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PostPosted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 1:07 pm 
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Guppy

Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2015 10:05 am
Posts: 6
Location: Detroit Metro
Just picked up a 1989 Four Winns Liberator 211 on a trade for a 2006 Harley Sportster. Its got the Big Block Ford 460 and King Cobra Outdrive. Previous owner provided receipts showing $4600 of work in the outdrive in 2009. I was told I'm the 3rd owner. Came on the original Four Winns trailer in fair conditon. Boat has 350 hours, bennet trim tabs, updated stereo system, shift assist.

Aside from basic information I do not know a whole lot about Liberators. This is my first prop drive boat, second boat overall.

Looking to learn more about these boats; e.g what to watch out for? the goods, the bads?

Working on getting pics posted. Should be up shortly!

Thanks, Justin


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 1:36 pm 
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Guppy

Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2015 10:05 am
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Location: Detroit Metro
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 1:39 pm 
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Guppy

Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2015 10:05 am
Posts: 6
Location: Detroit Metro
Ran into my first issue. There's a steady drip coming from a bracket on the transom that appears to be holding the out drive.
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 3:38 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:26 pm
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Location: Long Island NY
Boat looks good; I think the interior for sure was re done because that's not original. Are those Soda cans in the bilge?

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 3:43 pm 
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Guppy

Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2015 10:05 am
Posts: 6
Location: Detroit Metro
LouC wrote:
Boat looks good; I think the interior for sure was re done because that's not original. Are those Soda cans in the bilge?


Thanks! I agree, the interior must have recently been redone, looks to be new carpeting and upholstery. That is a can in the bilge, I haven't had a chance to fish it out. I'd estimate the bilge takes in about 1-2 gallons of water an hour. I recently read somewhere to try tightening the out drive bolts and use 4200 sealant around the out drive. Any other suggestions as far as where else the water could be coming from? Thanks


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 3:47 pm 
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Guppy

Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2015 10:05 am
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Location: Detroit Metro
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I circled the area that I visually see the drops coming from.


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 4:03 pm 
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Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2012 11:17 pm
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Location: Melbourne, Australia
Awesome old skool boat!
I hope for your sake that you don't have a rotten transom.

p.s. If you're on FaceBook, like the Four Winns Boat Owners Page! 8)

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2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 4:46 pm 
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Location: Long Island NY
About the leak, well this is one of the big pains about an I/O and why many people here will not have one. There are many places for them to leak from. Outboards do not have this issue.
It could be from the drive shaft bellows, the transom seal or the Y pipe gasket.
The first one is not a bad job on the Cobra but the next 2 require pulling the engine. I'd pull the drive first and check the bellows. If it's not that then you got a project on your hands.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 8:00 pm 
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Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2014 10:12 am
Posts: 632
Location: Ontario
I love the all white hull, looks great.

I vote leaking bellows.

Cheers!

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Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

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PostPosted: Wed Sep 16, 2015 7:26 am 
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Location: West Palm Beach, FL
LouC wrote:
It could be from the drive shaft bellows, the transom seal or the Y pipe gasket.

I would narrow it down to the first two. I don't see a Y-pipe in the picture, so this must be a thru-hull exhaust setup.

I had a 1987 boat that had some leakage at the transom seal. It helped to seal the outside with rtv and tighten the six nuts on the inside of the transom shield. This is a Band-Aid solution, but it may be a realistic solution considering the age of the boat, and if you trailer the boat (not leaving it in the water for days/weeks at a time). The risk is that if you continue to have ANY leakage, it will eventually cause rot in the transom wood...then you have an expensive repair to deal with. You may already have transom rot...that might be why they sold the boat. There are a lot of articles you can read if you search.

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings


Last edited by rpengr on Wed Sep 16, 2015 7:38 am, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Wed Sep 16, 2015 7:35 am 
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Guppy

Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2015 10:05 am
Posts: 6
Location: Detroit Metro
rpengr wrote:
LouC wrote:
It could be from the drive shaft bellows, the transom seal or the Y pipe gasket.

I would narrow it down to the first two. I don't see a Y-pipe in the picture, so this must be a thru-hull exhaust setup.


It is the thru hull exhaust. Would have the bellows likely have been when the out drive work was done in 2009? Thanks for the input!


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PostPosted: Wed Sep 16, 2015 9:12 am 
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Location: Long Island NY
Keep in mind that there is only one style of Y pipe. So even if there is a through the hull exhaust there will be a block off plate and gasket installed on the standard Y pipe that can still leak. The bellows may have been done on 09 but if it looked good they might have left it alone. If you store it with the drive mostly down they last a long time. I hope it's that and not the other 2. But if it is you gotta bite the billet and get er done. I had to do a stringer repair and deck job on mine.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II


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PostPosted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 4:05 pm 
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Shark

Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2014 12:33 pm
Posts: 125
Location: S.W. Wisconsin
agreed......if it's Bellows, you are golden....anything else..you are in for a lot of work and money.

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1990 Four Winns 170 Freedom, 3.0 OMC Cobra 4 cyl.


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PostPosted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 5:37 pm 
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Location: Long Island NY
Don't freak out if you need to do that job...I had to do a big one on my old '88 about 10 years ago...deck n stringers...I did some of it....farmed out the more difficult part to the 'glass shop....it came out great...boat is still solid as a rock....and I know every inch of that ole tub....
The Liberators are a unique style of boat and I'd just figure out a way to get it done. I see boats as long term investments esp if you can do a lot of it yourself. There is another member on here doing the same transom job right now. But thats gettin' ahead of the story...keep thinking positive....

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II


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PostPosted: Sat Oct 10, 2015 11:25 pm 
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Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:56 pm
Posts: 220
Looks like somebody has already tried to tighten the transom shield. The plate at the bottom is bowing towards the bow and I can see where they have "squashed" the transom from tightening. Not a good sign....

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Jimbo
Na. Ga.

2000 170 Horizon LS
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