Malibu Response

The Malibu Response was introduced in 1996 as the successor to the popular Malibu Echelon and quickly became Malibu’s flagship tournament ski boat. Built on Malibu’s Diamond hull, the Response was engineered to produce minimal wakes, excellent tracking, and crisp handling at tournament speeds. The model was designed with input from professional water skiers and became one of the most respected slalom boats in the industry.

Over the years, the Response lineup evolved to include multiple variations—most notably the Response LX, Response LXI, and later Response TXi. Each version brought incremental improvements in performance, comfort, and styling while maintaining Malibu’s commitment to precision skiing.

The original Response (1996–2006) featured a closed-bow or open-bow LX layout with Indmar inboard engines ranging from 310 to 340 horsepower. Its lightweight fiberglass construction and center-mounted direct-drive engine created balanced handling and incredibly soft wakes at slalom speeds.

The Response LXI (2003–2011) introduced a modernized deck and interior with more comfort and seating capacity, appealing to both tournament skiers and families who wanted crossover versatility.

In 2012, Malibu launched the Response TXi, a completely redesigned model with a new T-Cut Diamond hull. This updated hull delivered even flatter wakes and better tracking, quickly earning the boat AWSA World Record–capable certification. The TXi remains in production today, available in closed-bow, open-bow, and multiple trim levels, powered by Malibu’s in-house Monsoon M5Di or M6Di direct-injection engines.

Across all versions, the Malibu Response has maintained its reputation for precision, quality, and performance. It continues to set the standard for tournament ski boats, blending Malibu’s innovation with a timeless commitment to flat wakes and responsive handling.