MAC 420 setups
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: General Forums
Forum Name: The Boat Shed
Forum Description: Discuss all things boating.
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=132616
Printed Date: 25 Apr 2025 at 4:33am
Topic: MAC 420 setups
Posted By: [email protected]
Subject: MAC 420 setups
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2020 at 11:27am
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Hey guys looking for owners of the mac 420 to share some boat layouts/setups. I have owned one for 2yrs and still playing with the layout and I keep adding things ( like to tinker too much) Im looking to build a triangle fuel tank to go hard up the front to carry about 50L, has anyone done this already? might be too much weight up front as I have already shifted seating hard up front....unsure Also going to install a live bait tank has anyone got a good setup for this? |
Replies:
Posted By: MacSkipper
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2020 at 12:23pm
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Mine was a cuddy cabin 2006 model put an anchor winch up front weight helped ride pulling in anchor in manukau harbour a pain as hatch to small. Here's a few pictures - here's wiinch and you can see net and white nav light pole stored behind winch  had to put roller on bow otherwise rubbed edge of hatch  canopy great for bar crossing and when wind against tide and choppy  console layout note perspex covers to keep water off = tacho/radio/hr meter all died early on due to corrosion usually had canopy window open for visabillity - perspex helped keep dry if waves over top crossing Manukau Bar!  ------------- Good fishing trip nothing breaks, great trip catch fish. |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2020 at 12:45pm
| nice setup, whats the layout at the back? |
Posted By: MacSkipper
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2020 at 1:06pm
I had a cracked transom (part of battery box) - many do this they put thicker alloy from 2016 I think - heres a picture of rear with box after repair (put gussets in) and powder coated black to match 50hp engine was white and looked odd..you can see bench seats at rear chillly bin with bait board sits on battery box held by eyes and a tie down through them.  Had electrics tidied up at same time as box repaired. has 2 king queen seats up front with tote tank under king queen seats - sorry dont have picture. Permatrim really helped holeshot and planing at low speed - IMO 50hp though max rated is underpowered a lot better with 60 or 75 but transom needs to be strengthened. ------------- Good fishing trip nothing breaks, great trip catch fish. |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2020 at 1:18pm
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Yeah ive got a 2006 one and previous owner had a hair line crack 5mm long start in the ally weld he had it repaired it seems to be all good now he did admit he wasnt using a motor brace on it until it cracked so not really unexpected. I run a 60 e-tec good power with three ppl in it however I do struggle to keep it on the plane when wanting to run at slower speed even with a large permatrim. Have you messed around with shifting any weight around the boat? I.E. have you found they like the weight more forward or as far back as possible?
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Posted By: MacSkipper
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2020 at 5:25pm
------------- Good fishing trip nothing breaks, great trip catch fish. |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2020 at 7:34pm
| only fish with 2 on boat mainly, I have correct height of motor etc but cant drop down less than say 16Kn other wise it falls off the plain weight in boat seems to have no noticeable effect on it either |
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2020 at 10:09am
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I have been out in Macs 420 several times, over the bar. Im very impressed with the thought he puts into things , the practicability, and execution. Anyone to take notice on .. its him and his 420... |
Posted By: MacSkipper
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2020 at 10:41am
16Kn falls off plane thats a bit high compared to mine as I recall - do you pull recommended WOT RPM? Are you sure motor height correct? not line of outboard with hull when trimmed down on trailer - but normal load cruising speed have a look at motor "cavitation plate" above prop just above water/droplets on it not submerged (to deep)?
------------- Good fishing trip nothing breaks, great trip catch fish. |
Posted By: MacSkipper
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2020 at 10:42am
 .....------------- Good fishing trip nothing breaks, great trip catch fish. |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2020 at 1:47pm
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I trust the boat guys that set it up as I had the out board replaced and new prop when I brought the boat. WOT RPM I would think is correct too. I certainly have no problem getting up onto the plane even with a loaded boat. I have not checked for myself on water height over cavitation plate, will check when out next. I thought it might just be a hull design issue... Do you know roughly how slow you can go before you drop off?
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Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2020 at 2:00pm
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Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2020 at 2:01pm
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Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2020 at 2:01pm
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Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2020 at 2:15pm
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so for final layout assuming all the weight balance works out: -looking to build a new fuel tank to go hard up the front of say 50L -probably ditching king/queen seat (Passenger seat) for the chillybin position, will make up a cushion other wise lazy crew members likely to wine, maybe too much weight up front ? too be tested and chilly bin may have to go to the back and king queen seat will go back in.up until now I have placed passenger seat hard forward from original layout to increase useable deck space I.E back of passenger seat was in line with the back of drivers seat and fuel tank use to reside in passenger seat. -I like where the live bait tank will end up as it wont take up precious deck space. small boat -very sensitive about my deck space lol, need lots of room for those big fish to come on board. |
Posted By: MacSkipper
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2020 at 7:35pm
WOT typically 5500 rpm or so in manual it varies a bit for each motor - is your "gearing" or load on motor. Calm water flat out trim for max speed what rpm? With 50hp I get about 50km/hr flat out - I lost 2-3km/hr with permatrim on but it helped holeshot/turning/planing speed a lot. I dont own boat now but recall 20km/hr (10 knots) it would drop off plane from memory that was slowing down, a bit faster than this to get on plane as I recall. ------------- Good fishing trip nothing breaks, great trip catch fish. |
Posted By: MacSkipper
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2020 at 7:37pm
I had a stack of plastic boxes that fitted snugly behind console which I stored tools, safety gear, first aid kit & fishing tackle etc. ------------- Good fishing trip nothing breaks, great trip catch fish. |
Posted By: Wozzabottle
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2020 at 8:47am
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Hi Mac Do you still have your 420?? |
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2020 at 9:38am
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With evinrude/ johnson/ Yamaha.. At cruise on flat water at best trim for THAT speed... the bottom of the cavitaion plate should be in the water. The top surface will only have droplets running down the top like water condensation on a window. As engines 'adjust ' height in 1" increments you will most probably find going lower, adjustment will be best as very likely to ventilate a little too easy in chop. Ideal WoT rpms for a general use boat, on flat water, at best trim for THAT speed, before porpoising of the bow and/or ventilation is +/- 100 rpms .. preferably the lower... at normal loading weight. For that hull and weight boat about 3 to5% slip and around 12% at normal cruise. |
Posted By: MacSkipper
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2020 at 5:53pm
------------- Good fishing trip nothing breaks, great trip catch fish. |
Posted By: HB_fishdive
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2020 at 10:50pm
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This is the only pic I can find of mine from when I had the live bait tank on, it works well there but you do notice the weight when on the move with a full tank. I also have an underfloor tank running down the centre from behind my anchor box to the battery box, I like the idea of having the weight distributed and not stuck in the bow - particularly in a following sea. 
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Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 15 Jan 2020 at 7:20pm
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hey thanks for the info, nice mac what engine size are you running? Did you have to modify your bait tank to sit it there to get past the steering?
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Posted By: HB_fishdive
Date Posted: 15 Jan 2020 at 8:52pm
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Cheers. Engine is a 60hp. No I didn’t need to modify the bait tank, i had it just behind the steering rod. It worked well there, the space in front of the tank gave me a safe spot to store scrubbing brush, bait net etc.   
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Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 15 Jan 2020 at 9:30pm
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how have you found the boat for top speed?, lowest speed before dropping off the plane? have you messed around with shifting weight around I.E if you have a full chilly bin how you manage the extra weight better at the back or as far forward? ( or do you never get full chilly bins in the bay ? lol )
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Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 1:55pm
That is super cool, but very irregular in shape. Did you have it built as custom? Where do you fill it from, the rear? Dont you have to be on a slope to make sure it fills all the way up? Great use of space. I was amazed when I went for a ride in one of these. I dont know what I expected, but I tell you what I didnt get, as wet as everybody makes them out to be. We were in about a metre swell and wind just slightly pushing a whitecap, so no 3 foot white caps admittedly, but wow it went through the water, well its hard to describe. Kind of like a hypalon RIB, but something slightly different. Kind of what Id imagine those Scorpion 480 APBs would be like if made out of Glass, so a GPB of sorts. What do you think it is that caused your crack?
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Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 3:49pm
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Another fun fact, they have the most cockpit space for the true length of the boat than any other. FC430 is similar, but clearly a different boat (being an open tiller steer etc with no protection from the elements). Ive also seen the mac 420 fitted with the 570 CC (I think) console and it takes up 2 man space, but would make it dryer.
Yes the heavy engine must be a concern, but well braced and as you said reinforced, sound like a lot of power. Did you reinforce yours with plate ally? Anything 50hp and above this wouldnt hurt to do perhaps. |
Posted By: Uncle
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 5:14pm
Could you back that up with proof/facts, Fiz? I think a sweeping statement of that nature could be seen as being a bit over the top & unfair.
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Posted By: treedoc
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 5:59pm
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"Kind of like a hypalon RIB, but something slightly different. Kind of what Id imagine those Scorpion 480 APBs would be like if made out of Glass, so a GPB of sorts" "Another fun fact, they have the most cockpit space for the true length of the boat than any other" "It seems all of them with 50hp plus seems to crack at the hull"  |
Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 6:56pm
Yes fair call. I will adjust this statement. I will just state I have seen it occur so when the OP mentioned it, it made me wonder if it is caused by an accident or the engine, as rare as it is. |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 7:00pm
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I have now put a fair few hours on the 60 e-tec on the mac 420, only standard transom and have no issue's I think biggest concern is guys not bracing the outboard off the trailer |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 7:03pm
 On another note since comming back to the forum, I have completed my custom built fuel tank and live bait tank 😎 |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 7:04pm
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Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 7:08pm
Yes, very good point, especially if you have say a 60hp Honda (due to the higher weight) hanging on the back. I dont think it is very common and likely either an accident or like you said maybe not bracing heavy engines over long period. Either way I do not think its common enough to cause alarm, especially when the fix sounds rather straight forward. The Etec is lighter and like you said. Your hull should ride so sweet and quiet and settle into the water like any pontoon style boat, with that huge beam. |
Posted By: pjc
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 7:55pm
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from 2013 https://www.tradeaboat.co.nz/reviews/1309/mac-420-fisherman%20" rel="nofollow - https://www.tradeaboat.co.nz/reviews/1309/mac-420-fisherman
This hull has plan approval to MSA NZ standards as well as US Coastguard and CE certification. The fact the internal voids are filled with foam as standard ensures no modifications are required for the boat to go into survey, and a number of these versatile craft are in regular commercial use around the country and overseas. They are also popular as tenders for larger vessels. Overall, the Mac 420 is a great little boat, and should be a serious contender for anyone looking for something in the four- to five-metre range — a spacious, stable and maintenance-free craft. Mac Boats' tag line is 'Boats for Life' and this is no idle claim. Even the Aussies like them https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boat-review/mac/power-boats/mac-420-fisherman/312" rel="nofollow - https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boat-review/mac/power-boats/mac-420-fisherman/312 Should have a brace from trailer to motor when transporting imo no matter what vessel,not to rely on hydrolics to hold motor up. ------------- Sex at 58.Lucky I live at 56 |
Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 8:00pm
Ive always used one, and ive always made sure to have the engine tilt down into a snug fit. Its possible the few that have been noticed with cracks it could just be this, just like any glass boat. Yes Ive noticed the aussies talking about them haha. We have had their Polycraft boats for a number of years here in NZ, more similar to smartwave boats at a quick glance. |
Posted By: Keith C
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 10:21pm
Who made your tank for you, or was it off the shelf? |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 10:43pm
| It was a metal fabrication company in palmerston North |
Posted By: Keith C
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 11:23pm
Thank you |
Posted By: gurnard
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2023 at 4:11pm
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Sorry to revive an old thread. Recently got my first Mac 420, the newer model with an injected two stroke Tohatsu on the back. Has anyone successfully game fished with theirs ? Wanting to set mine up for summer out west. It’s got the two standard gunwale rod holders and two upright ones fixed to the two rear seats. I was thinking of some outriggers but then again it’s a small boat and don’t want to overcomplicate things. It has a decent Bimini with clears but no rocket launcher so really I’m limited to running four setups without a middle shotgun. Any ideas would be welcomed ! |
Posted By: MATTOO
Date Posted: 30 Jul 2023 at 5:36pm
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Gurnard, I’ve only just seen this post. It might have had more success in the work up forum. Which probably should be renamed the game fishing forum However if you do read this know that your boat and rod holder options are more than suitable. You only need one rod and a whole lot of luck. Your challenges are being safe, small boat on the West Coast requires choosing your window for safety first. After that it’s a whole lot of little things. More rods and teasers and attractors to your boat are just one of many. Being in the right place, knowledge, help from mates, and ssts are others. The list goes on. But being there is the key, gotta have that lure in the water first eh.
------------- Still cruising in my now sweetas pimped out Southern 755 HT0! |
Posted By: gurnard
Date Posted: 17 Jan 2024 at 10:08am
| Cheers for the info mate ! Will give it a go when I have a decent window being weather and time 😀 |