Overview
The newly redesigned Mako 18 Pro Skiff Backwater Edition is a light-tackle angler’s dream. It’s a skinny-water boat that’s packed with standard features that will help you find and chase fish.
Engine
Running with two aboard and a 22-gallon fuel load, we pushed the 18 Pro Skiff to 52 mph, reaching 30 mph from idle in 5.8 seconds. For a relatively flat-bottomed boat, it held true in hard-over turns at planing speeds, never slipping or blowing out the prop. It climbed onto plane in 2.4 seconds. The standard jack plate lets you raise or lower the engine’s running height to keep on plane in skinnier water. With a draft of just 12 inches, you can get shallow and deploy the standard Minn Kota Terrova electric trolling motor and maneuver to find the fish. Also, you can stake out in waters up to 8 feet deep with a standard Power-Pole Pro Series II.
Some of the performance attributes can be credited to this boat’s construction. Mako builds a closed-cavity foam-filled hull that’s bonded together right in the mold. It’s rugged and durable, but it doesn’t need a stringer system, which helps it shed weight to float in shallower water. Mako’s Rapid Planing System design creates a little pocket in the running surface at the transom that allows water to flow to the prop no matter how high you raise the jack plate. Mako installs a tube in the bilge that flows air into the pocket to ventilate it and enhance the flow.
Interior and Accessories
What about the fishing features? The spacious bow and stern casting platforms feature camo decking for comfort underfoot. Fold-down cleats minimize line snags. A 26-gallon livewell resides in the aft deck, with a second 7-gallon well under the seat forward of the console. Three vertical rod holders line each side of the console, as well as three undergunwale rod racks per side that are long enough to stow fly rods. There are two more vertical holders in the removable helm bench backrest.
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Besides being a fishing machine, this boat just looks cool. Its army-green hull with Mako Sand accents and camo decking stand out at the ramp and help it hide in the mangroves. The scalloped hullsides above the waterline are a nod to the sleek profile of a real mako shark.
How We Tested
- Engine: Mercury 175 Pro XS
- Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Tempest 14 1/2″ x 19″ 3-blade stainless steel
- Gear Ratio: 1.85:1 Fuel Load: 22 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.
High Points
- Standard jack plate, Power-Pole and Minn Kota Terrova trolling motor make this boat ready for skinny-water duty. Scalloped hullsides are inspired by a real-life profile of a mako shark.
- Standard Wet Sounds stereo with four speakers lets you pump up the jams.
- Trailer comes standard, so you can head straight to the launch ramp.
Low Points
- You can pole it in skinny water, but it’s best-suited for trolling-motor duty.
- Could use grab handles near the aft jump seats.
Toughest Competitor
The Maverick HPX-V is more of a true poling skiff that’s lighter and has a shallower draft, but the price jumps significantly to $84,088 with a Yamaha 150.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $63,995 (as tested) |
| LOA: | 18’6″ |
| Beam: | 7’10” |
| Draft: | 1’0″ |
| Displacement: | 1,740 lb. |
| Transom Deadrise: | 13 degrees |
| Bridge Clearance: | 6’0″ |
| Fuel Capacity: | 37 gal. |
| Water Capacity: | 0 gal. |
| Max Horsepower: | 175 |
| Available Power: | Single Mercury outboards to 175 hp |
Speed, Efficiency, Operation
Mako Boats – Springfield, Missouri; makoboats.com
