Malibu Response or Sportster

biglouie · Outlaw Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 135

I have never ridden behind either of these boats. 2002 Response, 2003 Sportster. They both have wedges and tower but no ballast. Am I going to be dissapointed in the wake? A somewhat local dealer has these boats for sale and I don't even want to waste my time driving there if the wake is weak. I don't want fat sacs laying around the boat.

Also, I have heard that a wedge is comparable to 1000lbs of ballast, do you agree?

Swass · Guest

If you don't want sacs in the boat, then you won't be happy with either one. The wedge alone does not produce a decent wake on either boat. Of the two, I'd recommend the Response.

Natman · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 873 City: Eddy TOWN

response, i had one (for sale gith now for a vlx), wedge was always decent. I never used a sac, heres a couple shots from behind the response. just the wedge down and 5 people

Swass · Guest

Don't ever contradict me again, or I'll punch you in the throat. Laughing

pepers215 · Newbie Joined: 18 Feb 2006 Posts: 25 City: Milwaukee

what do you normally ride behind?

i just got a sportster with the wedge and a tower and I love it and my buddies are trying to figure out a way to get in my will so they can get it if I break my neck of something. Laughing

i usually got a boat full so I ride normally with just the wedge. if there is only a couple of us i have the rear seat sac from fly high which takes the place of my backseat and doesn't get in the way one bit. the other thing a like about the boat is that i can throw the wedge up for the rare occasion when I ski and it puts out a great wake for that too. another plus for me is that it doesn't ride low in the water for an inboard. with a v-drive i would never be able to make it through the channel off of my lake that takes me to my favorite calm as glass riding spot.

needless to say its a great boat and it puts out a decent wake and its got malibu's build quality and reputaion behind it. hope this helps.

p.s. my lakehouse is on Shawano (About an hour from you) so just let me know if you want to swing by for a pull or two and find out for yourself sometime.[/quote]

Josh R · Posted: Aug 30, 2006 8:18 pm Post subject:

I would have said yes until you said you didn't want any sacks. I used to ride behind a Sportster and the wake was great, but that was with 3-4 sacks. It has a better hull than the Response for wakeboarding and is easy to sink thanks to its narrow beam.

pilot_ryder · Posted: Aug 31, 2006 8:43 am Post subject:

if you have a rough water body to ride in you may want to re think these boats, very skinny hull, ideal for calm water

Natman · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 873 City: Eddy TOWN

rough water isnt all too bad on either, ive been in both on super chopped days, and its not bad at all

hco · Posted: Sep 03, 2006 4:35 pm Post subject:

I have a malibu response, the wake sucks big dong unless I have the fat sac, wedge down, and 4 people.

gilby00 · Outlaw Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 216 City: Sparks

i had a response, with the wedge and a sac your good to go, I'd go with response, but i've never ridden behind the sportster?