QUALITY Best read in 800 x 600 format ____________ Steerage |
Announcing the release of the 8.5m and 9.5m Semi Rigids! MAKO
LAUNCH THE EXCITING NEW These boats are ideal
for diving, commercial or leisure use where a great deal of deckspace
is preferred. The 8.5m and 9.25m boast an overall width of 2.83m and
inside width of 1.73m.
Space is not a problem! For more information, please e-mail mako@iafrica.com.
___________________________ NEW
MAKO X-TREME RACER STRUTS ITS STUFF FOR SPECTATORS The
new Mako X-Treme maxing out across a choppy Table Bay 16th
August, 2001
CEO & Owner of Mako Inflatables, Mark Louw, talking to us about the X-Treme CEO and owner of Mako Inflatables, Mark Louw, who was at the helm of one of the new boats took some time out during the launch break to chat to Steerage Marine about Mako's reasons for dropping the UFO in favour of the X-Treme: "There was not a lot of positive feedback about the UFO ......... some pilots said it was jumping too high - or was too 'flighty' - whatever. Its difficult to design a boat that suits everybody, but that's what we've tried to do with the X-Treme. Its a lot more user friendly - a lot more stable - a lot more neutral - for the average guy. The last boat was a specialised boat where you really had to be a professional to set the boat up and ride it to its maximum," Mark said. "If you send a boat overseas where the pilots have'nt had the 10 years of experience racing these craft that we have had here .............. so I've tried to retain the speed, but with more stabililty, and I think I've achieved that."
The two Demo boats tied to the stern of the Sea Princess - on the left the silver GRP nose-cone and on the right the more radical Carbon Fibre nose cone Asked about the difference between the Carbon Fibre and GRP nose cones, Mark pointed out that "........the Carbon Fibre saves about 10 - 15 kg on weight .......... but this does'nt really affect the speed ........... it is really about strength - it is approximately 50% stronger, and the Americans particularly are mad about Carbon Fibre. They are very excited about it." He went on, "The speed tests we did were done with a GRP nose cone, but as i said, as far as Carbon Fibre is concerned speed is not really the issue. It is when you are doing runs like the Trans Agulhas - when the boats take a terrible pounding - that the extra strength comes into its own. Its amazing ........... I've had more response because of this Carbon Fibre nose cone than I've ever had on any racing boat." Asked if there were any other modifications in the pipeline Mark stated that, ".......we're doing a floorboard as well - we're basically in the process of designing and testing a floorboard which is going to be moulded with a non-slip and with a closed-cell foam inside which makes it lighter as well. Because these boats are only being driven by a 50hp motor it is critical to keep the weight down. If you can have the boat both light and stable - that' the bottom line." Asked about the comparative drop-off in racing numbers in South Africa where the sport originated compared with the burgeoning interest abroad Mark had this to say, "Yeah!........", smiling, "...... I think that there is too much politics and not enough fun. The fun has gone out of it. You know - eight years ago we used to go down every weekend to Blouberg or to Oceana with 10 other guys ......... no racing ........ but we'd help this guy who'd just bought a new boat - or that guy who wanted some assistance with set-up. It is so competitive now ........ nobody helps anybody - because they are scared he will beat them, and they don't want to give away their secrets." "I'm personally beginning with a campaign to get the guys back on the water for fun. Calling around - and getting ......... even just 5 guys down ....... it'll just take a few weekends, and everybody will be joining in again. And the youngsters will begin taking an interest, because they won't just see the experts screaming accross in font of them and think, 'I'll never get to that level' ......... they'll be there with the experts - when one of them buys one of my boats - new or used - I'll help them set it up - put on the motor - set up the props - take them out with me so that they can get a feel of how things should be ......... and how much fun these boats are ........ not just for racing, but for fishing, scuba diving - or just taking the family out. " "We're also talking about setting up a non-radical racing circuit to introduce the fun aspect back into the sport. Where you maybe have 10 races ......... and four of them are social races - where you stop at various points before carrying on and get to mix - rather than just compete." "Despite having the bigger boats - like the Ballistic - at my disposal, I still miss the convenience and ease of having a nice light-weigh racer that I can just hook up behind any vehicle ....... and just go ......... with my family and friends - on top of which I just use 20 litres of fuel for virtually the whole day. It's cheap, its light, its easy. What a pleasure!"
New
Mako X-Treme 2001 / 2002 Racing Inflatable X-Treme Test Results: Motor Used - Yamaha 50HP Blue Print (D Model) Test
1 Test
2 Test
3 The fastest speed recorded by the same team with an oppositions boat is 103km/h with a 158" Quicksilver bunny prop. ______________________________________ MAKO
5.50 ESPACE 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......................................For the rest of this review and for more pictures go HERE _____________________________ We are proud to introduce our 2004 range of Mako Inflatables. Changes on the boats themselves include a new stringer system, fuel tank hatches and in-built underdeck hatch on the popular boats such as the 5.1m, 8.0m and 9.5m RIBs. In addition, we have removed our old 7.8m RIB and are replacing it with the improved 8.0m Semi Rigid. ............................................ COMING SOON A WHOLE NEW MAKO LOOK Watch this space for updates ____________________________________ Along with 6 South African companies, Mako Inflatables had the privilege of attending the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show held in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, USA from 30 October to 3 November 2003. This National Pavillion was sponsored by the EMIA division of DTI (Department of Trade & Industry). The Fort Lauderdale show proved to be an immense 'fact-finding' mission for Mako Inflatables, with plenty of new ideas which will be reflected in our 2004 range of boats.
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ISO 9002, D.O.T. & SOLAS classification for all
of our products............concentrating on our RIB range first.