The Malibu Boats mission statement begins with "Build the best boat..." and continues with "...for a fair price...". To fulfill this pledge Malibu builds innovation and technology into each boat, standard. This is how Malibu honors their commitment to excellence and their family of owners. In 2008 “the best boat for a fair price” pledge has been fulfilled with a long list of new standard features like customizable Rider Presets.

For 2008 Malibu has introduced a new Multiplexed Switching System, standard in almost all Malibu boats. This system has added technology to the boats to accommodate new standard features like Rider Presets. Presets add value to your Malibu boat, allowing you to create as many as ten customizable rider profiles that designate a specific speed, ballast levels and Power Wedge position when available.

The Malibu Boats Pro Team had a chance to try out the new Rider Preset system during several of the DVD shoots this past summer. They are hooked! Especially riders like Darin Shapiro, who teaches wakeboarding on a regular basis.

The Malibu Boats photo crew traveled to Florida to film Shapiro at his school, Ride the Spot. Having taken delivery of his 2008 Wakesetter 23 LSV earlier in the summer, Shapiro had a several months to put the new Rider Preset to the test. He was amazed at how much time the Presets saved him. "The Malibu Presets save my students and me time." Shapiro told us. "It may not sound like a big deal, but when I have four or five students in the boat and they each have a different riding level with varying speeds, ballast and Power Wedge settings, it takes time to get everything dialed in." Shapiro continued, "With the new Presets from Malibu, I select a student's Preset by name and engage. There's no time wasted trying to recall just where we had the Wedge or what speed I was pulling them at. It is automatic."

2008 Malibu boats, equip with Rider Presets, arrive from the factory with presets already configured for your water sports pleasure. These built-in profiles were set by the factory so you can launch your new Malibu and instantly be ready to launch yourself as well. You can choose among Factory Presets like Wakeboard Beginner. This novice wakeboard setting forgoes the Power Wedge and ballast settings and simply sets the speed control to 18 mph. The Wakeboard Intermediate setting weights the boat up with half ballast in the rear tanks, sets the Power Wedge to about 20% of maximum displacement and sets Precision Pro Speed Control to 19.4 mph. Wakeboard Advanced loads the boat up! This setting fills all available ballast tanks completely, sets the speed control to 22 mph and sets the Power Wedge, if installed, to 70% of maximum displacement. Surf Right and Surf Left get the boat ready to surf for right or left-foot-forward riders. The speed for this profile is set to 9.8 mph, either the right or left rear ballast tanks are filled, depending on the setting, the center ballast tank is filled to capacity and the Power Wedge is deployed to 100% displacement. The Ski preset sets Precision Pro Speed control to 32 mph. The Go Home Preset empties all ballast, directs the driver to stow the Wedge and sets the speed control to off.

If you have found that sweet riding spot behind your Malibu boat and you want to create your own preset. It's simple. With the speed control, ballast and Power Wedge set to your sweet spot, push the "cruise" button twice. Then scroll down to an empty Preset location and push the "E" button to edit this Preset and add your sweet spot setting. With "Name" highlight push the "E" button. Using the arrow buttons you will be able to name your Preset "MySweetSpot". Then scroll down to "Save Preset" and push the "E" button again. This will save your new Preset and take you back to the main Preset screen. Now anytime you want to recall those sweet spot settings for a riding session simply select "MySweetSpot" in your Preset menu.

You can overwrite any of the Factory Presets as well. Using the procedure outlined above, just highlight the factory Preset you wish to overwrite and push the “E” button. Then complete the rest of the steps.

If you find that you would like to restore your factory Presets at some point, Malibu has thought of that too. Go to the Setup menu, choose "Presets" and push the "E" button. Then push "E" again to reset and you are back to where you started.

For more detailed instruction on Malibu Presets download the Malibu Boats Owner's Manual: Preset Section, visit the Malibu Boats YouTube channel and view a short Rider Preset video instructional or visit the Malibu Boats blog entry for Rider Presets.

The new Malibu Boats Presets are just one more standard feature in a long list form Malibu. Advancements like this prove Malibu continues to strive to build you the best boat, for a fair price and fun doing it. That is their mission and they are continuing to push limits to achieve it.