MAKO Boat's Apex 24 is a brand-new model designed for coastal inshore and nearshore fishing. With a draft of 15-inches and a 15-degree deadrise, it navigates across extremely shallow waters as well as slices dryly through a solid chop. The new Shallow-Water MARC is powered by a Mercury V10, 400hp Verado. In keeping with a clean white-on-white theme, the Mercury outboard is Warm Fusion White, with the hull, rub rail, powder-coating, T-top and Power Poles all a bright white.
SPACE GALORE
The new Mako Apex 24 has an impressive amount of fishing space and storage. A swing-up door provides easy access to internal console storage, batteries and electrical systems. George stores life jackets, safety items, first aid kit, fire extinguishers and shore-power charging cords here.
The hard top sports seven rod holders - five vertical for running and two offset (one per side) for trolling. Each side has rod access slots, facilitating the vertical racking of three rods per console side. In all, the console and top accommodate 13 outfits. Add in the five slots per side within the twin lockable rod boxes in the forward casting deck and the boat can rack 23 outfits.
Bow and stern platforms offer plenty of fishing space. There is even an aft pop-up central jump seat for those long runs. This pop-up seat, incidentally, provides spacious bilge access. The forward deck has full cushions along with port and starboard seat backs for family outings; until then, George stores these in his garage and keeps the deck wide-open for fishing.
LIVE WELLS & FISH BOXES - George opted for the leaning post/30-gallon live well for pilchards, goggle eyes, etc. For small baits - or a release well - there is an aft, starboard-side 16-gallon live well and a forward 19-gallon live well. The 210-quart insulated fish box is within the center forward deck. George keeps his Star brite boat care products within the aft portside hatch. The forward anchor locker conceals an 11-pound Bruce-Style Claw Anchor, 15 feet of 1/4 inch chain and 200 feet of 7/16 inch rode. George also stores dock lines, fenders and anchor release ball here.
STICKING AND MOVING - For staking out in depths approaching ten feet, the boat sports a pair of Power Pole 10-foot systems. The Power Poles are conveniently affixed to the Bob’s Machine Shop’s Jack Plate.
The boat also sports Simrad's new RECON Saltwater 72” trolling motor, complete with graphite shaft. The FreeSteer joystick enables quick and precision steering adjustments, speed control and anchor position jockeying by simply pressing and holding the joystick. Powering the system is an exceptionally quiet, brushless 24/32 Volt motor. The system is engineered to excel in challenging saltwater environments.
FULL SIMRAD ELECTRONICS - A pair of Simrad NSS 4 12” units provide high-definition displays, GPS, mapping and other vital features. Simrad’s ActiveImaging HD 3-in-1 transducer with CHIRP provides high-definition views of SideScan, DownScan and SideScan Fish Reveal with the S3100 sonar module. For added safety, a Simrad RS40 Marine VHF is within the T-top electronics box. The boat has a HALO20+ radar for navigational safety in low-visibility conditions.
SHADOW-CASTER MARINE LEDS - George’s boat is customized with Shadow-Caster lighting. Internal lighting includes four 10” RGBW courtesy lights, two Side Illumination MINI NEON eight-foot units, triple three-inch Full Color Down Lights with White housings, two Great White Spreader Lights with four LEDS and one SCM-EAGLE-RAY 220W Dual Optic Light Bar with Vectored Spot Optics. Underwater lighting is powered by four SC2 Version Full Color Underwater Lights with Bronze Housings, and two Round RGB Submersible Accent Lights. Lighting is managed through Shadow Caster’s Light Commander X, NEMA, WIFI, Six Zone Lighting Controller.
SEAKEEPER RIDE - George’s boat is equipped with a first-of-its-kind Vessel Attitude Control System, dubbed Seakeeper Ride. This unique system eliminates upwards of 70% pitch, roll and yaw while underway. It’s a cutting-edge technological alternative to standard trim tabs.
Seakeeper Ride controllers mount on the transom and below the waterline, with drivetrains completely sealed in a dry and greased environment with no mechanical exposure to saltwater. Proprietary inertial sensing hardware and software activate the deployment of the system’s rotary blades at a rate of up to 300 mm per second, for predicting motion and boat behavior and making upwards of 100 adjustments per second to eliminate pitch, roll and yaw. The Seakeeper ride installs easily on both new and used boats.
ROCKIN’ PERFORMANCE - Powered by a Mercury V10 400hp Verado with a 25-inch pitch Mercury Revolution four-blade prop and dialed in with a jack plate and Seakeeper Ride system, George’s Apex 24 is fast, smooth, responsive, stable and dry. Mercury’s V10 400hp Verado is based on a 5.7L naturally aspirated block paired with a 2.08:1 ratio gear case. A Mercury Revolution X 25” pitch prop transfers the power to the water. The 695 pound outboard delivers extreme hole-shot power, enhanced mid-range torque and even stronger top end performance. George’s Apex, fully loaded and with four individuals, hit a top speed of 57 miles per hour before he pulled back the throttle during its initial ride. George said the boat was still building steam and should easily hit 60 miles per hour when broken in and with a lighter load.
ROCKIN’ TUNES - Wet Sounds designed the sound system on George’s Apex 24. The high-output, sharp and crisp entertainment is the result of a pair of overhead ZERO 6.5” XZ-B marine coaxial speakers, and two pairs of 8” ZERO XZ-B marine coaxial speakers, two of which are forward mounted and two of which are aft mounted. Wet Sounds has been taking the marine industry by storm and is partnering up with many major boat manufacturers, Mako Boats included.
SAFETY ALWAYS - ACRARTEX safety equipment is standard on George’s boats. His new Apex carries an ACR GlobalFix V5 Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) with Automatic Identification System (AIS). When activated, the EPIRB transmits a vessel’s position to satellites which, in turn, relay the information to local search and rescue forces. Add in AIS capability and rescue times are shortened even more. That’s because all commercial vessels are required by law to have AIS. Therefore, a distress signal will be picked up by local commercial vessels, which should assist with a rescue.
ACR’s ResQFlare PRO is a high-intensity electronic LED Emergency Boat Flare. When activated, it broadcasts SOS distress signaling, utilizing red-orange and cyan LEDs combined with an infrared component. Sold with the included daytime distress flag, the ResQFlare PRO and accompanying flag are certified to meet applicable USCG requirements allowing them to be carried in lieu of traditional pyrotechnic flares in the United States.
FLOAT-ON BOAT TRAILER - A long-standing tradition, George’s boats pair with Float-On Boat Trailers and his new Mako Apex 24 is no exception. Float-On utilizes aluminum I-Beam frames for safety and durability. They boast optimal structural integrity and exceptional resistance to flex and deformation stresses. George’s immersible trailer has dual galvanized torsion axles, vented disk brakes and radial tires with galvanized rims. It weighs 824 pounds. George’s boats are trailered as far north as Rhode Island and as far west as Galveston, Texas. Float-On gets his boats there and back safely and in style.
ALWAYS LOOKING GOOD - A self-proclaimed “Clean Freak”, George’s Makos are kept in show room condition. A big proponent of Star brite marine products, George’s most-used items include their Ceramic Wash & Wash, Non-Skid Deck Cleaner, Xtreme Clean, View Guard, Vinyl Guard, Boat Guard Speed Detailer & Protectant, and Premium Marine Polish. And to keep fuel systems clean, George occasionally adds a bottle of Star tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment during fill ups.
MAINTENANCE - For all things Mercury, George has been using TNT Custom Marine going on 27 years. A top-tier dealer and authority on Mercury power, boat rigging and performance fine-tuning, TNT keeps George’s boats in prime operational condition. TNT Marine Center offers high end dry storage as well as wet slips.
For all things Mako related, Bass Pro Shops in Dania is George’s Go To facility.
SPECIFICATIONS:
LENGTH ....................... 24’8”
BEAM ......................... 8’3”
MAX. RECOMMENDED HP ... 400
MAX HP .................... 250 HP
FUEL CAPACITY.........82 Gallons
INTERIOR DEPTH........19 inches
DRY WEIGHT............3,735 lbs
Transom Height/Center Line...25’
DEADRISE .................. 15 degrees
DRAFT ........................ 15’
AVERAGE DRY WEIGHT....3,735 lbs
VALUE OF BOAT OUTLINED ABOVE $168,000
