Mako 214 CC (2020-)

Brief Summary

With her moderate 18-degree deadrise V-hull and interior creature comforts, the MAKO 214 CC delivers a good balance of fishing features and family amenities. Bow wrap-around, forward console, and aft bench seating can add comfort for family and friends, and the optional deck filler adds a forward lounge area. Our test boat came with an upgrade to a Mercury 150-hp Pro XS FourStroke.

Key Features

• 10-person capacity
• Dry-riding V-hull
• T-top
• Mercury SmartCraft digital gauges
• Mercury 150-hp FourStroke engine
• MAKO Assurance 5+ life factory warranty

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	21' 5'' 6.53 m
Beam	8' 6'' 2.59 m
Dry Weight	3,735 lbs. 1,694 kg
Tested Weight	4,698 lbs. 2,131 kg
Draft	14'' 0.35 m
Deadrise/Transom	18-deg.
Bridge Clearance	11' 2" 3.40 m
Weight Capacity	1,700 lbs. 771 kg
Person Capacity	10
Fuel Capacity	91 gal. 344 L
Total Weight	4,698 lbs. 2,131 kg

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	3.6 sec.
0 to 30	18.1 sec.
Props	15 x 15 Enertia
Load	3 persons, 3/4 fuel, no water, 50 lbs. of gear
Climate	85 deg., 78 humid; wind: 15-20 mph; seas: <1

Engine Options

Tested Engine
Std. Power	1 x 150-hp Mercury FourStroke XL
Opt. Power	1 x 200-hp Mercury FourStroke XL 1 x 200-hp Mercury FourStroke XL Warm Fusion White 1 x 225-hp Mercury FourStroke XL 1 x 225-hp Mercury FourStroke XL Warm Fusion White 1 x 250-hp Mercury FourStroke XL Warm Fusion White 1 x 150-hp Mercury Pro XS FourStroke XL 1 x 200-hp Mercury Pro XS FourStroke XL 1 x 250-hp Mercury Pro XS FourStroke XL

Captain's Report

By Capt. Nick Martinez

Mission

The versatile 214 CC is built for safety and comfort, with MAKO’s V-hull, which is meant to cut through chop and throw down spray with its reverse chines, resulting in a smooth, dry, and secure ride. MAKO’s 214 CC is a compact offshore center console primarily outfitted for fishing trips or suited for a day trip with the family.

Design

MAKO manufactures 11 offshore center console models between 18’4” (5.58 m) and 41' (12.49 m). All of the offshore boats use a variation of MAKO’s ‘dry-riding’ hull with lifting strakes. The 214 CC hull has an 18-degree deadrise at the transom with aggressive reverse chines and recesses for the boat’s electric trim tabs. While MAKO claims this to be a deep-V hull, BoatTEST standards require 20-degrees or greater in deadrise at the transom for a hull to be designated as a deep-V.

Construction

The composite hulls are made in female (open) molds sprayed with Gelcoat followed by a chop-gun fiberglass layer. Additional layers are hand-laid and resin-infused.

All MAKOs are made with a heavy-duty fiberglass encapsulated transom with 2” (5.08 cm) high-density core. Their hull and deck joints are chemically sealed and bonded, mechanically fastened every 6” (15.24cm) with 316 stainless steel fasteners.

Every MAKO is backed by their limited 5-year stem to stern and 3-year Gelcoat warranty and provisions for transfer to the second owner.

Boat Inspection

Bow

The MAKO 214CC comes with low profile brushed anodized aluminum bow rails that run to about midships. There are also gunwale-mounted rod holders, one on each side of the boat. The bow seating has facing bench seats with backrest bolsters. This kind of V-seating arrangement is common on fishing boats such as this, going from 2” (0.68 M) at the bow to 11” (0.27 M) of legroom between the seats further aft. The 214CC is designed with adequate walking and seating space. Under the removable cushioned seats on either side of the boat are sealed storage compartments that can also be used as ice chests for the day’s catch.

A padded bolster runs around the boat’s gunwale. There is a non-skid surface on walking flats, foredeck, gunwale tops, sole, stern platform, and hatch covers.

Helm

The helm of the 214 CC is uncluttered, and all rocker switches and controls are easily accessible. The newest feature on the 2020 version of the 214 is the Mercury SmartCraft digital gauges. The Fusion stereo control head powers four Kicker speakers located throughout the boat. The Ritchie voyager compass is mounted flush to the left side of the console, in-line with the wheel. There is a full-width footrest on the console.

There is room under the standard leaning post for a cooler. MAKO offers an optional fiberglass baitwell/leaning post with 1,100 gph (4,163.95 lph) pump ($565). The same baitwell/leaning post with a backrest is a ($1,250) option. Add optional outriggers ($1,900) and optional 6-gallon (23 L) freshwater washdown system and this boat is tricked out for fishing.

MAKO offers some optional lighting packages for the 214 CC such as a head portlight ($195), aft spreader lights ($195), along with one Shadow-Caster SCM-10 Bimini blue underwater light, mounted in the center of the transom ($465), or two Shadow-Caster SCM-10 Bimini blue underwater transom lights, one on both port and starboard sides of the transom ($1,250).

Stern 

In the stern, the transom accommodates a wide bench whose center- section backrest folds forward to accommodate pulling up the engine. Storage below the bench houses a livewell to port and dual batteries to starboard. 

Performance

The MAKO 214 CC has an LOA of 21’5” ( 6.52 m), a beam of 8’6” (2.59 m), and a draft of 14” (0.36 m). With 68 gallons (257 L) of fuel and water, and three people aboard, our test boat had an estimated test weight if 4,698 lbs. (2,131 kg).

With a single Mercury 150 Pro XS FourStroke engine turning a 15” x 15” Enertia propeller, we hit a top speed of 39 mph at 6000 rpm. We found our best cruise speed at 4000 rpm at 22 mph. With a fuel burn of 6 gph, which translated into 3.2 nmpg and a range of 303 nautical miles, all while holding back a 10 percent reserve of the boats 91-gallon (345 L) fuel capacity.

For anglers, we recorded a speed of 2.6 mph at 600 rpm and 4.1 mph at 1000 rpm. The boat planed at 12.6 mph in 3.7 seconds and we reached 20 mph in 11.3 seconds and 30 mph at 18.1 seconds.

Acceleration

Time to plane: 3.7 seconds

Zero to 20 mph: 11.3 seconds

Zero to 30 mph: 18.1 seconds 

Handling 

This was a fun boat to drive. We had relatively calm conditions with crossing wakes from other boat traffic. She handled nicely going through the wakes with just a little bit of hull slap if we operated in anything more then cruising speed. At cruising speed, she provided a much more comfortable ride. She had no power steering so any excessive handling tended to be a little hard. When making hard turns, the boat tends to grab a little bit so make sure everyone is hanging on when being aggressive.

Pricing Options 

Boat with white gelcoat hull and engine (before prep and freight):

Mercury FourStroke

• 150 XL FourStroke ($51,395)
• 200 XL FourStroke ($54,735)
• 200 XL FourStroke warm fusion white ($55,770)
• 225 XL FourStroke ($56,095)
• 225 XL FourStroke warm fusion white ($57,125)
• 250 XL FourStroke ($59,175)
• 250 XL FourStroke warm fusion white ($60,570)

Mercury Pro XS

• 150 XL Pro XS FourStroke ($52,395)
• 200 XL Pro XS FourStroke ($55,645)
• 250 XL Pro XS FourStroke ($59,265)

Options to Consider

• Colors options: 2-tone hull in Gulfstream Blue, Onyx Black, Pompano Silver, Seafoam Green, Trigger Gray or Wahoo Blue ($850)
• Tilt hydraulic steering   ($215)
• Fiberglass baitwell leaning post and backrest ($1,250)
• Anodized aluminum rails ($300)
• Outriggers ($1,900)
• Portable toilet on stowaway slide   ($1,050)
• EZ Loader tandem axle trailer ($4,350) 

Observations 

MAKO has built on last year’s model with some welcome new features. Such as Mercury SmartCraft digital gauges and interior courtesy lights, molded-in swim platform with retractable stainless-steel ladder and aft stern seating with folding center backrest. MAKO presents the 214 CC without a lot of options to keep the price down, but they did a good job of engineering space to add options later. The 214 CC is a boat with a high protective bow and a deep cockpit to keep the crew safe.

When looking for a compact offshore fishing boat with robust construction and basic equipment, the MAKO 214 CC is worth considering. Well-designed with good handling characteristics, this boat has kept with MAKO’s tradition of solid center consoles primarily fit for fishing or occasional family outings.