By Capt. Robert Smith
Mako is well known for its tournament-ready fishing boats, and now they’re attacking the inshore models like a shark on chum. These agile rigs are loaded with features any professional would appreciate, and you will certainly also enjoy them. All you have to do is load up your gear (you may have to buy more rods to fill her up), fill the cooler with drinks and snacks, and hit the bait shop on the way.
To me, the primo casting spot is the spacious bow deck. It is not only large, you feel stable when standing up there. To keep things neat and snag-free, the bow anchor cleat/docking cleat is a pop-up style. If you fish in an area where you will want to use a trolling motor, MAKO has provided a power connection at the bow and a wide gunwale and deck space to mount it. The anchor locker lid has a large line fairlead so you can anchor out and still have the lid closed, so you don’t trip over it. Storage space at the bow is abundant. Under the bow casting deck, the storage seems to go on forever.
Mako has added vertical support with a stainless post which is why you don’t feel the bounce or flex, often sensed in a wide casting deck with a single storage box underneath. All the horizontal surfaces have aggressive grip molded in, including the gunwale tops so stepping on the boat can be done with a fair amount of safety. Low profile hand rails run from just forward amidships to the stern in the gunwale tops. At the end of the rails are two rod holders for trolling on each side. Just aft of the casting deck are two bench seats, one to a side with additional storage at the bow. Integrated in the console forward bench seat is an integrated 13-gallon livewell to serve the fisherman at the bow.
The fiberglass helm is basic in design but highly functional with room for customization. Four vertical rods mount along the sides with three on the port side and four on the starboard side. A frameless windshield offers good protection from chilly breezes and occasional splashes and has a grab bar surrounding it for safety and support underway. Steering is a fixed position Teleflex Dual Cable No-Feedback system with great handling. Analog gauges give you feedback on performance and fuel and a 12-volt connection allows you to bring along portable gear. Additional space is provided under the helm to store more gear.
The aft deck consists of the flip-flop bench seat that is a comfortable cushioned seat for driving or flipped over, a comfortable seat to wait for the fish to jump on the hook. Below is a 94 qt carry-on cooler just waiting to be filled with cold drinks and fresh sandwiches to keep you fueled for a day of fishing. Room to either side allows you to cast and work fish or for your friend to come around a gaff a big fish. In the port corner is another aerated livewell with a battery compartment on the starboard side.
The 1901 Inshore measures 19’1” length overall with a beam width of 7’8”. She weighs in at 1,575 lbs. and carries up to 1,550 lbs. of people and gear. This model is rated for a maximum of 150 horsepower on the stern, and has a 47 gallon fuel capacity. This model can be pre-rigged for engines from Mercury, Suzuki and Evinrude.
