What are your thoughts on the V358?

blue dragon · **Joined:** Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:01 pm **Posts:** 787

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-image.html? ... nFlag=true

Lets hear your thoughts, worth it for the price? Older boat = lots of problems, pass? Issues that come up?

acguy · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2015 2:33 pm

I would think that boat may be under powered with the 6.2's
You seem to be always looking....Are you even close to pulling the trigger on 1 of these that you post?

blue dragon · **Joined:** Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:01 pm **Posts:** 787

Nope, wife didn't like the upholstery on the v378, so I am still looking

acguy · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2015 2:48 pm

Did you see this one?

http://www.crateslakecountryboats.com/Page.aspx/diid/7577846/list/InventoryList/pageId/32333/view/Details/2006-Four-Winns---378-Vista-Hard-Top.aspx

http://www.pridemarinegroup.com/Page.aspx/type/ANB/Category/Cruisers/Make/Four%20Winns/pageId/155919/view/InventoryList/Inventory.aspx

ric · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2015 2:58 pm

You going to be happy with a big dual motor cruiser?

blue dragon · **Joined:** Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:01 pm **Posts:** 787

To tell you the truth Ric, I'm not sure. I do like my friends boat, but the running costs scare me

ric · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2015 5:07 pm

blue dragon wrote:

To tell you the truth Ric, I'm not sure. I do like my friends boat, but the running costs scare me

Yep, twice as much to go wrong

JeffLW · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:18 pm

Yup, double everything. I'm seriously looking at one of these next. Been weighing all the extra costs that go with it. Twice the maintenance costs, twice the fuel costs, storage, and even the slip fee. :shock:

I'm looking at it more like a cabin on the water. But the view can change whenever you want.

Decision · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:22 pm

blue dragon wrote:

To tell you the truth Ric, I'm not sure. I do like my friends boat, but the running costs scare me

I think the real question is what kind of boating do you and your wife really want to do now? If the honest answer is you both wish to enjoy spending frequent overnighters on your boat then you could get away with a 25 footer at a minimum and stay with a single engine and still get decent mid 20 MPH cruise speeds, but if you have kids or have guests that would overnight with you, then you may need to step up in size to a cruiser that has a dedicated aft and V-Berth sleeping area. A boat with dedicated aft and V-Berth sleeping with a dinette table (that does not need to be converted into a bed) will start around 30 feet but will almost always be twin engines unless you go a trawler route.

Don't let the operating costs scare you, but operating costs in a larger boat should definitely be taken into consideration in your purchasing decision. At cruise your MPG will likely be in the 1.5 MPG +/- for cruisers in the 30 - 35 foot range. Expect increased transient dockage fees, maintenance, insurance and don't forget the yearly depreciation cost. That yearly depreciation can be significant depending on size and year of boat purchased.

Buy hey, you asked about the 358 Vista.

Nice boat, I favour the dinette on the starboard side so when you are at the dinette and sterned in that people are not looking at you through your transom door, but that is only personal preference. Lots of boats in this size range for you and your wife to get on and determine your preferences.

My wife and I really enjoy the options a cruiser gives, but you do pay a premium over a trailerable boat.

Have fun shopping.

acguy · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:28 pm

I love having the cruiser, we spend pretty much every weekend at the lake from May long weekend to our Canadian thanksgiving. The down side of it is our kids are now 5&7 and also looking to buy and 18' bow rider so we can have some fun. I figure when we go out to our local anchorage my wife will drive the bow rider out so we can have some fun. We used our inflatable to tube behind in the past years but it no longer goes fast enough for the kids!!

Decision · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:49 pm

acguy wrote:

I love having the cruiser, we spend pretty much every weekend at the lake from May long weekend to our Canadian thanksgiving. The down side of it is our kids are now 5&7 and also looking to buy and 18' bow rider so we can have some fun. I figure when we go out to our local anchorage my wife will drive the bow rider out so we can have some fun. We used our inflatable to tube behind in the past years but it no longer goes fast enough for the kids!!

Good point acguy - blue dragon, if you get a cruiser don't forget to budget in a inflatable and an outboard for the inflatable. Running around in the inflatable exploring and slight seeing is a favorite passtime of mine. Our 310 Mercury inflatable with the 15hp Mercury outboard we bought last season (still have our Johnson 9.9hp) will exceed my comfort zone with my wife, son and I in it with the throttle opened up.

efollis · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:54 pm

The price is right, and hopefully the pictures reflect just tidying required, as opposed to roughed up interior and or canvas. As far as changes in boating, having moved from 17 to 23 to 28 to 35 feet, we find that we plan less (probably due to feeling safer in weather ), stay longer, and are more relaxed while boating. Then again we are getting older too. As people we know get sick or unable to enjoy pastimes like boating, we find it important to just do it now. This assumes other financial and family responsibilities are under control and not neglected .

You may end up boating in a different or expanded group - and that can be a scary thought or welcomed adventure.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained! !

firecadet613 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2015 10:01 pm

Sharp boat! Price is very nice, it's been layed up half its life. Go check it out.

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Tue Feb 10, 2015 7:15 am

blue dragon wrote:

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-image.html?adId=1050318584&image=0&enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

Lets hear your thoughts,

Pass. Stick with a trailerable boat. More opportunities to explore different areas, less maintenance, and you avoid the
commitment of being "married to your boat" since it is so costly to have something like that for only 6 months of boating per year.
Wrong thought process IMO to justify a boat like this as "a cabin on the lake". Unless of course, money is no object.

You really have to want to move up to a boat like this, not just think it would be nice to own because it is somewhat affordable for you.
If you are not 100% sure this lifestyle is what you want, skip it.

blue dragon · **Joined:** Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:01 pm **Posts:** 787

^ Thats an interesting take Cap'n. I know you moved to a bowrider from a cruiser. My kids are now 6 and 9, and just starting to take an interest in watersports (wakeboarding). We do lots of tubing now, but they want to do other things.

We also don't feel pressured to use the boat like you said, if there are other things to do.

www.iFourWinns.com

What are your thoughts on the V358?

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