Brandwave

Malibu vs Surtees:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Surtees had more branded searches than Malibu among boat brands in New Zealand. Surtees had about 330 branded searches, while Malibu had 260. Surtees made up 4% of all boat brand searches we track, and Malibu accounted for 3.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about boat brands, Surtees appeared in all five answers and Malibu in none.

Among boat brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Surtees, about 27% more searches than Malibu

Surtees 330 searchesMalibu 260 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Surtees, mentioned in every answer we collected

Surtees in 5 of 5Malibu in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Surtees, the only one of the two named

Surtees first in 5Malibu never named

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Top boat brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Surtees appeared in all five answers. Malibu did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Stabicraft1st
  2. Surtees2nd
  3. Senator Boats3rd
  4. Extreme Boats4th
  5. Rayglass5th
  6. Haines Hunter6th
  7. Buccaneer7th
  8. Smuggler–
  9. Malibu–
  10. Quintrex–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Stabicraft5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Surtees5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Senator Boats4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Extreme Boats3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Rayglass2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Buccaneer2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Haines Hunter1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Smuggler0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Malibu0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Quintrex0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about boat brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.

Is Malibu or Surtees more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Malibu and Surtees by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten boat brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Malibu and Surtees among boat brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Surtees, Malibu. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthStabicraftHaines HunterRayglassSenator BoatsExtreme BoatsSmugglerSurteesMalibuQuintrexBuccaneer
Oct 202540.8%12.5%11.1%11.8%11.8%2.6%3%3.6%1.5%1.4%
Nov 202545.6%9.6%10.1%12.3%10%2.8%3.1%3.7%1.6%1.4%
Dec 202539.3%12.3%10.9%12.4%10.1%2.7%3.1%6.8%1.4%0.93%
Jan 202638.2%12.9%10.4%13%8.7%2.3%3.3%8.7%1.3%1.2%
Feb 202639.4%10.8%12%13.2%10.8%2.3%3.4%6%1.3%0.83%
Mar 202637.7%10.4%13.8%11.7%9%2.4%3.8%4.3%5.9%0.9%
Apr 202638.8%10.9%11%15.1%10.2%3.6%3.3%4.5%1.6%0.93%
May 202641.4%8.9%12.1%13.9%10.7%2.8%4.5%3.4%1.5%0.96%
Jun 202639.5%11%12.1%12.5%11%4%4.2%3.2%1.5%1%
Jul 202639.6%11.6%12.5%12.7%9.1%3.3%4.3%4.1%1.8%1%
Aug 202644.9%10.1%10%13.9%9.4%3.4%3.5%2.8%1.3%0.64%
Sep 202639.8%13.9%13.1%10.7%8.7%4.2%4%3.2%1.5%0.97%

How has the Malibu and Surtees comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: Surtees took it in May 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Malibu’s share of searches among boat brands in New Zealand moved from 3.6% to 3.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 390 to 260.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Surtees’ share of searches among boat brands in New Zealand moved from 3% to 4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 330.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand boat brands in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, Smuggler overtook Surtees to rank 6th among boat brands in New Zealand, with 4.2% of the searches.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Malibu in New Zealand fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 390 to 260 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Malibu’s and Surtees’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Malibu

1 branded search term

  • malibu boat

Surtees

2 branded search terms

  • surtees
  • surtees for sale

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among boat brands

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