out of state a few years ago and went and looked at it myself. Took it out on a lake for awhile and tested everything out. We had already worked out a price so I brought a certified check with me. The buyer called my bank from where the check was from and confirm it was a good check (he gave them the check number and all of my information on the check) before i got the titles and pulled the boat back home. I had not thought about calling the bank before, but from now on i most definitely will. I also sold a boat to someone out of state and when they came to pick it up my last name was spelled wrong on the check. I called my bank and asked them what i needed to do before i would give the other party the boat and titles. They had me come in and signed the check with spelling my name wrong on the back and then sign it again spelling it right and cashed it. I guess maybe that is a perk of banking with a smaller local bank?

There is no doubt that there will be bumps in the road along this whole process. However, as @IXFE mentioned earlier in this thread, it's likely that Malibu is negotiating with others for new representation. This will take time, but I agree with his assessment and suspect that we'll see new dealers start popping up in the next couple of months. While it doesn't bode well for those of us who may have warranty issues, it is what it is. I'm not saying it's good, but none of us have any control over it. With that said, I'm giving Malibu the benefit of doubt that they'll step up and ensure their customers aren't getting screwed. I'm not saying that I have confidence in this based on my experiences, rather suggesting that's what they should do and what I hope they do. FWIW, my boat is at the dealer (Tommy's) and has been since the last week of February and I have yet to receive a commitment on when I'll get it back. I could have used it 3 times since they've had it and what's being done is warranty repairs that they could not previously get me scheduled for. Some of the items being done include getting options installed that were ordered with the boat, but never delivered. I feel the pain of @NorCalSurfer and @Tball99. Y'all aren't alone. I have been contact by another dealer that's about 2 hours one way from my house that has a good reputation. I will be taking my boat there in the future provided another solid dealer doesn't open in my region. My other option is switching brands, which I have considered heavily since my experience with Tommy's (Skier's Pier) has been so poor. My desire to remain loyal to Malibu is waning.......

UFP recommends extending the tongue actuator prior to storage. This helps prevent the brake pistons at the wheels from corroding.

@NorCalSurfer I hear ya. I also had a 2007 Calabria I bought from Larson and was a great boat. Upgraded to a 2022 23 LSV due to the warranty and because of Larson and how I was treated. Just got my boat back a few weeks ago where they fixed the skin. So I got lucky. However, on Mother’s Day my boat won’t crank or even attempt to start. Checked batteries, fuses, grounds, safety switch and appears the throttle assembly doesn’t think it is in neutral. Called Tommy’s and they said maybe in 3/4 weeks they can start taking appointments but I assume they will not be around. Now it is a three hour drive to the nearest Malibu dealership and a 3/4 week wait. Emailed Malibu to see what the hell is going on. I am tempted to buy the throttle but it is over 1k and apparently only a dealer can get it. Totally bummed as Larson’s was a great dealership and since Tommy’s has taken over the service is not as good. Now I too have a 10x version of a Calabria.

Congrats getting it running. Well done. No gauges and flickering lighting is probably bad connection. Most likely bad earth. Check the connections on the earth bar.

Interesting! Another symptom is it will "bog" down if you punch throttle quickly (like when pulling a skier out of the water). Maybe related? I've replaced the fuel filters, plugs, wires, distributor cap/rotor.

Thanks guys for all the help! Been waiting for the boat to get into the mechanic, today was the day. Finally cranked it and fired right up with setting the the timing, but now I’m having an issue with my gauges. Nothing at all there dead, gauge lights are flickering barely working. I’ve looked for fuses under the dash and nothing, help is needed again

Given the boats age the running rich may be a leaking fuel injector. Have you checked oil level lately? If more than you put in, that’s another clue. High level would be fuel dilution.

Tommys in Rancho Cordova and Stockton will be soon. They can’t pay 3rd party vendors. So my boat under warranty I can’t get the skins replaced by them because they can’t pay an upholstery shop. I went and picked up the skins and a surf gate actuator. Think about that, they gave me a surf gate actuator to put on myself. I bought a Malibu for the warranty and peace of mind. I previously had a Calabria who went BK. At this point I have a Calabria that cost 10x as I have no warranty support now. Tommys is done and not a peep from Malibu on how they are going to support their customers as we are all going to be on the water soon, if not already. What if I have a major issue this weekend, why have a boat with warranty when no one can fix it?

99 Malibu response is running pretty rich (smells very fumey) and the ignition beep that turns on when you turn the key continues to beep when running. I'm assuming those two issues are unrelated but I've heard the beeping can possibly be oil pressure. any advice for addressing/checking those two issues would be appreciated! (indmar monsoon 335 fuel injected.)

I would check the idle control valve on the engine intake. It could be all gummed up. The intake manifold and plenum gets a lot of oil overtime from the breathers.

I thought a friend of mine was insane when he bought an X80 back in 2007 for $110k. Now you can’t get a ProStar for that.

All good advice. Next cold start key up 2 or 3 times before starting and see if that changes anything.

The suggestions from Justgary sound like the best thing to check. The Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) only richens, or leans, the fuel when the throttle is moved (especially when it is moved quickly), and should not impact cold starting. The Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor does affect starting by richening fuel when the engine is cold, and leaning fuel when the engine is hot. MEFI4 ECT value default is -49 degrees F when it is disconnected which would make warm/hot starting more difficult (the opposite of your issue), so that is also not likely the problem.

on a positive note, all of the SP mechanics were promoted to the finance department when Tommy's took over.

Yeah, 35x12.5s on a wet ramp and a heavy boat - find someone with a better tow vehicle.

Test the fuel pressure. Change the cap and rotor. The wires too, if they are more than about five years old. When you sprayed the throttle body, did you also get the side passage where the IAC lives?