For chasing game fish in bays, sounds and along the coast, George tricked out a new Mako 214 deep-V center console, powered by a Mercury 250hp V8 ProXS outboard. A trailer manufactured by FLOAT-ON assures the vessel gets to and from its destinations, regardless of distance.
Mako's 214 was designed with comfort, sea-worthiness and fish-ability in mind, and George tricked out his to the hilt; more on this later. With a beam of 8' 6" and actual length of 21' 5", George's new 214, fully-loaded, weighs around 5,000 lbs.
A deadrise of 18 degrees enables the boat to slice easily through rough waters. Its smooth ride and 91-gallon fuel capacity enable George to run fast and far for prime fishing. A pair of Lenco Trim Tabs help dial in a perfect ride.
George selected the optional leaning post/live well combination. The well is functional enough for holding plenty of pilchards for live-chumming, or live mullet, goggle eyes, runners, etc. A small live well under the port side aft seat is ideal for shrimp and crabs.
The aft seating is ideal for those opting to kick back and enjoy the ride. Ditto with the forward port and starboard seating, especially with removable back rests in place. Underneath the forward seating is storage for tackle bags or icing down fish. A center deck hatch exposes a large hold for additional storage, and there's an independent anchor locker.
Although George's boat has a full set of deck cushions for maximum comfort, he prefers a plain deck for fishing. However, with full cushion support, the Mako 214 serves as an excellent family-oriented craft.
The console offers exceptional space to mount an elaborate electronics display, like on George's boat. Inside the console is ample space for more storage and battery placement.
POWER & DELIVERY - A Mercury 250hp ProXS V8 outboard, according to George, "is the perfect match for this boat." The torque from the V8 powers the fully-loaded hull onto plane in quick order. It delivers instant performance when running rough inlets or controlling strong currents. The torque can be felt throughout its full RPM range. Mercury's VesselView 504 keeps all pertinent outboard information in plain view.
THE BITE! - A 19" pitch Mercury Enertia ECO prop adds to the overall performance by providing more bow lift which, in turn, decreases drag while increasing top end speeds and fuel economy. Top speed on George's 214 is 54 mph.
SIMRAD LEADS THE WAY - As mentioned earlier, George tricked out this 214 for serious fishing. A pair of Simrad NSO evo 3S 19" units are flush-mounted in the console. The full high-definition displays are supported by iMX 8 integrated six-core processing; in short: fast and smooth touch screen transitions!
Fish-finding and navigation info can be displayed on a six-panel split screen, or independently as one large display. The units come with pre-loaded C-MAP coastal charts, which include Genesis Layer, Easy Routing and areas of high-resolution Shaded Relief. George's favorite chart is C-MAP Reveal, which provides high-definition bathymetric bottom coverage.
SIMRAD HALO 24 RADAR - For locating working birds as well as navigating through inclement weather, George utilizes a Simrad HALO 24 Pulse Compression, closed dome radar. Features include Zone Track, which detects and tracks radar targets in a designated area; Velocity Track, which provides instant visual feedback on whether targets are approaching, stationary, or moving away; Dangerous Target Alerts, and Preset User Modes the likes of Harbour, Offshore, Weather and Bird Modes.
THE TUNES MACHINE - George's 214 features a full custom sound system by JL Audio This includes JL's MM105 head unit, their XDM 400/4 amplifier, and four M6-650x speakers. The exceptional balance and clarity of the system need to be experienced to be fully appreciated. With George, expect to hear a lot of classic rock tunes!
RELiON LITHIUM IRON PHOSPHATE BATTERIES - To power all electronics, save space and weight, and achieve maximum battery longevity, George outfitted the 214 with three RELiON Marine Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries, more specifically model RB100-HP.
RELiON's Marine Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries utilize the safest and most stable components, including a LiFeP04 cathode and a built-in Battery Management System (BMS), which ensures a long lifetime, safe-handling- and high-accuracy State of Charge (SOC).
Each battery weighs 26.4 pounds, and measures 13.0 X 6.8 X 8.4 inches. George also has the RELiON ProMariner charging system designed for lithium.
With the RELiON set up, George can operate the boat's live well and full array of electronics all day with the main outboard shut down, and not worry about battery drain. This accurate state of charge feature, a major consumer benefit, keeps him informed throughout the day on his batteries, and not just voltage.
COMMUNICATIONS AND SAFETY - A stickler for safety on the water, George's 214 has a Simrad VHF. Inside the console, is the new ACR GlobalFix V5, a 406MHz EPIRB with AIS alert and Return Link Service. If activated, the GlobalFix V5 sends the vessel's GPS coordinates in a 406 MHz signal to a global rescue satellite and an AIS alert (commercial vessels are required to have AIS) for local rescue; this SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES rescue times. The unit also contains a 121.5 MHz homing beacon, for nearby Search & Rescue tracking. The new ACR EPIRB has a 10-year battery life.
George's Personal Locator Beacon - ACR's ResQLink AIS, has all of the above features along with a Man Overboard Alarm. This important safety item should ride on a person as well as on life jackets.
LEE'S TACKLE ROD HOLDERS - George and Lee's Tackle enjoy a long-standing relationship going back to 1979. Ever since, George's Makos have been equipped with Lee's Outriggers and Rod Holders.
Fish-ability aside, George credits the quality and durability of the equipment to their withstanding the frequent punishment from running center consoles in rough offshore seas.
On his 214, George staggered a total of ten Lee's model RH527VS 0-degree rod holders and backing plates along the gunwales. In the bow are two 15-degree Lee Rod Holders. This layout covers all aspects of fishing situations.
COLORS GALORE - Shadow-Caster Marine LEDs provide George's Mako 214 with the ability to attract bait and game fish during low-light conditions and evenings. To illuminate the cockpit, the controller comes with 12 standard colors pre-programmed in with almost unlimited customizable color combinations.
The color underwater arrangement consists of four, model SCM-10-EXT-CC-20 LED lights, two on the back transom, and one each on the aft sides.
On board are six Multi-Color RGB Courtesy Lights, two full color Spreader Beam Flood Lights, two full color, eight-foot long RGB Accent Lighting LED Strips, two Full Color Down Lights with White Housing and Lenses, and two Round RGB Submersible Accent Lights (live well).
Underwater lighting is powered by a Digital 4 Channel Power Distribution module with Shadow-NET and a Light Commander Plus Lighting Controller with NMEA 2000 & Ethernet Connectivity.
FLOAT-ON TRAILERS - George's 214 is supported by a custom-built FLOAT-ON trailer. Built with a load-rating well above the weight of a fully loaded 214, the trailer sports twin axles with hydraulic surge brakes and 15-inch aluminum wheels. Because of the extensive traveling, there are two spares complete with hubs and spindles.
ENCLOSURE & COVER - Another long-standing relationship, George uses Drew Caterson with Action Canvas in Marathon, Florida Keys, for his enclosure and cover work. A perfectionist, Drew fabricated the console enclosure on George's 214 and also the full storage cover.
SPECIFICATIONS:
LENGTH..........21’5”
BEAM................8’6”
BOTTOM WIDTH........6’7.5”
MAX HP..........250 HP
FUEL............91 Gallons
DRAFT............14’
DRY WEIGHT..........3,735 lbs
PACKAGE HEIGHT...........9’3”
VALUE OF BOAT (as rigged and inclding trailer)......$ 135,500.00
TNT CUSTOM MARINE, North Miami; 305-931-3157. George's MARC VI and his 214 utilize TNT Custom Marine in North Miami for all Mercury outboard servicing. Guy Radiano is affectionately called the "Top Wrench" for George's boats.
