MAKO 5.50 ESPACE
All the Space, grace and Pace you can handle!
(July 2000)The Mako 5.50 puts on a good show speeding across the ocean. This inflatable is versatile enough to serve as a fishing craft, a dive boat, or even for waterskiing fun. The impressive selection of stainless steel finishes can be ordered with the craft or can be retro fitted as you feel the need for them.
Sometimes its hard to decide what boat you should be buying for yourself. Before making a decision one needs to consider the following: What are your needs? How often will you be using it and for what purpose? How often will you go fishing at the coast if you live in the old Transvaal? If the answer to this last question is twice a year then rather go for a fishing charter trip........ it's safer, cheaper and more often than not more productive to boot.
However, you may live in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth or some other coastal paradise in which case you have no choice other than to have a sea-going boat. (Terminal sea-sickness will let you off to go bass fishing). Jokes aside - you don't want to buy a good rescue boat or racing boat to go fishing. You want a good, stable boat with room, storage, good sea-keeping in a medium sea and a comfortable ride at medium speed. it must also suit the conditions which prevail at your usual launch site.
The 550 Mako Espace will suit most of those requirements I am sure. Due to the wide blunt bow you have a craft with ample width down the full length of the boat. Mako Inflatable's Mark Louw decided that all this space in the bow could best be utilised by creating a U-shaped storage and seating structure there. However, one should always remember that the safest and most comfortable seating is one-third back from the bow.
The craft has a centre anchor hatch with cushion and two storage bins-cum-seats down each side. One of these can easily be converted into a live-well with a Rule live-well pump and some plumbing. Just aft of this area is an optional Nova Rade deck hatch which accesses more space under the deck.
The console on the review boat was one of the new generation Mako consoles - big and spacious with lots of dry storage behind the two Italian Nova Rade hatch doors. The console also had neat lines and a front seat too. There is even more space if you elect to have the optional transom seat and storage bin. After all that, we know she has the space - but what about the grace?
The widely flared bow gives her good lift at speed and softens the ride some. Not much trimming is needed into the wind as the craft skips softly over the wind chop and a little upward elevation gets her going with the wind. The Espace is not affected much by any shift in weight while under way, and has her mind made up about how she wants to run which, fortunately, is the right way. A very stable ride by and large. At rest she squats down on her tubes and is stable as a duck on a pond.
So now we know she has the space and the grace, but what about the pace? The review craft was fitted with an Evinrude 90, which got the 550 Espace up and trotting at a remarkable pace for a boat of this stature. A 90 or 115 would be more than ample with a full load. A twin installation would be just fine with a pair of 40's or 50's, but a pair of 60's would be heavy and would not add to the performance - instead reducing her grace and nature.
It is important to ensure that the static items on the boat - this does not include the passengers - are placed as near the middle of the craft as is possible. This will ensure that the boat is balanced to start with before loading it with passengers.
But now back to choosing a boat for your needs. The mako Espace is a good fishing platform, but she is also a good recreational dive boat and would be just the thing for weekend family water-skiing and general exploring.
In this review I have not spent much time discussing how the boat is constructed and how the hull and tubes are made, but as with all Mako craft you can rest assured that it is all sound.
The Mako Espace lends itself to many activities that are lots of fun for family and friends.Although we don't have all the waterways that America and some other countries have, we do have many dams, rivers and coastal stretches that are fun to visit. When last did you get a few fellow boaters together and explore a bit of our wonderful coastline. Do it! It is maximum fun.
Choose your day well, choose your route on a map - discuss it with someone who has done the trip before - local knowledge is good - and prepare well. This is a great thing to do with two or three boats, but do avoid overloading. Let your club know where you are going and keep contact with them via radio. Don't leave your return trip until too late and remember to take fresh water. Go with competent people of sober habits.
To conclude, the Mako Espace is a good all-rounder. She has Grace, Space and Pace to give you all you might need in a highly versatile craft. Good handling, practical lines, comfort and quality in finish. Worth more than just a second look!
