Mirage Manufacturing Co

Submitted by Bryce Poe on 01/25/2020

Bryce Poe 5 stars rating.

Great guys and great boat builders. Ken produces quality custom boats that out perform the most high end boats on the market. Easy to work with and very knowledgeable. We had them build us one of their 20' flats boats and I can tell you there is not a better hull on the market. It runs dry, handles 2' chop with ease, floats skinny and poles very well. The hull is very versatile allowing us to pole skinny and run to near shore wrecks for Cobia and everything in between. Every aspect from the half tower to the built in clean cooler to the fish box to the rigging and all accessories were done with with complete attention to detail. I could not have been happier with the final product.

Submitted by Brooke Williams on 01/23/2020

Brooke Williams 5 stars rating.

I have owned a Great Harbor 47 since 2004. Like all large Mirage boats, it was built to custom order. Ken Fickett was then most helpful in making practical suggestions about how to layout the boat for comfortable two-person cruising. Our layout became the standard for subsequent boats. We are quite pleased with the result and feel confident that the others who followed our lead are also pleased.

In fifteen years the Great Harbor has taken us from Florida twice to Canada, twice to the Bahamas and multiple times to Maine. The boat is solid, quite stable and performs well as an offshore coastal cruiser. Few pleasure craft in this range choose to transit the east coast offshore – some by cruising preference. Many because their boat can’t run the risk of bad weather. We can and have. The occasions when we have been caught out in really bad weather, we can report the boat did just fine. Ourselves – not so well. If anything, the advertising Mirage has done about the boat’s stability is understated.

The key to successful live aboard cruising is a self-reliance attitude and good back up. We had an excellent mechanic to call for consultation. And we had Mirage Manufacturing. Ken Fickett has always been there with advice and support which, upon occasion, meant rush shipping of parts. Our first support call as newbie owners is indicative: Ken stood outside in the rain at an exposed pay phone to guide us through a screw up we caused while his family was inside a restaurant enjoying vacation time pizza.

Now fifteen years later, the boat shows age but not wear & tear. It was solidly built so reasonable maintenance keeps it in shape as an excellent boat. We continue to do business with Mirage and the Ficketts with confidence.

Submitted by W Horton on 01/14/2020

W Horton 5 stars rating.

I bought the first Mirage 29' walk around center console in 1989. Over the ensuing 30 years, I have come to appreciate the build quality many times over when caught in bad weather way offshore. These are not production boats, most receive a significant amount of customization that can cause variances in cost and delivery times.

Over that long a time span, there have been agreements on things, disagreements on things and some things yet unresolved. The owning family goes well beyond what should be reasonably expected to take care of new and old customers...yet happiness continues to elude a few. I expect this is more of a statement on their life in general than it is about Mirage.

My original hull was on its third repower with close to 7000 running hours when I sold it to buy a new 2014 34' outboard Mirage.
The 34 has been a delight to own, after five years, I almost have it rigged where it needs to be but there is always some new project. The owners have been generous with their time in advising me.

The company has built hundreds of boats since inception, from small racing sailboats to large trawlers with a line of fishing boats as well...pretty remarkable for a small shop in Gainesville, FL.

Submitted by Michael Smith on 10/03/2019

Michael Smith 5 stars rating.

I like growing potential and opportunity ,this company has so much to offer along with great experienced workers and a wonderful network of successful people that God goes through in so many ways,I believe in mirage manufacturing and can relate to the veterans who have served our country that have invested their lives in the company it's we'll more than a paycheck working for them,I don't work there for the pay check but, because I wanted something out of life and I firmly believe that if your buying a boat from mirage manufacturing you changed somebody's life...

Submitted by Jeremy Twitchell on 03/09/2019

Jeremy Twitchell 5 stars rating.

Robert Smith your opinion is based on what one person has said about this company,in all seriousness you can't spell boat nor do you have a clue about one,if you want to point the finger at someone point it at yourself and your drug trafficing charges with alachua county.L.Thomas you have a salty taste in your mouth because you purchased some materials and expected someone to teach you how to do glass work and build boats.This is a place of business not a technical school to learn something you have no clue about.

Submitted by Alyssa Pennell on 06/11/2018

Alyssa Pennell 5 stars rating.

Submitted by Robert Smith on 06/11/2018

Robert Smith 1 stars rating.

This company, Ken, Patty and their son Travis have a history of doing people dirty. Check out Alachus county Civil Clerk of court records for more details. The website they have is full of lies. They claim to have a Naval architect as a designer. Maybe once upon a time but even he refuses to allow his name on their work. They also claim to have a Marina deadicated to allowing thier customers a chance to test their products before final payment. Not anymore because they didnt pay their bills. Save yourself the headache of trying to discuss any details with Travis. He is supposed to be in charge but even the staff thinks this is laughable! The newest mold they have for their products, the TT35, has approx 5-6 in production. None have been delivered successfully. Go to a proven company with legit staff and owners who are proud to stand behind their product line and not offer excuses or demand payments on defective vessel designs.

Submitted by L Thomas on 09/13/2017

L Thomas 1 stars rating.

This place is shady. I'd beware.

Submitted by Joseph Brookbank on 10/23/2012

Joseph Brookbank 2 stars rating.

These guys are thieves. They abuse vendors and don't pay their bills. Stay away, buyers and sellers.