Opinions on a new Mako boat

ocala

Looking at this model. 
https://www.makoboats.com/inshore/pro-skiff-17-cc.html
Not really what I wanted but new boats are so expensive. Mako is cheapest I found but doing research I'm hearing good and bad. Most negative feedback is for older models but not  much reviews on the newer ones. I read that when Tracker took them over things went  down hill but can't seem to find much about their quality today.  
If you guys have any  boat suggestions please respond. This isn't a done deal but so far the sticker shock is an eye opener. 
All my fishing is done inshore. Not looking to go 60MPH. Definitely something with a dry ride as my current boat is a bass boat and I take a bath when it gets a little rough.  

conchydong

Dusky is a no frills boat manufacturer that you may look into also. Popular in S. FL

Stumpy

I have 2018 pro skiff 17... I like it.
Drive on drive off trailer.... Great for 2 people ... Big front deck... Stable ride....there are a few things they went cheep when they made the boat.... I have 60 up merc, the motor has worked with no issues, easy start.
If you buy one install a bilge pump with float switch...not a self bailing boat.
The wiring in the console looked like a 3rd grader put it together. I made the dealer clean up the wiring before I took delivery. I also put a master on/off switch at the battery.

nick

Since you’re looking for a dry ride I’d avoid anything with “skiff” in it. 

Debo

A friend of mine looked at several skiffs including mako and  bought a Carolina Skiff in the same size for just a bit more. Came stock with a 90hp and he upgraded to a 115. I think they're better built and heavier and I like the hull much better compared to the mako and some of the others because it is more of a v (somewhat stepped) which equates to less pounding. Just something to consider if you do want to go offshore a few miles on 2ft or less days. I do see quite a few of those makos around so people must like them. Those flat bottoms really beat you up even in the rivers with the increase in traffic these days. Goodluck with the purchase. 

ocala

Thanks for the responses. Please keep them coming.
I know what you guys mean about skiffs but there  are going to be some tradeoffs unfortunately. 
I was at the Maverick website drooling yesterday.

capt louie

There is not a boat in that size that won't get you wet sometimes. Guess better than sitting on the deck like a bass boat.lol

Always a compromise with boats of any size in this region. Too many variables here .
I think that Mako will fit the bill. My old 18' 74 sport craft is still in service and has done both inside and outside duty. Drafts maybe 16" ?  She is currently my grouper boat..

GatorCity

I bought an Xpress H20B back in early fall and absolutely love the boat.  It rides exceptionally well for an aluminum boat, sure doesn't feel like one.  Deck layout is great, plenty of storage which was important to me.  I had a 17' Sea Pro SV1700 prior and this rides just as good as that hull did but i have the peace of mind of an aluminum hull when I'm drifting across rocks and oyster bars getting super shallow.  

permit_me

A few yrs ago i was boat shopping. The 18' LTS was my 3rd choice, second for the $.  I think its more like a small bay boat than skiff, and drier, too. Can cover distance more easily than skiff.  Just before things went nuts i was looking at a G3 17 or 18' bay. Pricing is just outta hand now. Instead of 27-28K, they r now 38K (+/-).

kingkong954

My rec: buy used!... to me, boats seem like an odd thing to buy new. I have a near 20 year old Pathfinder Tournament Edition that is in amazing condition (no wood as many boat builders have done for decades now).

ocala

kingkong954 said:

My rec: buy used!... to me, boats seem like an odd thing to buy new. I have a near 20 year old Pathfinder Tournament Edition that is in amazing condition (no wood as many boat builders have done for decades now).

I have had 3 boats. My current one which I bought new and 2 used ones. Had nothing but trouble with the used stuff. I'm sure there is good used ones out there but not too keen on going that route again. 

ocala

GatorCity said:

I bought an Xpress H20B back in early fall and absolutely love the boat.  It rides exceptionally well for an aluminum boat, sure doesn't feel like one.  Deck layout is great, plenty of storage which was important to me.  I had a 17' Sea Pro SV1700 prior and this rides just as good as that hull did but i have the peace of mind of an aluminum hull when I'm drifting across rocks and oyster bars getting super shallow.  

Aluminum is very appealing. I have had to fix several holes from those  rocks and oyster bars.  

GatorCity

ocala said:

GatorCity said:

I bought an Xpress H20B back in early fall and absolutely love the boat.  It rides exceptionally well for an aluminum boat, sure doesn't feel like one.  Deck layout is great, plenty of storage which was important to me.  I had a 17' Sea Pro SV1700 prior and this rides just as good as that hull did but i have the peace of mind of an aluminum hull when I'm drifting across rocks and oyster bars getting super shallow.  

Aluminum is very appealing. I have had to fix several holes from those  rocks and oyster bars.  

had i not fished on 2 different Xpress boats last year I wouldn't have even considered one.  Talking with the guides I got their honest professional opinion on them as well.  It's been an excellent family boat as well, is easy to trailer, and with the 115SHO it is extremely fuel efficient, jumps out of the hole and tops out at about 43mph which is fine for what I do.  I bought it used with 62 hours on it and saved thousands.

ocala

Unfortunately I'm  going to put the new boat on hold for a while. I work in route sales and my company just lost a huge contract at the University of Florida we had for 25 years. Going to be a huge loss for me pay wise so I can't go forward at this time. I am glad it happened before I pulled the trigger. The old boat will have to do for the foreseeable future.  

Quad32x

Man that sux but better it happened now and not after a brand new big purchase.

lakeman

Some on here will think I'm crazy but I would shop for 17 Bosgton Whaler,  a older model or maybe newer than what you think you can afford.  A Boston whaler may not be MODERN in design except newer ones, but a good 17 footer is a do every thing boat, maybe not great at any one thing but will do 0ff shore, seen them out in the gulf stream and in the back country.  What is great is that there is always a marker for a reasonable kept Whaler.

RayI

capt louie said:

There is not a boat in that size that won't get you wet sometimes. Guess better than sitting on the deck like a bass boat.lol

Always a compromise with boats of any size in this region. Too many variables here .
I think that Mako will fit the bill. My old 18' 74 sport craft is still in service and has done both inside and outside duty. Drafts maybe 16" ?  She is currently my grouper boat..

Louie, both you and Ruff would catch grouper and cobia in a paddle boat lol. And now Ruff's shooting all the Turkeys in FL before he goes to MO?? I'm a get a Turkey this week Ruff, you inspired me lol

capt louie

^^ Get one !!! 

cmhaire

My brother in law has a 2013 pro skiff 17 and absolutely slays in it. It gets very skinny and does anything inshore he asks of it. Plus can run the beach when its calm. The only complaint is it’s uncomfortable because there’s minimal seating and he’s had multiple issues with the cable steering they use to rig the mercs. If you only care about fishing like my BIL then its a great boat. 

Crkr23

SeaArk, 4ft chop on the gulf?
I'm selling my Contender and buying one of them.

ocala

Nuthinfancy definitely leaning towards a aluminum boat when it happens. Have repaired many gouges in mine from rocks and O bars. Some real quality metal boats out there for sure.

pottydoc

Crkr23 said:

SeaArk, 4ft chop on the gulf?
I'm selling my Contender and buying one of them.

Not a 4" chop, a "true" 4' chop. That's bigger than a regular 4' chop. 😂 Sea Arcs are great boats, and would probably handle it, but only with dead slow speed, getting soaked, and getting the crud beat out of you. A 4' Chop is nasty in any kind of 20' boat. 

pottydoc

Nothin, before you get your panties in a wad, I've spent a ton of hours fishing out of my buddies 18' Sea Ark. if I go back to an aluminum boat, it will be a Sea Ark. I had a G3, the Sea Ark is built much better. 

Crkr23

pottydoc said:

Crkr23 said:

SeaArk, 4ft chop on the gulf?
I'm selling my Contender and buying one of them.

Not a 4" chop, a "true" 4' chop. That's bigger than a regular 4' chop. 😂 Sea Arcs are great boats, and would probably handle it, but only with dead slow speed, getting soaked, and getting the crud beat out of you. A 4' Chop is nasty in any kind of 20' boat. 

Yes, and only 1 wave from a "Mayday" or worse yet becoming a statistic.
A key word is going "out" in a 4' chop, I might come to port in a 4' chop but I ain't going out in a 4' chop, don't care how good a bite is going on.

gogittum

That's the kicker.  It's silly, if not stupid to go out in heavy weather, but if you get caught out by a sudden storm, it's really nice to know your boat can bring you home, regardless of wet and comfort level.

I don't recommend this as a regular thing, but one time I was out in my little 13 ft plywood mooching boat in the northwest.  I was jigging for Halibut about 6 or 8 miles east of town and totally focused.  It was a nice, calm day, clear and sunny and good forecast.  Cranius Rectitis kind of trip.

A puff of cold wind made me sit up and look around and there, just to the west was a big squall blowing in, between me and home.  I took off at full throttle anyway and it caught me several miles out.   Man, it was wild....wind screaming, rain sheeting down, spray flying, waves straight up and down.....wow.

Pretty soon I started grinning.....even soaking wet and cold.  That little boat rode like a cork over the mess, where the bigger boats were r'arin' and plungin' like wild horses.  Yes, spray came in over the stbd bow with the wind, lots of it, but I had 2 bilge pumps and they took good care of that. 

Had to slow way down, of course, but paid attention and had a fun ride back.  It was over before I got into harbor.

pottydoc

NuthinFancy said:

I completely agree on the ride and spray, it’s not a comfortable boat in large seas, I just said it would manage . There are a whole lot of boats that will manage if you give them a chance. Forgot to mention that the 20fter that I have is rated for 12 adults. Great family boat. Just make sure to max out the HP that it is rated for, because it can be tough getting up on plane with 12 people and a 90hp on opening day of lobster season.

By "would manage" you mean no one got hurt. No way you did anything but putted back in shore while getting you donkey kicked. If you stopped for anything, or tried to
fosh and were successful, it was about a 1' chop, and still uncomfortable. 4' of chop will beat the heck out of you in a 21' deep Vee like a contender or a Bluewater. Much less any ones 20' skiff. 

ANUMBER1

I don't like a 4' chop in my 37' Sermons..

Big Mak

I don't like a 4' chop in my 100'  tugboat. 

Crkr23

Most recreational boaters don't realize how big a 4 ft wave is. You hear it all the time, "Boy NOAA missed it today", they really don't miss it that much.
The other thing that boaters  miss is "What is the wave interval"?  On the GOM the interval is usually around 4-5 seconds which makes a 2 ft wave rough. On the Atlantic the interval can run 8 seconds or more making 4 ft very doable.

Crkr23

A life long commercial fisherman and a seasoned tug boat captain and a man grinning, busting through the inlet on a 20ft jon boat weighs in on the subject of rough water. 
I know which one I'm listening too, I just hope other readers are too.

THINKICAN

Agree with the aluminum hull.  No argument with Sea Ark, but might want to check out the older Lund Alaskan hulls.  Had one that we put a center console in, etc., and routinely went to 30' off Homosassa.  Best part was that it floated in a foot or less.  The 16' and 18' models are TOUGH!  Just a thought from and old, old timer!