www.iFourWinns.com

I bought a new 2015 H180 OB last year and I'm already thinking ahead to things breaking, failing, etc.

So for you long-time boaters, are there any OEM parts you'd recommend I buy now before they are discontinued?

Windshield latch?
Swim ladder?
Matching pull-up cleat?
Fuel sender?
Stern light?
Touch up gelcoat paint?
Grab handle?

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2015 H180 OB + 2015 Evinrude 135 HO

Good on you for thinking ahead. Any windshield parts are always good. Getting an identical boarding ladder later on could be a problem, but you'd need to decide how likely it'll be that you'd ever need to replace it vs. the money and space it will consume in the mean time. For lights, I'd recommend replacing all of them with LED's now, and taking careful note of the original bulb numbers and the LED's you use to replace them. They're standard, so you shouldn't have a problem replacing them later. Any decals/tapes are a good thing to have. Gel coat can usually be obtained and has a limited shelf life, so that would probably be money wasted (other than possibly one of the "emergency" gel coat kits from West Marine, etc.).

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

As the owner of a 16 year old boat, I'm not having trouble finding anything I need. The only thing that concerns me in the future is upholstery items...but they are too expensive to buy spares I don't need.

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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

Replaced a pull-up cleat a few years ago with one that looked exactly the same. No trouble at all finding one.

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

Those curved windshields are the things that cost a mint and get discontinued after a while. However these are so expensive that most would not buy them as spares. I prefer the old style straight glass like my boat has that can be easily replaced by any glass shop with tempered glass...
As far as upholstery instead of re doing the old seats I got seats that matched the rest of the interior colors for much less than what re doing the OE stuff would have cost. If you keep it covered the OE seats will likely last as long as you have it.

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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

A++ on this one.. I have a 97 and had the front drivers window blow out last fall .. They found a new one for me but it cost me $2200 once all was all said and done...

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1997 Horizon RS 180
5.7 GL Volvo Penta /SX drive. (1.60)
2018 Ford F-150 super crew 4x4

Re-thinking your original list, I added the above comments.

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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

As a comparison....I replaced 2 pieces of tempered glass on my boat each one I was able to get from the original supplier, the $$ was about 100 for each piece and I was able to easily replace them myself.
Doesn't boat insurance cover big expenses like that?

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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

My 16 year old hatches are in great shape except for a set of these little things for my forward hatch. If anyone has a spare, let me know.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Off topic, but did you happen to buy that boat from Burke's Marina on Raquette Lake? Red? I test drove it and almost bought it, except I was lacking a tow vehicle at the time. I too am in the Adirondacks, near Sacandaga lake. I found a 95 Horizon 190 for a good price that I might go and bring home next weekend.

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2006 Four Winns Horizon 200
Volvo Penta 5.0 GXi/SX

Mine is navy blue. But yes, I bought it at Burke's. Nice, low-pressure, family-run shop!

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2015 H180 OB + 2015 Evinrude 135 HO

Yep is sure did , thank god. lol they actually had to remove the starboard side window and realign it. took them some time , the shop did a fantastic job. they actually stored my boat inside all winter for me as well. Cant beat that deal..

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1997 Horizon RS 180
5.7 GL Volvo Penta /SX drive. (1.60)
2018 Ford F-150 super crew 4x4

With a 2015 I wouldn't worry until 2020 and maybe not even then. With then number of them made the spare parts should be around until then even is they stopped production tomorrow. Mine is 8 years old and I can't think of anything I wouldn't be able to find easily.

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

What's really more important is to know the manufacturer, model, and part number information on as many components on your boat as possible. I recommend keeping a document somewhere listing all of that along with specifications, etc. It took a few years to get mine to the point where I feel it's 95% complete. With every maintenance/repair that you do, ask yourself if you've got anything new to add to your document.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Yeah, I've started bookmarking links online but need to write it all down. Some parts are from really obscure manufacturers. Those are the ones I worry about most!

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2015 H180 OB + 2015 Evinrude 135 HO