[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference vicki::boats

Title:Powerboats
Notice:Introductions 2 /Classifieds 3 / '97 Ski Season 1267
Moderator:KWLITY::SUTER
Created:Thu May 12 1988
Last Modified:Wed Jun 04 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1275
Total number of notes:18109

1109.0. "Info on Four Winns" by MOANA::LOTT () Tue Sep 07 1993 15:50

    A friend of mine is thinking about purchasing a 93 Four Winns Vista.
    Anyone have any info on this particular model...
    
    Good,bad,etc
    
    thanks
    Dan
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1109.193 Four Winns - need inputKAHALA::SUTERNever too Hot!Mon Feb 21 1994 14:1346
	Moved by moderator
    	------------------
    
              <<< VICKI::SIE$DATA1:[NOTES$LIBRARY]BOATS.NOTE;1 >>>
                                -< Powerboats >-
================================================================================
Note 1155.0                93 FOUR WINNS - need input                 No replies
IAGO::PROVENCAL                                      37 lines  21-FEB-1994 08:27
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi,

I just returned from the Boston Boat show and have temporarily put a deposit
on a new boat.  Have been looking around for the past few months, and have
attended a couple boat shows, looked through the want-ad, etc.

This is our first boat.  Will be used mostly on local area lakes, perhaps
an occoassional trip at the Cape (bay or canal).  We looked at
Sunbirds, Stingrays, Larson, Glastron, Bayliner, Regal.  Pros and cons
to all of them.  Then we took a look at a Four Winns, and through talking
with the sales rep, found out that he had a 93 leftover for sale.  Here's
the details:

	1993 Four Winns 180 Freedom 
	
	-  2 tone teal/white Bowrider
	-  LOA: 18'6"
	-  Beam: 7'3"
	-  4.3L V6 OMC outdrive
	-  Custom Trailer
	-  AM/FM Cassette Stereo
	-  Coast Guard Pkg (flares, anchor, life vests, nylon rope, etc)

	Price:  $11,500

This sounded like a pretty good deal.  most of the boats we had looked at
were going for $13K - $15K.  (Larson being the most expensive we looked at,
although that was actually a 19')

I'd like to know if any of you "experienced" boat owners/buyers think this
is a good deal.  Also, any feedback on the Four Winns would be great.  
Especially last year's model.  Since we can't take it for a test-ride
I'm looking for input on performance, handling, speed, planing... etc!

Thanks!

Cathi P.
1109.2my four winns was fineLJSRV2::CUMMINGSPaul T. Cummings LTN2Tue Feb 22 1994 12:4314
    
    I got a good 5 years out of my Four Winns 196 cuddy cabin.  I felt it
    was a quality boat all around.  I also paid attention to newer Four
    Winns and felt they improved steadily each year.  I'm not sure about
    '93 and '94.  For price comrison, last summer I sold my '85 19.5 foot
    Four Winns cuddy cabin w/trailor, radio, depthfinder, etc. for 6k$.
    
    Your deal sounds pretty good to me.  It would be good to know
    approximately the number of yours.  
    
    Paul
    
    p.s. I had a mercruiser 4 cyl engine that moved the boat fine.
    
1109.3Four Winns with "After-Pods"?HDECAD::PRUYNWed Mar 08 1995 16:1930
Hi all,

I would like to solicit opinions from present or past owners of Four Winns
190, 200, 210 (Whatever they happened to call the 20' some") Horizons.
Particularly the ones with the "after-pods" that appeared circa '92. They
look like they would plane quickly and level. Do they handle well in tight
turns? Are they holding together? 

My wife has blessed my NEED to buy a boat this spring and the Horizon
seams to be a good compromise (I hate that word) of all that we want
from a boat;

	Fit family of 5 plus a couple guests
	Day cruise between Wolfeboro and Moultonborough even if the wind comes
	  up
	Pull a slalom skier out of the whole without everyone pig-piling
	  in the bow
	A wake better for rec slalom than for aerials
	Trailer to various NE fresh waterways

I'm also concidering Baja, Chapperal, and Maxum. All 20 ft Bowriders. Any
opinions there are also welcome.

I know it's an old topic but its a new season and maybe some of you have some
new thoughts.

Thanks for any input. If my spring fever gets any worse, I'll personally cause
an early ice out!

Kris
1109.4Very nice boatSALEM::BIRDIE::JGREENLiving beyond my emotional meansThu Mar 09 1995 09:2825
    My neighbor at the lake has a new style Four WInns, 21.5', maybe a '93.
    Prior to that he had an '88 or maybe an '89, basically the same boat
    only older. The new one with the aft-pods, the real name escapes me,
    rides very well, planes quickly, and seems a bit quieter. Reliability
    is still a bit too soon to tell but I can't see why the new design
    would cause any problems. Major difference between the two is the
    engine. The '88 had the 4.3 V6, the '93 has the 5.8 V8. The V8 is a
    blast, fairly quick, tops out around mid 50's. It's also very thirsty,
    but that's a relative issue.
    
    The Four Winns, Sea Ray, and Stringray typically have deep Vee hulls
    and will provide a better ride in rough water (Winni !). Baja and
    Checkmate offer the deep vee in the bigger hulls but also have a
    modified vee in some of the smaller (20' or less) boats. If you want to
    do big lakes then stay with the deep vee. 
    
    As a closing note, don't underpower the boat. Nothing worse than making
    payments on a slug. There are numerous notes in here on this topic.
    Only argument for a smaller motor is gas economy. In the overall scheme
    of boat ownership the gas consumed by the boat is the least of your
    expenses !  
    
    Go big, go often, just don't wrinkle my water !
    
    ~jeff