2015 Mako Pro Skiff 17 Review

2015 Mako Pro Skiff 17 Review

Author: Alan Jones

While the MAKO Pro 17 Skiff might look like a traditional flat-bottomed skiff, it's anything but the same-old, same-old. The Advanced Inverted V hull design (AIV) has, as the name implies, a V-shaped void pointing up on the centerline. That is the exact opposite of a traditional V hull. But it's not quite a catamaran either; rather, the Pro 17 is more of a hybrid that shares many of the characteristics of a cat, including a smooth ride through the chop. It is extremely stable at rest, with no undo tipping, allowing anglers to move about the 17-foot, 4-inch hull freely. It corners very flat and can turn extremely hard, although some caution should be exercised the first time you do it, because its ability to hook up could catch you by surprise.

We tested this boat with the standard 30 hp Mercury FourStroke and with the 60 hp Mercury FourStroke, and we found it to be a no-brainer: Go with the higher horsepower version. The price difference is only $1,500. MAKO employs a "No-Hassle, No-Haggle" national pricing plan, with the Pro 17 coming in at $14,995 for the 60 hp version. The price includes a custom aluminum trailer with galvanized wheels and axle. And with a total package weight of 1,700 pounds, you can tow it with a compact pickup such as a Ford Ranger or a Toyota Tacoma.

With the 60 hp Merc, the MAKO Pro 17 Skiff performed well, getting on plane in 3.3 seconds with minimal bowrise. Time to 25 mph was 8 seconds, and we reached a top speed of 35 mph. The ride was smooth through the chop, and we didn't experience the sneezing effect that causes water to spray forward when air is compressed between the sponsons upon reentry, like can happen on catamaran hulls.

Most skiffs have spackle-painted finish inside, but the Pro 17 Skiff is fully gelcoated and has a nonskid surface all around with large casting decks fore and aft that have plenty of storage underneath. The captain and co-pilot sit atop a rotomolded cooler seat that is thickly insulated with foam and can hold ice for days. It's far enough away from the wheel so the driver can easily stand and drive. In front of the console, which has dry storage and five vertical rod holders, there's a comfortable passenger seat atop an 8-gallon bait well.

2015 Mako Pro Skiff 17 Review

Source: https://www.boatingworld.com/boattests/mako-pro-17-skiff-cc/

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