Kojak

This past off-season I was able to complete a project that I had wanted to do for a long time, but had put off, as I always found something else to upgrade. I removed the old tribal graphics and installed new graphics from Domed Numbers. Big props to Angie and Steve for working patiently with me as I changed things several times trying to get exactly what I wanted. They knocked it out of the park! I went with the 2010 - 2013 Wakesetter graphics but changed it up a bit. I used Ultra Black Metallic with Chrome outline for everything except the LSV emblem on the transom. I had quite a time getting that little LSV emblem to look the way that I wanted. I finally figured out that it's in the 2007 Wakesetter font. I know some people like the naked look on their Malibus, but I don't. I've always liked the 2010-2013 graphics. Props also go out to Jason with Go Surf Assist for obtaining some measurements for me. We removed the old graphics back in January and every relatively warm day after that, I was at the shed buffing. It seemed to take forever to buff out all the ghosting from the old graphics. After the initial buffing, we installed the new graphics. Then I spent most of my free time after that buffing and buffing.. waxing and waxing. I used 3M Perfect-It Marine Compound and Wax. I first buffed with the Heavy Compound, which does not contain wax and then installed the graphics. I then used the Light Compound + Wax and finally the Perfect-It Wax. I know I'm a bit biased, but it looks damn good! I'm planning to get some outside pics in the near future and I'll make sure to post them as well.

Last year I decided to replace the swim platform pad on my 23 LSV as it was no longer soft and was cracking badly. We went with SeaDek but just ordered a generic black pad due to the cost. I placed an order for a 2006 23 LSV with hatch cut out. When it arrived, I found that it did not fit the swim platform on my boat. After taking numerous measurements, I determined that I needed the pad for a 2005 LSV. Evidently, my 06 has an 05 swim platform. SeaDek was great and I was able to return the first one for a full refund. I ordered the pad for the 05 and when it arrived I found that SeaDek had shipped me another customer's pad. After contacting SeaDek, they were able to reroute my pad, which was going to Montana, and sent me a prepaid label to ship the incorrect pad to the Montana customer. So after a bit of delay, we received the correct pad and were able to install it. Since the pad did not come with anything to place over the hatch cutout, I ordered the SeaDek Small Cut Pad in black. It also has the same texture as the swim platform pad. My wife traced the hatch, cut the pad to fit, and installed it on top of the hatch. It looks like it was made to fit. Removing the old pad was simple enough. I started at a corner and peeled it off in just two pieces. It came apart along the one big crack. This was in April 2017 and there was still water underneath the old pad from the summer. You can see the discoloration of the fiberglass in the pics. There was also a considerable amount of dirt underneath it. I followed SeaDek's instructions and cleaned the platform with mineral spirits. I also had to use a razor blade as a previous owner had used some type of glue all around the edge. I then buffed the platform and installed the new pad. It's 100 times better than the old one.

After purchasing my Malibu in 2014, I installed an Exile ZLD in it. It made a big difference in the sub and cabin speakers but I could tell that the tower was extremely lacking. After talking to Brian with Exile in January 2015, I decided to install the Exile Hybrid system. I also figured that I would upgrade the sub and cabin speakers since I was going to be working on it anyway. I started work on it in late February 2015 and finished up near the end of April 2015. Except for some help with a few things, I did all the work myself. Brian was great to work with and I really think he (and Donovan) wrote the book on customer service. So here goes...(Some of you may have already seen this thread on TMC.) The first five pics are of the old Kicker tower and cabin speakers, Kicker sub (I had already moved the sub from the observer's compartment to underneath the helm after I purchased the boat.), and the observer's compartment. After removing the batteries I was left with this mess of Kicker automotive amps and a terrible wiring job. I swear a four year old wired the original system. I built two amp boards out of plywood and carpeted them with some cheap, black carpet from Menard's. I then spent quite a bit of time cramped up in the observer's compartment with my daughter holding a flashlight for me. I now have a dedicated amp for the sub and one for the cabin, along with two amps for the six tower speakers. The cabin speakers were easy enough to change. Luckily, I did not have to remove the windshield, as I borrowed a small ratchet with a phillip's head screwdriver on it and was able to remove the dash speakers. I redid the sub box with fiberglass resin and spray truck bed coating. I also made a panel from 1/4" HDPE to go in front of the sub. You can also see the ZLD in the pic of the sub and panel. I was able to use existing wiring for most of the the speakers but had to run new speaker wire for the wake speakers in the center. It was a trick to get it through the Illusion X tower but I was able to get it done using a straightened out coat hanger and a couple extra hands. i also added a Zone Controller for the two wake speakers. That way I can turn them down if we're surfing or turn them up if we're wakeboarding or tubing. It's difficult to see in the pic but it's just to the left of the old remote. I have since moved it beside the ZLD. I initially installed an Exile Bluetooth adapter but after realizing that I never used the head unit, I added the Exile DMC in 2017. I used the mount for the factory remote but found that the DMC was much smaller so I cut up an Exile koozie and placed it behind the DMC.