You want a boat that screams “easy” but you don’t want to give up big fun? Mako’s 184 CC is about as simple as it gets. Launching this boat took all of one minute, and running it is a tasty piece of cake—this is a great rig for someone who wants a bay-worthy boat that’s easy to handle. It’s easy to buy, too. My test boat had an Optimax 115 on the transom, but if you opt for the standard powerplant (a Mercury 90 two-stroke) this package can be had for under $19,000.
This boat's easy to handle, and a joy to run.
The 184 has fishing-friendly details ranging from hookholders built into the cup holders, to a 24-gallon livewell in front of the center console, to dual rodracks under the gunwales. You can opt to have the boat fitted with a leaning post or twin pedestal seats, and those with family fishing on the mind may also want to get the forward bowdeck cushion package. Another note to family buyers: this boat comes with a pair of aft jump seats, which make for a pleasant ride out. Yes, they’ll get in the way when you’re fishing, but that’s why these seats are designed to fold out of the way.
Another high point on the 184CC can be found at the helm. It’s designed with enough space to mount a GPS/Chartplotter/fishfinder with a 7” display screen, and the console has a standard Ritchie compass mounted on a recess. Touches like this will tempt you to leave the inlet in your wake, and with a relatively steep 18-degree deadrise, this hull can handle choppy waters. We ran our test out of Sandy Point State Park, off the Chesapeake Bay just north of Annapolis. This is an incredibly busy waterway, and heavy boat created mixed-up seas to two feet—which we blasted across without slamming or jarring. And even with the sharp V in the hull draft isn’t out of sight, at one foot even. The Mako also has a hefty fuel capacity for its size at 56 gallons, so you’ll have the range you need whether you’re fishing in the bay or outside the inlet. Run this little 18’ into the ocean? Why not? You won’t want to go too far from shore—hey, this is a small boat—but I’d run it anywhere within sight of the beach.
The 184CC is a looker, too with the Mako logo stitched into the cushions and molded into the standard gunwale-mount rod holders. The bow rail is the sleek, low-profile grab rail variety, and switches at the dash are all lighted rockers. Taken as a whole, I really enjoyed running this little fishboat. And if you’re looking for an 18-footer that’s a piece of cake to launch yet won’t bust your lunch budget, check this one out.
