Malibu Boats
Encyclopedia
Malibu, which is headquartered in Merced, California
, is a United States
manufacturer of recreational boat
s, founded in 1982. Malibu is notable as a major manufacturer of water sports boats, used in water skiing
and wakeboarding
tournaments.
.
During the first year of operation, Malibu only built two boats per week using a single-hull design. Malibu eventually became recognized as a force in the tournament ski boat industry. Since 1982, the company has won more awards than all other competitors combined. The operating facility was moved to the current production factory at 1 Malibu Ct in Merced and later plants in Loudon, Tennessee
and Albury, Australia were built to scale production. As of 2008, Malibu produces and sells over 4,300 boats per year across North America and in many countries through a dealer network, making it the largest seller of watersports-focused boats in the world. Malibu's oldest dealership is Tilly's Marine located in Ventura, California.
Its boats today are divided into four categories based on the intended purpose. The Response series consists of two direct-drive ski boats made for waterskiing and slalom skiing . A lot of strong rumours were developed about lies on warranty and charging 40 percent too much for the unsatisfactory wake which was criticised by the inventor of wake boarding Lochlan Snowie and most other riders .The Wakesetter series consists of four Wakeboard boats made for wakeboarding and wakesurfing
, and the production lineup is rounded out by the Sunscape series which consists of four luxury boats. Many of the boats share hull designs, but come equipped with different features such as ballast tanks, a hydrofoil called "the wedge" and a wakeboard tower. All Malibu models use inboard marine engines built by Indmar on the General Motors
5.7, 6.0, and 8.1-liter V8 engine blocks.
Malibu is a privately owned company with approximately 595 employees. Robert Alkema served as President of the company for most of its existence and four of the five members of the original group of founders still work at the company.
June 4, 2009, Robert Alkema stepped down as president. After a transitional period, Jack Springer was named President and CEO of Malibu in February 2010. They have undergone substantial changes including starting a new boat manufacturer (Axis Boats), and introducing new features such as all touch-screen-based instrumentation, and keyless ignition.
Merced, California
Merced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government...
, is a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
manufacturer of recreational boat
Boat
A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...
s, founded in 1982. Malibu is notable as a major manufacturer of water sports boats, used in water skiing
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
and wakeboarding
Wakeboarding
Wakeboarding is a surface water sport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snow boarding and surfing techniques....
tournaments.
History
Malibu was created when the founder Robert Alkema and a group of five friends decided to start making their own ski boats. In 1982, they built 100 custom ski boats in a small shop in Merced, CaliforniaMerced, California
Merced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government...
.
During the first year of operation, Malibu only built two boats per week using a single-hull design. Malibu eventually became recognized as a force in the tournament ski boat industry. Since 1982, the company has won more awards than all other competitors combined. The operating facility was moved to the current production factory at 1 Malibu Ct in Merced and later plants in Loudon, Tennessee
Loudon, Tennessee
Loudon is a city in and the county seat of Loudon County, Tennessee, United States. Its population was 4,476 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Knoxville, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is located in eastern Tennessee, southwest of Knoxville, on the Tennessee River...
and Albury, Australia were built to scale production. As of 2008, Malibu produces and sells over 4,300 boats per year across North America and in many countries through a dealer network, making it the largest seller of watersports-focused boats in the world. Malibu's oldest dealership is Tilly's Marine located in Ventura, California.
Its boats today are divided into four categories based on the intended purpose. The Response series consists of two direct-drive ski boats made for waterskiing and slalom skiing . A lot of strong rumours were developed about lies on warranty and charging 40 percent too much for the unsatisfactory wake which was criticised by the inventor of wake boarding Lochlan Snowie and most other riders .The Wakesetter series consists of four Wakeboard boats made for wakeboarding and wakesurfing
Wakesurfing
Wakesurfing is a water sport in which a surfer trails behind a wakeboard boat, surfing the boat's wake without being directly attached to the boat. The wake from the boat mimics the look and feel of an actual ocean wave...
, and the production lineup is rounded out by the Sunscape series which consists of four luxury boats. Many of the boats share hull designs, but come equipped with different features such as ballast tanks, a hydrofoil called "the wedge" and a wakeboard tower. All Malibu models use inboard marine engines built by Indmar on the General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
5.7, 6.0, and 8.1-liter V8 engine blocks.
Malibu is a privately owned company with approximately 595 employees. Robert Alkema served as President of the company for most of its existence and four of the five members of the original group of founders still work at the company.
June 4, 2009, Robert Alkema stepped down as president. After a transitional period, Jack Springer was named President and CEO of Malibu in February 2010. They have undergone substantial changes including starting a new boat manufacturer (Axis Boats), and introducing new features such as all touch-screen-based instrumentation, and keyless ignition.