New guy - Help me choose

[Boatz]

Hey guys. New here and to boating except for jet skis and Jon boats and stuff. 

I’ve been renting boats with the family this summer and we love it and want to buy. I want to go all in and get a Malibu. Was set on a 23 LSV but what about the 23 MXZ?

My dealer has a 24 MXZ in stock. It’s more then I want and has some options I wouldn’t choose. About $50k in options for a sale price of $160k with their discount off MSRP. Again, more then I wanted but it’s in stock. Color options are pretty cool too even though it’s not what I’d necessarily choose. 
 

It’ll be me, my wife, 2 small boys, and usually some friends with us. I don’t know how to wakeboard or surf but I want to learn. Lots of tubing with the kids too. 
 

I’ll mostly be trailering. I’m lucky in that I’m surrounded by some really good lakes as close as 5 minutes from me. I currently have a half ton so that may factor in as well and I thought a 23 LSV or MXZ might be a little easier trailering all the time. 
 

Would the 24 MXZ be overkill for me? I want it to be comfortable for say 8 people for just cruising, swimming, tubing, and wakeboarding and surfing. 
 

I’ve uploaded the 24 MXZ  hold sheet. I could get a March build date on one of the 23s and that’s fine for me as it’s late in the season and I don’t need to rush in to anything. 

[granddaddy55]

redonculous surf wave with 200 lbs in anchor locker

[ridethatbike]

I'm in the same...errr....boat. I might have even looked at that same MXZ. It's a pretty boat. I'm interested in the advice you get in this thread.

[BigCreek]

I have a 23LSV, and no child-sized people. Normally we have 1-2 people in the bow if we have a large enough crew. I'm personally a fan of the traditional bow over the pickle fork on appearance alone, but I'm not sure we'd put a 3rd person in the pickle fork playpen if we had one anyway. Pretty uncommon that we pack it full, but it always surprises me how roomy it is when we load 9 or 10 adults aboard for a cruise or something. 

I think the bigger boat will always be "better", so you just have to decide if you one of those guys that will be sitting in your killer 23LSV with buyer's remorse that you didn't go bigger. Just consider that all costs of operation, storage, towing, etc. go up with a bigger heavier boat. You need a bigger garage, you need to stay in a 1/2 ton truck (if you replace), a beefier lift if you have it on one, etc. 

Last point, if you are going to a 24MXZ, why not just go crazy with the M240 and throw in the stern turn and the LT4? Sounds like a decent first real boat!

[gregtay]

I fit into the same camp (well... I have two little kiddos.. but our first 23 was long before kids.)  For me the 23LSV is the sweet spot. Tons of room (We have never felt it was too small and we often run 9-10 people (but lots of kiddos in that number))  We keep the boat in the garage and so towing is a huge factor.  We have lakes close by but also some 4-5 hours away. We tow with a Durango instead of a big truck and that just makes life so much easier on the days we aren't towing the boat (but I have to admit I now want the new TRX.)  I also prefer the traditional bow and the 25LSV is just more boat than I want to hull around.  Bigger is always going to be better.. but a 23foot boat is not small!  I'd probably advise you to order whatever you end up deciding (vs. taking the MXZ in stock)...  make it yours and get exactly what you want.