Malibu Boats released a Safety Alert regarding a Bow Seating Hazard on July 18, 2023.

Malibu reports the safety alert is due to a tragic incident that occurred with a Malibu Response LX boat. A passenger was washed out of the bow seating during a bow swamping incident. The passenger was then hit by the propeller and died.

2000 Malibu Response LX
Courtesy OnlyInboards.com

To prevent this from occurring again, Malibu now prohibits passengers in the bow of similar boats, while the boat is in motion. They will provide updated capacity labels and warning stickers reflecting this new safety policy.

The Safety Alert identifies specific Sunsetter, Mystere, Echelon, Response, and Sportster models and years subject to this change.

Malibu Boats notes their commitment to safety. “We sincerely regret that a Malibu branded boat was involved in such a tragic accident. Malibu is committed to the continuous improvement and safety of watercraft.”

In closing Malibu notes they understand reducing your boat’s seating capacity is an inconvenience, and apologizes for doing so.

The Safety Alert

Malibu’s Safety Alert is available in pdf format from a link at the top of this post. The Safety Alert is also available in the images below:

Malibu Boats Safety Alert: Bow Seating Hazard Page 1

Malibu Boats Safety Alert: Bow Seating Hazard Page 2

Malibu Boats Safety Alert: Bow Seating Hazard Page 3

Malibu Boats Dealer Version of the Safety Alert

As is often done in situations like this, Malibu prepared a Service Advisory version of the Safety Alert specifically for their dealers. The Dealer Service Advisory conveys similar information in abbreviated form. It also tells them to provide the following instruction to owners of these specific boats. “DO NOT allow passengers in the bow area while in motion.”

Malibu Boats Dealer Service Advisory: Bow Seating Hazard

Our Comments on Malibu’s Safety Alert

We posted our comments on Malibu’s Safety Alert on a separate post, Comments on Malibu Boats Safety Alert : Bow Seating.