Pascoe surveyed two Makos and rated them tough boats. The problems he found are the ones that come with how center consoles of this kind are built: tanks buried in foam, consoles screwed into cored decks, and electronics and batteries in boxes that let water in.
Foamed in aluminium fuel tanks
The Mako 26 Pascoe surveyed had a 203 gallon aluminium tank foamed in place, which he says gives him nightmares. Water collects on the underside of a foamed tank: the foam doesn't keep it off, because the aluminium expands and contracts. There is no way to judge the tank short of tearing it out. On that boat a plastic access port above the fuel gauge and valves didn't seal and let water onto the tank top. The Mako 221 had two large removable deck plates so a failed tank can come out without cutting the boat apart.
Where to look. The access port and its seal, standing water on the tank top, corrosion at the fittings and sender, and whether the deck has removable plates over the tank. Say in the report how much of the tank you could see.
Plywood cored decks and the console
On the Mako 26 the decks are plywood cored and the console is screwed to the deck, and a soft spot on one side showed water had got into the core. On the Mako 221, the console was screwed to Starboard plastic battens bolted to the deck, which Pascoe singles out for owners who have had deck cores rot under a screwed console.
Where to look. Sound and meter the deck around the console base, the tower or T-top feet and any other screwed fitting.
Console, electronics and batteries
On the Mako 26, Pascoe found electronics cabinets that leaked badly, a plastic instrument panel that had deteriorated in 4 years, and an open gap at the top of the console seat front that let water inside. The battery boxes were full of water and the batteries were dead. He also found the throttles mounted low on an angled face, awkward to push forward.
Where to look. Inside the console for water, corrosion on terminals and switch panels, and the battery boxes for water and secure mounting.
Transom and bracket
Both boats Pascoe saw had aluminium transom brackets. On the 221 the transom wasn't bowed under the motor and the control cables were installed without holes that could let water in. On any bracket boat, check the transom for bowing and cracks at the bracket bolts, and the bracket for corrosion.
Recalls
The USCG recall list holds one Mako record, for the M184 CC and M204 CC. The public page doesn't give the defect; check the hull number with a dealer.
What to check on a Mako
| Area | What to look for | Source of the concern |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel tank | Foamed in, access port leaking, water on the top | Pascoe, Mako 26 |
| Deck around the console | Soft or wet plywood core | Pascoe, Mako 26 |
| Electronics boxes and console | Leaks and water inside | Pascoe, Mako 26 |
| Battery boxes | Water, dead batteries, mounting | Pascoe, Mako 26 |
| Transom and bracket | Bowing, cracks, bracket corrosion | Pascoe, Mako 26 and 221 |
| Recalls | Open campaign for the hull number | USCG recall list |
Writing it up
"Fuel tank: aluminium tank foamed in place below the cockpit sole, only the fill, vent and sender fittings visible. Plastic access port above the sender does not seal and the tank top was wet. Tank condition could not be assessed. Recommend the access port is resealed and the owner budgets for tank removal if fuel leaks or odour appear." Record what you couldn't see as clearly as what you did.