First surf session behind our 2019 25LSV

[gregtay]

6 minutes ago, wedge88 said:

Is this a sign that Malibu will be manufacturing their own flooring option in the coming years?  I can't think of any other reason why they wouldn't want to use their logo.  Is the Malibu logo available if you order gatorstep from the factory on a new build?  They took trailers and motors in house so is flooring the next process to take in house?

Doubtful. They use GatorStep for Axis and SeaDeck for Malibu(smart to have vendor diversity!) And Malibu is very sue happy and protective of their branding and technology(reasonably so.)  Malibu sells SeaDeck as an option for about 2-3x what it cost you to order it up and install it yourself(but you can’t customized the factory pieces other than Grey or tan.) They want people to order from the factory or dealer and pay full price (and get the official pieces with the logos.)  Apparently up till recently you could still get GatorStep with the logos if you asked Malibu for permission (which they would give you) to create a custom design but recently Malibu started saying no to those requests and pointing you to your dealer if you wanted to order flooring, etc.

Im not sure if you can go through a SeaDeck reseller and get the logos... maybe since they are the official supplier but maybe not.

[IXFE]

Another pic is the black on the transom of a 25

[ahopkins22LSV]

32 minutes ago, gregtay said:

Doubtful. They use GatorStep for Axis and SeaDeck for Malibu(smart to have vendor diversity!) And Malibu is very sue happy and protective of their branding and technology(reasonably so.)  Malibu sells SeaDeck as an option for about 2-3x what it cost you to order it up and install it yourself(but you can’t customized the factory pieces other than Grey or tan.) They want people to order from the factory or dealer and pay full price (and get the official pieces with the logos.)  Apparently up till recently you could still get GatorStep with the logos if you asked Malibu for permission (which they would give you) to create a custom design but recently Malibu started saying no to those requests and pointing you to your dealer if you wanted to order flooring, etc.

Im not sure if you can go through a SeaDeck reseller and get the logos... maybe since they are the official supplier but maybe not.

I love my gatorstep top deck and have nothing but good things to say with working with them, but 2-3x times the price for the factory option is inaccurate. The msrp for our flooring was just shy of 1500. If you factor in a 18-20 percent discount from msrp your are at about 1200. Gatorsteps flooring kit is just shy of 900 for 2019 and just north of 900 for 2016-18 plus shipping. Honestly not sure of the difference. So depending on how much your value your time for install you aren’t much off. Now if you score during a group buy then yeah you are saving more. 

Again, GS is great, but I was also willing to fork over the couple hundred to have it all completed at delivery

[gregtay]

16 minutes ago, ahopkinsVTX said:

I love my gatorstep top deck and have nothing but good things to say with working with them, but 2-3x times the price for the factory option is inaccurate. The msrp for our flooring was just shy of 1500. If you factor in a 18-20 percent discount from msrp your are at about 1200. Gatorsteps flooring kit is just shy of 900 for 2019 and just north of 900 for 2016-18 plus shipping. Honestly not sure of the difference. So depending on how much your value your time for install you aren’t much off. Now if you score during a group buy then yeah you are saving more. 

Again, GS is great, but I was also willing to fork over the couple hundred to have it all completed at delivery

Good point. I was comparing the price for a good group buy that I got in on vs. retail from a dealer/Malibu. I enjoyed the install and choosing which pieces I wanted/didn’t want and doing some customizing. I am sure for some people they would much rather just let the factory do it. I was a little bummed I couldn’t get the logos in my custom order.. but certainly understand Malibu’s position.

[ahopkins22LSV]

OK, back to the topic. Lets see more of those monster waves! I can't wait to get out on a 25!

[TwoMargaritasPlease]

On another note, one option I do not have is the power lift seat. Please let me know if you have it and if you use it to see over the bow.

[IXFE]

4 hours ago, ahopkinsVTX said:

I love my gatorstep top deck and have nothing but good things to say with working with them, but 2-3x times the price for the factory option is inaccurate. The msrp for our flooring was just shy of 1500. If you factor in a 18-20 percent discount from msrp your are at about 1200. Gatorsteps flooring kit is just shy of 900 for 2019 and just north of 900 for 2016-18 plus shipping. Honestly not sure of the difference. So depending on how much your value your time for install you aren’t much off. Now if you score during a group buy then yeah you are saving more. 

Again, GS is great, but I was also willing to fork over the couple hundred to have it all completed at delivery

Installation is a very strong word when you're talking about Gatorstep.  It's basically peel and stick.  Your time must be worth a lot more than mine if you aren't willing to put some stickers on.

[ahopkins22LSV]

28 minutes ago, IXFE said:

Installation is a very strong word when you're talking about Gatorstep.  It's basically peel and stick.  Your time must be worth a lot more than mine if you aren't willing to put some stickers on.

I know it’s very simple, but when you take delivery of your new boat in the middle of August, the family wants to go immediately not waiting for dad to do something. 

[Raimie]

20 minutes ago, ahopkinsVTX said:

I know it’s very simple, but when you take delivery of your new boat in the middle of August, the family wants to go immediately not waiting for dad to do something. 

...mid August during the nicest summer we've had in decades... good choice! If it were a spring delivery this year, we would all be hassling you more over this decision

 

[gregtay]

20 hours ago, TwoMargaritasPlease said:

On another note, one option I do not have is the power lift seat. Please let me know if you have it and if you use it to see over the bow.

I have the power lift seat in my 23. We do use it to see over the bow or just to get up a little higher without having to use the flip cushion. I had added the seat riser on my last 23 so I was used to being up a little higher. Also during the demos my wife and I (both 5’9”) found that the stock seat position put the top of the windshield right in the middle of our FOV... so it is nice to go up a few inches.

[bbattiste247]

On 6/2/2019 at 8:45 AM, TwoMargaritasPlease said:

Yes gregtay that is the boat. Can't you see the scum on Lake Washington? I don't know if I'd choose the same options myself, but I like the color and didn't want to wait for an order. I sold my 23 in the morning and was having withdrawals by the afternoon.

bbattiste247, do you have gatorstep on yours? Please show me a picture.

 

I'll get some and post them.

[Dfowkes]

Here’s my 12 year old tearing it up this weekend behind our 25. Wave is dialed in now. She’s 5ft 4in. 

Edited June 17, 2019 by Dfowkes
Typo

[TwoMargaritasPlease]

Dfowkes, I live in your shadow. I put on 500 lbs for slight enhancement but far from dialed in. It's a very clean wave, but it lacks the big push that I seek from way back. It's OK, I have all summer to play. Back to the lead store...

Here's my kids digging on Dad's new boat.

Oh, and I do love that wristband. Control!

 

[TwoMargaritasPlease]

Let's see if I can post video

https://www.flickr.com/photos/163808938@N03/48090595702/in/dateposted-public/

 

[hethj7]

Okay, not a surf discussion specifically, but I thought of this thread and had to come back and brag on the 25LSV.   

We were out last night with 10 kids and 7 adults on the boat.   Only one quick surf session for the wife, which was fine.  Then just a quick cruise and toss the lilly pad out.   But wow, what a great night on the boat and while I wouldn't put 17 adults on it and call it comfortable, the 17 we had on it yesterday was great.   And boat payments, slip fees, gas money, etc., etc. never crossed my mind.....whatever it cost, it was worth it for fantastic evening with a bunch of friends aboard.    

Last weekend we did a guy's trip with it - again a huge crew, at times 14 (large) adults on on the boat.  I was driving most of the time so don't have many photos, but the wave just gets larger with all the weight.   And I kept smiling at the M6 and 17" prop.   We were generally running just over 11 MPH and never really found the speed wall that we have in year's past.   Maybe just starting to touch it when some riders wanted to run the wedge at vert, but overall the boat was just amazing.   It also handled the relatively rougher waters of Table Rock pretty well.   And the small conveniences are a hit as well - the cooler compartment and probably the one most commented on, the trash can door.   So nice to not have to move butts to drop an empty can into the trash.   

[IXFE]

Couldn’t agree more @hethj7. We just got off the water and today it all came together for us. The water laid down, the stereo was balanced, loud and crisp (after hours of installation and tuning) the Diet Coke was ice cold, and the wave was D I A L E D ! ! !  I’m running 11.4 on the goofy side with 3 clicks of wedge and it’s bigger and longer than anything I’ve ever surfed. Took me a while to figures out PW3... it wants more clicks than PW2. And you’re right about the M6... whisper quiet. 

Did I mention how much I’m loving the Phase Five Matrix?? 

Anyway, such a great boat!!

[IXFE]

Here’s a fun sequence that ended my last session...

[vanamp]

1 hour ago, IXFE said:

Here’s a fun sequence that ended my last session...

Surf falls are the best. Its almost always OK to laugh because people rarley get hurt. 

 

 

[TwoMargaritasPlease]

OK, time for re-evaluation. Initially I was not sure if I loved this wave. After several sessions I am thinking it is an awesome wave, I do love it. I see the same form in all your photos, so clean and defined. It was just a matter of me adapting to a new shape.

My setup:

All ballast full, 500 lbs steel, 400 in bow, 100 behind helm. Not sure where you measure wedge clicks from, but I am 1 click left of the middle. No passengers. 11.8 MPH. Not quite in the Dfowkes zone yet, just need some more lead!

 

[TwoMargaritasPlease]

IXFE, you have a tower mount mirror. I didn't think they made those any more. I miss mine. What can you tell me?

 

 

[ahopkins22LSV]

4 hours ago, TwoMargaritasPlease said:

IXFE, you have a tower mount mirror. I didn't think they made those any more. I miss mine. What can you tell me?

 

 

It’s definitely available for the G3.5 tower. I don’t know if it works with the GX tower which I think you have?

[Slayer]

On 6/29/2019 at 12:48 PM, hethj7 said:

  And boat payments, slip fees, gas money, etc., etc. never crossed my mind.....whatever it cost, it was worth it for fantastic evening with a bunch of friends aboard.    

.   

This is what it's all about!  When you're experiences with friends and family on the water are so much fun, the issues of cost, etc. are no match for the enjoyment of you and your crew!!!

[TwoMargaritasPlease]

14 hours ago, ahopkinsVTX said:

It’s definitely available for the G3.5 tower. I don’t know if it works with the GX tower which I think you have?

Ah yes, I do. Thanks for the clarification.