whichwaysup Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 So, I love my 18.5 MA. No plans to upgrade right now, but I have always wondered if the ride of the new Mavericks (mirage, HPX, HPX-V etc) offers the same great ride in a chop that the MAs do. I know that the newer Mavericks are designed to be more technical poling skiffs, but do they sacrifice the rough water handling of the old MAs? I was out Saturday in some NASTY weather - 33 degrees, 20 MPH, open water and no protection. I thought for sure we'd be soaked and hypothermic after a trip like that, but couldn't believe how well the boat handled the chop. Rode right on top, hardly any spray until I and to cut across perpendicular to the wind and even then only the occ***ional spray. Do you lose that in the newer versions, or are they really all that AND better poling? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 The new 18 is a wonderful boat and it's big and comfortable and dry, but your still going to be sacrificing a little bit of ride coming from a MA... You are probably the only one that could decide for yourself if it's worth it or not though.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nag Juice Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 Not sure anything rides as good as a MA. My 18 year old sled impresses me every day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason p Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 I love my HPX, its perfect for what I like to do. For a poling skiff it's the best for covering long distances in relative comfort and still being able to push the thing around all day. Head-to-head ride comparison isn't even close in my opinion. As much better as the MA is in less than ideal conditions the HPX is that much easier to pole, in my opinion. I haven't spent tons of time poling MA's but I've poled a 17 and a 21(not for very long) and you can tell the difference for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whichwaysup Posted December 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 No doubt, Jason - I've poled my 18.5. It's a workout, that's for sure. Up here, there's not much poling required, but the wind is always blowing, and the water can get really ugly in a hurry. The entire Pamlico sound is 7 feet deep (80 miles of it!) so I still need to be able to get shallow. Thanks all - that helps. I can stop watching those cl***ified ads for newer more expensive Mavericks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason p Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 It sounds like you got the right boat to me. Unless MBC starts making 21s again or you find a sweet used one I don't think you have any up-grades within this family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whichwaysup Posted December 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 I know. Very sad indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplec Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Concur with Jason... and others. My MA is drier and smoother than a previous bay boat but if you pole it much...your a man! I pole mine with the tide moving in same direction and the wind behind me! And thats it! She won't get too skinny but up here we lose or gain 6 inches of water every 30 minutes so every 30 minutes she gets where it couldn't on the rise. Course your stuck high and dry on the converse. Wouldn't want to replace her though...but theres a gheenoe I have my eye on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poleposition Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 You are all comparing a flats boat to a technical poling skiff. Of course any of the HPX line will not ride like the MA (17, 18.5 or 21). And none of the MAs will come close to the draft, poling or stealth of HPX line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whichwaysup Posted December 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Pole Position, that was the point of the thread. With the discontinuation of the MA line, and my old boat getting older, I was wondering if the new Mavericks were comparable, but they are not, I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulligan Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 You are not going to find many new boats that are going to compare with your MA. Everything nowadays seems to be a bay boat or a "poling" skiff. There is only one MA style new boat out there that I can think of off the top of my head. Poleposition would be the man to ask about smooth riding flats boats as he has had some beauties. Note: Ask any non MBC questions in PM form as not to start a war. :content: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Only boat to compare to MA would be Egret. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason p Posted December 24, 2015 Report Share Posted December 24, 2015 ...and they are sweeeeeet. Yellowfin also makes a 21 Hybrid, I guess to compete with the Egret 2011. Both are huge, fast, and cool as hell, to me anyway. They're like saltwater b*** boats. All I know is that we must stop the spread of these bay boats before they totally take over the fishing boat industry ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whichwaysup Posted December 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2015 LOL, wait a minute, I am not sure I understood that. It was so subtle, so nuanced, so . . . unclear. I'll have to rewatch it. If nothing else, for the oscar award winning dramatic acting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nag Juice Posted December 24, 2015 Report Share Posted December 24, 2015 I see what you did there.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Posted December 24, 2015 Report Share Posted December 24, 2015 There are a lot of nice boats out there. We don't like comparison discussions here because they always get stoopid. Trust me.. I remember the first 21 MA that fished the OT in Islamorada. It was so huuge ! The 21MA was an incredible boat. All the MA's were for that matter. M1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whichwaysup Posted December 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2015 Yeah, I am starting to like the look of that 21' MA. . . Those aren't produced anymore either, are they. I think they stopped in 11?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdsnook Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 One of a Kind........some simalar......none better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydroo Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 The ride of the 2014 Maverick 18 HPX is unreal. It crushes big water! Super dry ride. Mine has a 115 the CG is perfect. I am looking to go faster so I am thinking about the Redfisher 18 with a 150 SHO. I figure the extra beam should help carry the weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redzone1 Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 To answer your question. There is not another flats boat that rides as good as an MA....EGRET 189 would be a close comparison. You will be disappointed if you think a new 18HPX will compare to the ride in a rough chop of an 18 MA. The 21 MA is an aircraft carrier... HUGE deck with very aggressive hull. 21 MA busts a chop better than a 22 pathfinder. And yes I am speaking honestly from personal experience Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whichwaysup Posted January 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 I suspect there is a 21 MA in my future. . . You know, for the growing family, not for me, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nag Juice Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 A 21 will change your life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRC Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 If I ever sold my MA18 it would be for the 21 or a L&B backwater 20. Walking around gunwales is key for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-Los Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 My MA17' is an AMAZING boat. The only limitation that I see is getting into really shallow water 11" or less..... and the hull slap. but the ride is great! I fixed those problems, with my wading boots. Good luck in your search. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pondfisher Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 Yeah, I am starting to like the look of that 21' MA. . . Those aren't produced anymore either, are they. I think they stopped in 11?? Correct. The very last 21 ever built was sold at Family Boating in Tampa in 2011/12. I know all too well because I put a lot of thought into how I could afford it. It had a brand new Yami SHO 250. What a ship! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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