I used to own a 1971 mako 19.. loved it a lot and have been insanely thinking i may want to buy a new one...

I saw a new mako 19 today and was shocked at how flimsy and simple they are now..

am I wrong here or are makos not what they used to be?

plastic deck cleats? cheap plastic gas cap and not bronze??? come on... :rotf2:

and they flex like hell. Garbage IMHO.

I had an 1992 240 it was built like a tank. The new ones are garbage.
too bad.

I believe Mako sold to one of the big players in the 90s, then to Bass Pro. When they sold the quality dropped in a big way. In the 80s Mako's were a top boat.

The big guys ruined the quality and they lost a lot of dealers. Now I think Bass Pro is the major dealer and I believe they own them.

Go find a good one from the 80s or early 90s. The current ones can't compare to the older ones.

I think they're owned by tracker marine now. They really went to hell as did seacraft when tracker bought them. I'm sure they're still good boats but nothing the way they used to be. I remember in the early 2000's when they came out with the new 28' CC they just added 2 foot to the 26 and some actually broke on that seam. I think it was only a few but somewhat telling.

I own a 1987 Privateer Retriever, it's a very solid boat and similar to the mako in looks.

They're still making them.Privateer Boats (http://www.privateerboats.com/)

Look for a Biddison.

[QUOTE=Monty;744096]I own a 1987 Privateer Retriever, it's a very solid boat and similar to the mako in looks.

They're still making them.Privateer Boats (http://www.privateerboats.com/)[/QUOTE


Is that pic from Quincy Bay or the Fore River?

I live in Rock Island cove, which is directly across from the Fore river.:wave:

Bought me a 1976 17' Mako this past fall.....can't wait until April!

:kewl:

I live in Rock Island cove, which is directly across from the Fore river.:wave:

I live on the other side!:wave:

Mako's are junk now. I have a few customers with older ones and those are solid boats. I'm pretty sure 93 was the year they changed ownership. Late 80's were probably the best of the bunch.

When I started looking for a boat two years ago I had my heart set on a Mako. Went to all the boat shows and roamed dealers displays but didn't see very many in the showrooms.
Last febuary I went to the Boston boat show armed with my down payment and found my mako dealer. I found out Ranger had bought out Mako and closed the plant in S.Carolina and was moving the production to a closed ranger plant in the midwest. The earliest they would be back in production was June. I wanted a boat for the season coming up so I looked a bit further and went with a Key West 186 sportsman.
Every single thing that Key West has as standard equipment Mako had as an option, including the compass. Done deal. I got the boat in April and due to the %$%$%$%$ty weather up here last year only managed 80 hours over the season but the family and I love the boat.
I'de be looking at other makes beside Mako if I were you. Its a good time to buy a boat but a new Mako isn't a thought I'de entertain..

Check out classicmako.com for some information on old vs. new Makos...tons of info there...

I remember your '71 Mako, Eben. When I sold my 17' Mako,a 1988, a couple of perspective buyers were interested in the boat primarily for the quality of the hull. It was a good boat in the past.

I found out Ranger had bought out Mako and closed the plant in S.Carolina and was moving the production to a closed ranger plant in the midwest.




I can't imagine who told you that, but Ranger has nothing to do with Mako.

Mako is owned by Tracker Marine (http://www.trackermarine.com/) and it is true that Tracker moved Mako production to the Midwest.

I believe Mako sold to one of the big players in the 90s, then to Bass Pro. When they sold the quality dropped in a big way. In the 80s Mako's were a top boat.

The big guys ruined the quality and they lost a lot of dealers. Now I think Bass Pro is the major dealer and I believe they own them.

Bass Pro owns tracker which owns Mako.
They're totally hit and miss now.

Spoke to the salesman last week at Hudson's Outboard in Salisbury that I bought my Key West from. He said they no longer carry the Mako line for all the above reasons.