We don't rush an MB boat. We build about 300 outstanding watercraft each year because that's how many we can build without sacrificing anything. We take our time and build them right, from bow to swimstep. We are constantly innovating and rethinking the way we build our boats. Consistent improvement is the mantra at the MBSports factory in Atwater, California. Your tour of the factory is going to cover seven main points of differentiation in an MBSports boat. These are the top seven attributes of an MBSports boat that put it head and shoulders above the competition.

We design, build and maintain our own molds right at the factory. A boat manufacturer must have complete control over its molds because that is the heart and soul of a fine water machine resides. The molds are where it all begins. A world-class wakeboard boat doesn't just need to slice through the water smoothly, it needs to create the perfect wake as well. That's where our first point of differentiation comes in, it's Mike Brendel himself and his 40-plus years of building super high performance boats. Mike is a second generation boat builder and racer, and he brings his knowledge and experience to bear with passion on each and every boat that comes out of the doors of MB. There is nobody harder to please at the MBSports factory than Mike, so he's a good man to have on your side.

MBSports is family owned and operated, as it has been since the first boat rolled out. There are no stockholders to please but the owners of his boats. No board member pressure to cut costs. The Brendel family have set out to artfully build the finest wakeboard machine, one boat at time, one owner at a time. Mike's philosphy is "If you build a great boat, make standard all the amenities that other companies market as options, and stand behind the boat with the best warranty in the industry, you can stay in business for a very long time".

The gelcoat process is the second of the seven points of differentiation that makes an MB special. All of the graphics are applied straight into the gelcoat, not sprayed on later or stuck on in stickers that peel and fade. The gelcoat-embedded graphics are an MB trademark. They are seamless and solid.

After the gelcoat is finished, the fiberglass is hand-laid into the molds, not sprayed with a chopper gun like a lot of other manufacturers do to save time and cost. Hand laying the fiberglass costs a little more but it won't come apart later, plus it provides an infinitely better ride and more solid structure throughout.

Most manufacturers use a "shoebox" fit to bond the two halves of a fiberglass boat together. MB employs a "butt fit" technique where the multiple sections of the boat are fused as one. This is because an MB is molded with such high precision which allows for perfect alignment between the sections. Once the pieces are fused, a stainless steel trim is attached to keep your MB looking great for a long time.

The engine provides the power in the belly of the beast. MB partners with PCM Marine Motors for all drive train components because PCM's approach to engine and transmission building is a perfect match for MB. Innovation and quality are paramount at PCM. With multiple J.D. Powers and Associates awards to their credit as well as the world's only 2-speed transmission built exclusively for MBSports, it's been a solid and fortunate union. The MBSports 2-speed transmission is the third point of differentiation.

The electronics and wiring harness are installed along with all the controls and gauges for the boat. The dash has the style and functionality of a high performance sports car, and is the center of all electronics. Everything is at your fingertips, and works. Every time.

Over in assembly we find tons of beautiful billet aluminum hardware. From the custom tower blades with swing-away board racks right down to the fuel cap. You won't find any plastic, anywhere. Other manucturers will use a lot of cheap plastic parts for things like glove box lids and speaker grills. But we all know that with the wear and tear that goes along with water sports, things tend to get beat up. How many times have you seen a wakeboard get tossed into a boat? Occasionally that board is going to end up poking right through that cheap plastic speaker grill. But not on an MB where the speaker grills are machined from a solid piece of 6061 aluminum. The billet hardware is the fourth of point of differentiation of an MBSports boat.

Number five of the seven points of differentiation is the built-in ballast system. No other manufacturer can boast up to 2,400 beefy pounds of ballast which is quickly and easily customizable at your fingertips right from the cockpit. No need for fatsacks or added weight in the boat that can flop around and take up valuable space in the boat. The MB ballast tanks are built right in to the one-piece stringer so they are part of the boat, and actually add to the stiffness and signature ride of an MB. And customized ballast on the fly means you can quickly change the wake to accommodate different riders and changing water conditions.

Next we go to the upholstery shop. MBSports has the most beautiful interiors on the water. Bar none. 40oz carpeting instead of cheap 22oz, and PreFixx Nautolex vinyl make the interiors as rugged as they are beautiful. Colors and textures are plentiful as well. Every MBSports boat is custom-built to your specifications and satisfaction, which is differentiation point number six. You don't stroll onto an MB dealership lot and choose a boat from their lineup, instead you go to the "Design Your MB" tab at the top of the page and you'll see how you can make your own personal statement with a new MBSports boat.

Every MB boat is thoroughly tested before it ever gets fitted in final assembly. MBSports has an onsight testing pool to make sure there are no plumbing leaks and that everything works properly before the boat ever sees a lake.

Back over in finishing we see the wake towers and other pieces of hardware and upholstery being installed on the boats to finish them out. The towers are custom built for MB and are totally unique. And now for 2012, MB has developed a new collapsible tower that can be dropped down in a few seconds to help ease the boat into your garage. The new collapsible tower is differentiation point number seven. MB towers are as stiff as they are beautiful, plus you can get built-in lighting, hang a radical speaker box on it, and fit it with a bimini top to finish off the look. And now, it folds down in a snap to get it out of the way when you're not storming the lake.