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Random Quote: Manatee..... Its what for dinner!!!!
I have not been as active lately on the board but do check it daily, we sold our Sea Pro and I have been looking for a project boat, something classic and cool, long story short...I found an '89 model 231 Mako with a 225 Yamaha SSII motor in what looks to be good shape and I am seriously considering this boat. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as always. Thanks in advance.
enjoying the weather and a cold beer
2 black dogs
__________________ Capable, but working below potiental.
movie check..."doctor, doctor, doctor, doctor, doctor, doctor....glad I'm not sick..."
that is one of the best boats Mako ever made. The 231 of that era was their best selling boat. It will need tabs if it doesn't have them. My boat, the 221, was that same hull shortened about ten inches. I was told that they took the 231 mold and altered it to make room for the recessed tabs on the 221.
Had an '86 231 w/1999 225 Ficht on the back. Bought both as a salvage, the boat rolled at the dock in a thunderstorm. Best boat I had ever owned. Rewired the entire boat from stem to stern and put the motor back together (it was in pieces in a box). I got great gas mileage and had stupendous range (over 400 miles). The fuel capacity is great, rides good at anchor and moves along with that kind of power. There are several drawbacks though.... There were problems with the livewells, being in the back of the boat in the deck, more than one boat has sunk because of it. Make sure that both your livewell intake and exhausts have shutoff valves so you can "disconnect" it form the surrounding water. Also, make sure that the bilge access hatch located along the transom has a good seal, because if you have a good livewell pump, a lot of the time, the water will spill out under the deck and if the bilge hatch isn't good, you will put water in the bilge. Sitting at Anchor you will get a lot of water over the transom in any kind of sea. Again, make sure that that aft nilge acces is tight. No insulation in the forward fish boxes. I drilled holes and added spray foam in mine, and they then worked great. The last problem I can think of was that all of the boxes forward drained straight into the bilge instead of overboard. Not a problem, except that when you fill the forward fish boxes with fish, it all drains into the bilge. I sold mine for a pretty penny, and it recently went back on the market for more than I sold mine for. They are great boats, I wouldn't think twice about buying another one if the right opportunity presented itself.
If you really want an old Mako there is a 1992 Mako 261 w/Twin Johnson 200's that is for sale for $21,500. You can see it on the classic Mako website classifieds. I have sea trialed it and can tell you that it is in fantastic shape. Owners name is Curt Tucker and his mobile is 252-945-3041. He lives in the Chocowinity area of North Carolina. I came real close to buying it but ended up with a Kencraft 235 instead.
Thanks for the information, Hblac, the 261 sounds great but it is too much boat right now, this 231 CC is the right size and would make a great project, I am having the boat looked over and want to put it in the water for a test run. Have to get the Admiral on board 100% and then we will see. She said it was either the boat or a new truck, I already have a truck so....
2 black dogs
__________________ Capable, but working below potiental.
movie check..."doctor, doctor, doctor, doctor, doctor, doctor....glad I'm not sick..."
If the price is right, the bigger boat is worth it. Not much of a difference btwn the 2. Love the 231, but the 261 is even better, especially with the solid transom and bracket.....
Any older Mako owners..? 
