The 5 Most Common Mako Boat Issues
Mako boats have always been on the water since the late 1970s. Designed for both turbulent offshore waves and gentler inshore waters, these fiberglass boats are constructed of high-density polyethylene resin.
With more than 50 years of experience, it is simple to point out what is excellent about Mako boats and what some of their shortcomings are, and vice versa.
You may encounter one or more of the following difficulties with Mako boats:
Hundreds of thousands of Mako Boats are manufactured every year.
Handcrafting was used in the construction of the first Mako vessels.
Individuals flocked to these vessels, and the firm established a strong reputation for their superior workmanship.
Following some time, the company’s boats gained such widespread appeal that they were put into mass production. A minority of individuals do not like mass manufacturing, and some of their choices are valid!
Any mass-produced product might be better or worse than a custom-made one, but the fundamental difference is in the assembly process and the molds that were used to create the product in the first instance.
Create a fantastic mold and polish the assembly process until it is flawless, and you will have a fantastic product at the end of it.
Every item produced will be of low quality either the mold was created improperly or the assembly process was inefficiently designed.
Service that is subpar
It has been announced that Bass Pro Shops would acquire the Mako boat line (like Tahoe boats).
Unfortunately, this organization has a bad reputation for giving terrible customer service, which is unfortunate. There are many possible explanations for this, including the fact that the firm is so enormous that customer support does not seem personal, or the fact that the organization provides actually poor customer service.
It is possible to get around this problem by purchasing a Mako boat from a private seller. A more personal customer care experience is more likely to be had when dealing with an independent dealer.
It is possible that this will have negative consequences. Firstly, the tiny firm may fail, and you will then be forced to depend on Mako for assistance and guidance.
Another disadvantage of starting your own small business is that you won’t have the national reach that Bass Pro Shops does.
The Quality of the Construction Can Vary Significantly
Ownership of Mako was still held by its original owners until the 1990s.
Tracker acquired control of the corporation in the late 1990’s. These boats have been under the hands of Bass Pro Shops and White River Marine Group for more than two decades and are now under their management.
You should expect to observe a variety of adjustments if a boat business changes ownership. If a corporation remains within the same family, this is particularly true, and it is especially true when a company is sold off to another company.
A boat built by one firm one year may be drastically different from a boat built by another company the next year, which is unfortunate. As a result, anybody wishing to purchase a secondhand Mako will need to do extensive research in order to determine which business manufactured the boat in question.
People who possess a Mako of the same model year and built by the same firm will also be able to provide feedback, which will be taken into account.
Purchasers of new Mako boats will have an easier time in the future. It is important for these individuals to only consider current evaluations and to thoroughly check the new boats to ensure that they satisfy their expectations.
The 5 Most Common Mako Boat Issues
It’s possible that your console may fall off.
The very worst reports I’ve seen regarding Mako boats were from folks who were having problems with the center console actually falling apart from the boat and sinking.
It really is a life-threatening situation that might leave a person trapped at sea for days or weeks. It’s also a potentially hazardous situation since it has the potential to become a huge projectile when traveling at high speeds.
This seems to have occurred just on particular vessels and at a very narrow time period, which is a blessing in disguise. For the second time, this implies that you’ll have to do your homework before purchasing a secondhand Mako boat.
Additionally, regardless of whatever old boat you choose to purchase, be sure to properly check the console area.
In order to avoid having to deal with this costly and perhaps hazardous situation, make sure there was enough epoxy and fiberglass utilized to hold the console in place. Due to the fact that Mako is recognized for their center console boats, it is likely that they have addressed this issue.
It is possible that engine options will be limited.
One issue I’ve heard in recent years is that Mako boats are fitted with Mercury engines. I’m not sure how true this is.
Although I personally have no issues with this engine, many people prefer engines from other manufacturers over Mercury engines.
Because it is not a high-end engine, the Mercury boat engine lacks the power of, say, a Yamaha boat engine. This does not imply, however, that Mercury is a lousy engine manufacturer.
For years, I’ve sailed on boats powered by Mercury engines, and I never once worried about being trapped with them.
Some customers believe they are overpriced.
Despite the fact that they are not the most costly boats in their class, mako boats are not not the least expensive either.
A minimum of $35,000.00 will be required to purchase an 18-foot offshore boat, and a minimum of $27,000.00 will be required to purchase an 18-foot inshore boat.
For the sake of comparison, a Crestliner capable of traveling offshore would cost around $30,000.00, whereas an inshore boat of same size would cost less than $20,000.00.
Both of these boats are powered by Mercury engines and have layouts that are quite similar.
A Crestliner, on the other hand, will be constructed entirely of aluminum. Generally speaking, an aluminum boat will not sell for as much money as a fiberglass boat.
A fiberglass Grady White will set you back around $60,000.00 when purchased new. These boats, of course, have far superior finishes and Yamaha motors, but you will have to pay a premium for these extra comforts.
At the end of the day, I believe Mako is attempting to build a mid-range boat at a mid-range price, and they have done a good job at pricing their boats.
Some have complained that the journey has been difficult.
I’ve never gone out on the water in a Mako boat before.
Although many Mako boat owners have said that the ride is a little harsher offshore in a Mako boat than it is in other boats of comparable size, I have not found this to be the case.
The difficulty with this criticism is that it is based on one’s own personal experience. Some individuals may report that the ride is bumpy, but others may report that the trip is smooth and comfortable.
Ask the dealer if you may take a test ride in the boat before making the purchase if you want to get a sense of how the ride will feel for your particular body type.
Pros and Cons of the Mako Boat in General Pros of Mako Boats Mako boats are really cool and have a long, illustrious history. Cons of Mako Boats Mako boats are quite expensive.
They have mid-range pricing that is suitable for any budget, and their models are both adaptable and attractive!
If you have any problems with your boat, you may get help and maintenance from people all around the nation. Not to mention a large and loyal following!
Furthermore, if anything catastrophically fails on your yacht, new components are often easily accessible and inexpensively affordable. Considering that Mako has been established since the 1960s, the company has a lengthy and illustrious history.
In the fiberglass boat market, these boats are competitively priced, and since they are offered by Bass Pro, you should have no problem receiving service or acquiring replacement parts.
Mako Boats Have Their Drawbacks
Not every boat is flawless, and Mako boats are not exempt from having some issues from time to time.
We’ve listed a handful of them below for you:
If you’re sailing in offshore seas, be prepared for a bumpy voyage.
The boats, according to others, are pricey.
There won’t be many engine choices available to you.
It’s possible that the boat’s console will fall off.
The quality of the boat’s construction might vary significantly from year to year.
It’s possible that customer service is weak.
Mako boats are mass-produced in large quantities.
Review of Quotes
Despite the fact that they are good boats currently, they are outrageously pricey for the quality you are receiving.
[Image courtesy of thehulltruth] .com]
Other Mako owners have had similar sentiments. The difficulty I have with this statement is that there aren’t any comparable fiberglass boats available for purchase in the same price range, making it difficult to draw a fair comparison based just on pricing.
The most likely explanation is that the owners believe they aren’t receiving enough value for their money.
‘I have an 87 model 231 with twin 96 model 130 Yamaha outboards, a completely original deck, and a transom. “I hope I will never have to part with it again.”
[Image courtesy of thehulltruth] .com]
Many individuals like their earlier Mako boats, and I believe that this has contributed to a large number of people being dissatisfied with the newer models.
The new ones aren’t awful, but the previous ones were so good that they give the impression that the new ones aren’t as good.
Prices for Resale
It’s difficult to draw a straight comparison across boat types these days because of all of the recent changes in ownership and construction quality.
This is because, although a boat produced this year may have the same name as a boat built a few years ago, it might have been built under a different ownership structure or with different quality standards, resulting in a difference in both quality and cost between the two boats.
Due to this, historic Mako boats are expected to keep their worth very well, new Mako boats will deteriorate at the expected rates, and Mako boats from the late 1990s and early 2000s will be decommissioned or sold at extremely cheap prices.
Concluding Remarks
Because of the many developments that have taken place in the Mako boat industry over the past twenty years, some people think that they are no longer a fair deal.
Mako boats, on the other hand, are still fantastic boats, and I believe they are worth checking into.
